Pocket for the care of a hoof of a hoofed animal and care procedure

Abstract

The invention relates to a pouch (1) for treating a part of a limb of a hoofed animal, comprising a lower part (2) and an upper part (3), said pouch being made of a flexible, gas-tight material and having a slit (4) for inserting the animal's limb and equipped with a watertight opening and closing mechanism (5), an inlet (6) for supplying the pouch with an ozone-based treatment gas, and a filter (7) for venting excess treatment gas. The pouch (1) is intended for treating a foot and has in its lower part (2) a base (8) made of a rigid material and whose surface (9) intended to be in contact with the bearing surface of the foot is irregular. The invention also relates to a method for the non-therapeutic treatment of a hoof of a hoofed animal using such a pouch (1).

Description

Title of the invention: Pouch for the care of a hoof of a hoofed animal and method of care

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for the care, as well as for a treatment, preferably non-therapeutic, of the feet of a hoofed animal, that is to say, whose feet end in a horny part, the hoof or hooves, depending on the animal.

[0002] Although intended for all ungulates, the invention is of major interest in the treatment of equine hooves, which have only one hoof per foot, and in particular horses, ponies, and donkeys. They are capable of and bred to undertake journeys of varying lengths, on different surfaces that are more or less hard, more or less even, and more or less wet, placing considerable stress on their hooves; horses bred for racing and jumping are particularly affected. Regardless of their purpose—leisure, companionship, racing, or work—and whether they are shod or barefoot, hoof care is essential, as severe hoof damage can even impact their lifespan.

[0003] The extremity of a horse's foot is the hoof, which forms a protective covering for the internal structures of the foot. With the foot lifted, one observes the sole, which is the concave part essentially made of horn; the V-shaped frog, made of spongy and elastic tissue, surrounded by the bars and lateral sulci; the bulbs at the rear; and the white line, which is the junction between the sole and the hoof. With the foot on the ground, the visible part of the hoof is the hoof wall, above which is a coronary band that secretes horn and a varnish that protects the wall from drying out and excess moisture. Above the coronary band is the pastern bone, covered with hair on its rear part and under a tuft of hair, the fetlock.When a horse places its foot on the ground, the heels at the back of the hoof spread apart and the frog makes contact with the ground to cushion the impact and activate blood circulation in the foot. The structure of a pony's or donkey's foot is similar.

[0004] A number of equine foot pathologies are caused by, or result from, the entry of germs which, given the complex structure of the hoof, will develop rapidly and insidiously. Examples include thrush (white line disease), canker sore (or thrush), and canker splints. Late detection of these disorders will prolong healing to several months and may even cause the infection to spread to surrounding tissues, or lead to more serious conditions such as bone, joint, or tendon infections. Dermatoses, which are generally bacterial or fungal in origin, can also develop on the hoof, such as mud fever in horses. located at the level of the pasterns and particularly in horses with abundant fetlock hair.

[0005] This is why regular care is necessary; it has an important preventive role and, since healing can take several months, it helps to maintain the foot in a healthy environment and thus prevent the establishment of microorganisms that could eventually lead to an infection.

[0006] Conventional hoof care for a horse consists primarily of local treatments, beginning with hoof cleaning, as well as the application of sanitizing or even antiseptic products, such as cade oil, or poultices designed to strengthen the sole. There are also nutritional supplements that primarily target the hoof horn by stimulating its growth or strengthening it.

[0007] However, these solutions do not allow for the long-term and effective maintenance of a healthy environment, particularly in the inner part of the foot.

[0008] Ozone therapy, a technique consisting of injecting a mixture of ozone and oxygen into an organism or of locally treating a part of the body, for analgesic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory purposes, is used to treat a human or animal subject.

[0009] According to document CC Repciuc et al., Antibacterial effect of topical ozone in horses with distal limb infected wounds, Agriculture (2019) nos. 3-4, 111-112, a treatment for a lesion on a horse's limb using gaseous ozone is known. A PVC sleeve is placed around the horse's limb at the level of the wound; it is hermetically sealed at both ends, and gaseous ozone, at a concentration of 50 pg / ml, is introduced into the resulting enclosure for approximately 30 minutes. The procedure must be repeated. A bactericidal effect of this treatment is observed.

