When do we block? When do we wrap?

As a full time trimmer that started in Sept 1973, I was brought up in the school of trimming where we did not block or wrap but trimmed so that we did not have to Wrap or Block. I did not get serious about it until Batavia 1997, at the Second Hoof Trimmers’ Conference, after trimming for 24 years. It was also my introduction to hoof anatomy and hoof mechanics.

At that time I bought a kit from Hoof-it and went back to trimming without doing either blocking or wrapping and my biggest problem was not so much not knowing how to wrap or block, as much as “When” to wrap or block.

Blocking for pain will generally prevent additional trauma and promote healing. Also a properly aligned block restores stability for locomotion as well as reducing any pain.

As I started to wrap and block, I knew it was something I was going to charge for, as it does take time. I let it be the farmers’ decision and, as I was always trying to save them money, I gave them the choice. They generally said no as it was too expensive. Eventually I got more confident and started doing more wrapping as the problems of inter-digital dermatitis increased and again I let the farmer make the decisions until I got enough confidence that I could make the decision on wrapping.

A lot of things have changed technologically and I am now trimming with wheels, and the availability of blocks and glues have improved beyond expectations. Try as I might in the early days, I could not get blocks to stay on beyond three days but I finally have a handle on that. Early glues were temperamental and unreliable for reasons we did not understand and even new glues require a clean dry level hoof to bond properly

But the biggest and hardest thing I have had to learn is when to block. “WE BLOCK FOR PAIN!” Forget everything else. If you get a painful response on the bottom of a claw, you block the other claw; it is your decision and you make the call. This is what I had to learn and I thank Ladd Siebert, Huge Love and Ed Spencer for finally getting it through my thick head.

As far as how to block, it was learning especially with the epoxy glue guns that you cannot waste time and if you wait too long after applying the glue to the block and a film develops on the glue it is not going to stick properly. That is almost more important than dealing with a clean dry level claw.

To be effective, the block has to be properly placed. A block placed too far forward is as bad as using a block that is too small, so a block must be of a size that will cover the complete sole, that will touch the ground and the block must be long enough to bring the toe to its proper position of keeping the sole parallel to the floor. We will sometimes allow for a roll-over at the toe by angling the sole tip of the block at the toe.

As far as wrapping goes, the latest attitude is reflected in some quotes from Dr Ladd Siebert when he says that you do not wrap pus and Dr Chuck Guard when he says that you only wrap if you are trying to stop the flow of blood (hemorrhaging).

In the case of abscesses with pus, bandages or wraps restrict the drainage of the hole that we have created to allow for drainage of pus and the entry of air to promote the healing. Mother Nature is the greatest healer.

The reasons that we don’t wrap is that a bandage holds in moisture, promotes anaerobic bacteria, can restrict circulation and irritate the skin.

These were lessons hard learned as I think most of us want to wrap a wound to keep it clean and hold the medicine in contact with the hoof for a short time before it becomes contaminated and ineffective. If we do bandage, it is necessary that the bandage be removed between three and five days.

We have many customers who want to see wrapping done even when we feel that it is not a good idea. So let’s Block only to ease pain and wrap only when really necessary.

Still trying to be the hoof trimmer’s hoof trimmer!

Peter Kudelka
[edited by Ed Spencer and Thelma Kudelka]

"PDK Hoof Trimming" "PDK Shearing & Supplies"
Peter & Thelma Kudelka
Box 39, Mitchell, Ontario, N0K 1N0
1-519-348-4266
1-519-274-2050