Hoof
Hoof is the hard, protective covering found at the end of the legs of various animals, including horses, cows, and pigs. The hoof is made up of a hard outer layer and a softer inner layer. The outer layer is made of keratin, the same protein that makes up human hair and nails. The inner layer contains blood vessels and nerves, and is sensitive to pain and temperature.
Structure and Function[edit | edit source]
The hoof is divided into three main parts: the wall, the sole, and the frog. The wall is the hard, outer part of the hoof that comes into contact with the ground. The sole is the flat, inner part of the hoof that provides support and protection for the sensitive structures beneath it. The frog is a V-shaped structure at the back of the hoof that acts as a shock absorber and helps to pump blood back up the leg.
The hoof grows continuously and needs to be trimmed regularly to maintain its shape and function. If the hoof becomes too long or misshapen, it can cause pain and lameness in the animal.
Diseases and Disorders[edit | edit source]
There are several diseases and disorders that can affect the hoof, including laminitis, hoof abscess, and hoof crack. Laminitis is a painful inflammation of the sensitive structures within the hoof. Hoof abscess is a localized infection that causes pain and swelling. Hoof crack is a split or crack in the hoof wall that can lead to pain and infection.
Care and Maintenance[edit | edit source]
Proper care and maintenance of the hoof is essential for the health and well-being of the animal. This includes regular trimming, cleaning, and inspection for signs of disease or injury. In some cases, the hoof may need to be shod with a metal shoe to provide additional protection or support.
See Also[edit | edit source]
| Hoof Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