[0010] Document FR3089411A3 describes a pouch made of a flexible, gas-tight material for treating human or animal limbs with one or more wounds. It has an opening for inserting the limb(s) to be treated, which can be hermetically sealed with zippers. It is equipped with an ozone supply inlet which, in use, is connected to an ozone generator, and a window open to the inside and outside of the pouch in which a filter is fixed for the release of excess ozone.

[0011] These devices have the disadvantage of not being suitable for the care of the foot of a hoofed animal. As mentioned above, the foot of a hoofed animal, and in particular of an equine, has a complex internal structure which, although protected by a horny part, can also contain toxic germs that are difficult to detect in the absence of a lesion or lameness in the animal.

[0012] The present invention provides a solution to this problem. It offers a pouch for the care of a part of a limb of a hoofed animal, and specifically intended for animal foot care: it comprises a lower part and an upper part, it is made of a flexible, gas-tight material and it has a slot for inserting the animal's limb which is equipped with a watertight opening and closing device, an inlet for supplying the bag with an ozone-based treatment gas, a filter for evacuating excess treatment gas, said device having, in its lower part, a base made of a rigid material and whose surface intended to be in contact with the supporting face of the foot is irregular.

[0013] The invention further relates to a method for non-therapeutic treatment of a foot of a hoofed animal using a pouch as defined above.

[0014] Before describing the invention further, certain terms used in the description are defined.

[0015] By care device, or treatment, according to the invention, it is understood that it can be therapeutic or non-therapeutic. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is a non-therapeutic, or cosmetic, care or treatment, and the foot of the animal to be treated does not have any lesions or wounds. It makes it possible to maintain the environment of the foot essentially free of pathogenic microorganisms, or at least in a quantity of pathogenic microorganisms that is unlikely to cause infection.

[0016] The term pathogenic microorganism includes, in particular, any bacterium, virus, fungus, or parasite capable of causing an infection of the animal's foot. Examples include molds, the bacterium Fusobacterium necrophorum, the main cause of thrush, and the bacterium Dermatophilus congolensis, which causes mud fever.

[0017] The term "ungulate" preferably refers to an equine animal, and even more preferably to a horse or pony. However, the invention is not limited to this; it is suitable for treating the hoof of any ungulate. The size of the pocket can be determined according to the height and width of the animal's leg.

[0018] Ozone-based medical gas refers to pure ozone (O3) or ozone mixed with oxygen gas (O2) in a concentration of up to 95% (v / v). Ozone is highly unstable, and its concentration may therefore vary within the bag. It is produced by a commercially available ozone generator.

[0019] By gas-tight, we understand a seal that may not be total. In the context of the invention, it is important that the foot of the treated animal be exposed to the treatment gas, which, thanks to the device of the invention, is achieved even if a minute quantity of gas may escape through the upper and lateral openings of the bag.

[0020] Variants of the invention as defined above are presented below.

[0021] Thus, in one embodiment, the base of the lower part is made of rubber. This material is rigid enough not to deform under the weight of the animal during treatment. It has the advantage of being washable and even sterilizable. very easily without risk of damage.

[0022] The base has a shape adapted to hold the hoof. According to one variant, it has a bowl shape, which allows the hoof to be immobilized without risk of trauma.

[0023] Advantageously, the surface of the base intended to receive the shoe is flat in the sense that it is not curved, and has irregularities. On its edges, the base rises to a height adapted to the shoe, preferably at least to the midpoint of the shoe, or even above.

[0024] In one embodiment, the irregularity of the base's surface, intended to receive the animal's foot—that is, to be in contact with the supporting surface of the foot—is provided by ribs or grooves. Preferably, the base and its irregularities are a single piece, which can be obtained by molding, extrusion, or any other suitable technique. The purpose of these irregularities is to allow optimal circulation of the treatment gas under the animal's foot when it is standing. They will therefore preferably be sufficiently rigid so as not to be crushed during treatment.

[0025] In one embodiment, the upper part of the pouch has a height determined such that, in use, the animal's knee is enclosed within the pouch. It is not necessary for the pouch to conform to the shape of the animal's limb; indeed, for effective treatment, it is preferable for the pouch to be sufficiently large to contain an effective quantity of therapeutic gas. Depending on the size of the animal, the pouch will have a greater or lesser height. It may be cylindrical in shape, but also flared towards its lower end.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the pouch slot extends from the upper end of the pouch to the lower part, thus allowing for easy placement of the pouch. Within the scope of the invention, it can of course be shortened and not reach the lower part of the pouch.

