Hampson Brian A, de Laat Melody A, Mills Paul C, Pollitt Chris C
Australian Brumby Research Unit, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
Am J Vet Res. 2012 Mar;73(3):435-8. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.73.3.435.
To determine the effect of various environmental conditions on the degree of hydration in hoof wall horn tissue from feral horses and investigate the effect of short-term foot soaking on moisture content in hoof wall and sole tissue in domestic horses.
40 feral horses from 3 environments (wet and boggy [n = 10], partially flooded [20], and constantly dry desert [10]) and 6 nonferal Quarter Horses.
The percentage of moisture content of hoof wall samples from feral horses was measured in vitro. In a separate evaluation, the percentage of moisture content of hoof wall and sole tissue was measured in the dry and soaked forefeet of Quarter Horses.
Mean ± SD percentage of moisture content was 29.6 ± 5.1%, 29.5 ± 5.8%, and 29.5 ± 2.9% for feral horses from the wet and boggy, partially flooded, and constantly dry desert environments, respectively. Moisture content did not differ among the 3 groups, nor did it differ between dry and soaked hoof wall samples from nonferal horses. However, soaking in water for 2 hours resulted in a significant increase in the percentage of moisture content of the sole.
Environmental conditions do not appear to affect moisture content in the hoof wall horn. Soaking horses' feet regularly in water would be unlikely to change the degree of hydration in the hoof wall horn but may further hydrate the sole.
确定各种环境条件对野马蹄壁角质组织水合程度的影响，并研究短期足部浸泡对家马蹄壁和蹄底组织水分含量的影响。
来自3种环境的40匹野马（潮湿沼泽地 [n = 10]、部分被水淹 [20] 和持续干旱的沙漠 [10]）以及6匹非野生的夸特马。
在体外测量野马蹄壁样本的水分含量百分比。在另一项评估中，测量夸特马干燥和浸泡前蹄的蹄壁和蹄底组织的水分含量百分比。
来自潮湿沼泽地、部分被水淹和持续干旱沙漠环境的野马，其水分含量百分比的均值±标准差分别为29.6±5.1%、29.5±5.8%和29.5±2.9%。这3组之间的水分含量无差异，非野生马蹄壁样本干燥和浸泡后的水分含量也无差异。然而，浸泡在水中2小时导致蹄底的水分含量百分比显著增加。
环境条件似乎不会影响蹄壁角质的水分含量。定期将马的脚浸泡在水中不太可能改变蹄壁角质的水合程度，但可能会使蹄底进一步水合。
