Surgery rarely helps, and medical treatment is difficult. This situation also can cause rapid chemical changes in the blood that lead to abnormal blood flow to the hooves. This usually cripples the horse. There are no shortcuts, tricks, or surefire tests to determine whether surgery is needed. A thorough exam and clinical judgment are required.
Conservative treatment is best if possible.
The decision on treatment is based on the horse's history, clinical signs, a physical examination, and evaluation of laboratory data. The initial exam should be done from a distance to better observe the horse's behavior. If the horse is in extreme pain, the vet can insert a nasogastric tube to relieve gas before the exam. He or she also will listen to abdominal noises and perform rectal palpitation to check for irregularities. Walk the horse if it is trying to roll.