[0027] In one embodiment, the opening and closing mechanism of the slot consists of a hook-and-loop fastener attached along one edge of the slot and a complementary hook-and-loop strip attached to the other edge of the slot. This mechanism must allow for the most airtight closure possible in order to prevent excessive leakage of the medical gas.

[0028] In one embodiment, the upper part of the pouch has at its distal or upper end a pouch tightening band.

[0029] The pocket can be made of one piece, or of several pieces of the same flexible material or of different flexible materials.

[0030] If the pouch of the invention is made from at least two flexible materials, for the purpose of achieving the most complete seal possible, particular attention shall be paid to the seams. Thus, they may be coated with an inert material that seals the holes formed by the stitching.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the bag has a window open to the inside and outside, inside which a pouch containing the filter is fixed, near the inlet for supplying the bag with ozone-based medical gas. This window can be made by cutting out a section of the bag material at its upper part. The pouch is made of a material permeable to the medical gas. The purpose of this pouch containing the filter is to evacuate excess medical gas in a decomposed form, essentially as gaseous oxygen, to prevent the release of gaseous ozone. For this purpose, the filter is preferably made of activated carbon.

[0032] In one embodiment, the supply inlet of the ozone-based medical gas bag is equipped with a gas inlet regulating valve.

[0033] The invention further relates to a non-therapeutic treatment method for the foot of a hoofed animal comprising the following steps:

[0034] the foot member to be treated of said animal is placed in a pocket of the invention as defined above, by positioning the foot on the base in the lower part of the pocket intended to receive it;

[0035] the pouch is hermetically sealed around the limb; and

[0036] The bag is supplied with gaseous ozone via the regulating valve, for a period of at least 10 minutes, at a flow rate of ozonated treatment gas of 0.5-5 g / h, preferably in the order of 3 g / h.

[0037] By a period of at least 10 minutes, it is understood that the exposure may be of 5 minutes, then renewed a few minutes later for 5 minutes.

[0038] The present invention will be better understood with the aid of the following detailed description and the accompanying figures, in which:

[0039] [Fig.1] is a view of a pocket of the invention,

[0040] [Fig.2] is a view of a pocket of the invention according to [Fig.1] in which the foot A horse has been introduced and is currently being treated.

[0041] With reference to [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 2], the pouch 1 has a shape adapted to the animal limb to be inserted. In [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 2], it is sheath-shaped; without departing from the scope of the invention, it can have any suitable shape, for example, it can flare out towards its lower part to enlarge the volume for treating the foot. Advantageously, it is made from a single piece of material, but it can also be manufactured by assembling several pieces.

[0042] The pouch 1 comprises a lower part 2 which receives a rigid base 8 having irregularities on its surface 9, designed to receive the animal's foot, which are shown in [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 2] as grooves 9. These irregularities create empty spaces under the animal's foot through which the treatment gas will circulate, allowing access to the innermost areas of the foot, precisely those most affected by a toxic concentration of pathogenic microorganisms. The bowl-shaped base 8 provides perfect immobilization. The animal's foot is positioned without significant constraint, as it is not required to move, thus allowing for optimal care. Its height is variable. In [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 2], it is positioned halfway up the hoof being treated. The base 8 is placed in the lower section and does not need to be anchored there. According to this design, it is therefore removable and can be taken out for cleaning. However, if the lower section 3 is wide, it may be useful to fix it in place to facilitate positioning and securing the foot on the base 8.

[0043] As illustrated in [Fig.1] and [Fig.2], the pocket 1 includes an upper part 3 in the height of which are provided various means for its use, described below from the lower part 2 to the upper end of the pocket 1.

[0044] A bag containing a filter 7 is fixed in a window formed between the lower part 2 and the medical gas supply inlet 6. The bag is made of a gas-permeable material, particularly permeable to medical gas and oxygen. The filter 7 is located inside.

[0045] At the filter, the inlet 6 for the medical gas supply is provided. During treatment, as illustrated in [Fig. 2], a medical gas supply line is attached to it, connected to an ozone generator (not shown). To control the supply flow rate, the inlet 6 can be equipped with a regulating valve. This control can be carried out from the ozone generator.

[0046] Above the treatment gas supply inlet 6, a slot 4 is cut into the upper part 3 from its upper end to the lower part 2. Its height is variable, adapted to the animal being treated, to facilitate the user's insertion of the foot into the pocket 1. This slot 4 is equipped with an opening and closing mechanism 5. In [Fig. 1], this mechanism 5 consists of two complementary hook-and-loop fasteners, one 11 with one length attached to one edge of the slot 4, and the other 12 with its entire surface attached to the other edge of the slot 4. In [Fig. 2], the hook-and-loop fastener 11 is folded over the complementary hook-and-loop fastener 12 to enclose the animal's foot. This closure must be as gas-tight as possible, in order to effectively treat the foot for a fairly short time, and also prevent the leakage of treatment gas.

[0047] On the upper end of the pouch 1, a tightening band 13 is provided, which can be seen wrapped around the animal's limb above the knee in [Fig. 2]; it can be approximately 5 cm wide. As with organ 5, the closure must be as gas-tight as possible.

[0048] Once the animal's foot is enclosed in boot 1, the supply of treatment gas is activated via the supply inlet 6 from an ozone generator. The treatment lasts approximately 10 to 30 minutes. It can be repeated.

[0049] The use of a pouch of the invention in a therapeutic treatment method is illustrated below in the context of the prevention of treatment of a fork rotten with visible infection up to the bulbs: soft tissues, partly necrotic, giving off a strong smell of rot.

[0050] The horse's leg is inserted into the open pouch 1 of the invention, which is placed on the ground. With the horse's natural movement as it lowers its leg, the hoof becomes embedded in the rubber base 8 of the lower part 2 of the pouch 1. The lateral opening 4 and the upper opening of the pouch 1 are closed. The supply inlet 6 is connected to an ozone generator via a conduit, for example, made of polyethylene inert to ozone, and the ozonated treatment gas is insufflated into the pouch at a rate of 3.5 g of ozonated gas per hour. The treatment consisted of a cycle of three consecutive 5-minute sessions, followed by a 10-day break, and then another cycle of three more consecutive 5-minute sessions.

[0051] The objective of renewing the cycle after about ten days is to eradicate the spores that rise to the surface during the first few days following the first treatment cycle. Indeed, the microorganisms present on the surface are oxidized, which causes the movement of the deep colonies still present in spore form towards aerobic surfaces, which will be eradicated during the second treatment cycle, thus limiting the risk of recurrence.

[0052] On the third day following treatment, the following observations were made:

[0053] - disappearance of scabs on the pasterns and beginning of a return to a normal appearance of the skin ;

[0054] - smoother appearance of the soft parts and tightening of the tissues of the fork; And

[0055] - absence of thick liquids such as pus coming out of the frog, absence of tissues necrotic.

[0056] Then, the feet returned to a normal appearance.

[0057] This example applied to a therapeutic treatment of a pocket of the invention serves to demonstrate the interest of a non-therapeutic treatment of the invention which will allow the maintenance of a healthy environment in and around the foot of the animal.

Claims

Claims

1. Pouch (1) for the care of a part of a limb of an ungulate animal, comprising a lower part (2) and an open upper part (3), said pouch being made of a flexible, gas-tight material and comprising a slot (4) for inserting the limb of the animal and equipped with a sealed opening and closing member (5), an inlet (6) for supplying the pouch with an ozone-based care gas and a filter (7) for evacuating excess care gas, the pouch (1) being characterized in that it is intended for the care of a foot and in that it comprises in its lower part (2) a base (8) made of a rigid material and the surface (9) of which is intended to be in contact with the support face of the foot is irregular.

2. Bag according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (8) is made of rubber.

3. Pocket according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the surface (8) of the lower part (2) intended to be in contact with the support face of the foot comprises ribs or grooves (10).

4. Pouch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base (8) has a bowl shape.

5. Pouch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is intended for the care of a horse's foot.

6. Pouch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its upper part (3) has a determined height such that, in use, the animal's knee is enclosed in the pouch (1).

7. Pocket according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the member (5) for opening and closing the slot (4) consists of a self-gripping tab (11) fixed along the length of one edge of the slot (4) and a complementary self-gripping strip (12) fixed to the other edge of the slot (4).

8. Pouch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper part (3) comprises at its distal end a band (13) for tightening the pouch (1).

9. Bag according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a window open to the inside and the outside inside which is fixed a bag enclosing said filter (7), close to the inlet (6) for supplying the bag with ozone-based treatment gas.

10. Bag according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter (7) is based on activated carbon.

11. Bag according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet (6) for supplying the bag (1) with ozone-based treatment gas is equipped with a regulating valve.

Images