Ever seen a buck that looks like this? DDH fan Thomas Welter shared these photos with us of the buck he tagged two years ago with a deformed hoof. Welter shot the buck after noticing him limping, initially believing he was missing a leg (click here to watch the video).
After speaking with Welter, we learned the buck had a broken leg and therefore couldn’t walk on the hoof to wear it down, thus causing the deformity.
If you ever come across a deer with one or multiple deformed hooves, you could also have a deer with “slipper foot” which has a similar appearance to Welter’s buck. First described in popular press by former D&DH contributing editor Dr. Leonard Lee Rue III more than 50 years ago, laminitis, or “slipper foot” and also “foundering disease” is often the result of carb overloading (typically from corn), which leads to a buildup of acid in the rumen, which kills the bacteria that digest carbohydrates. This process then results in an increasing pH in the blood that can hurt or possibly even kill the deer from acidosis. Other causes of slipper foot include nutritional deficiencies, including selenium. Selenium is believed to be readily available in most habitats, however, is often a micronutrient focal point among deer mineral enthusiasts. Certain toxicity in grasses, such as fescue, can also cause slipper foot, though this most often occurs in domestic livestock and not whitetails. Slipper foot can also happen after experiencing and surviving epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). When an animal survives the initial onset, a disruption in hoof growth will occur due to a high fever, which creates a hoof abnormality. In many cases, the slipper foot form occurs. However, in some cases, the hoof can actually slough or break off.
Deer with EHD can develop “club foot” as well, which is a different condition than slipper foot. As we stated previously in this article, when deer are battling EHD, their hooves stop growing to fight the disease. Cracks in the hooves can cause bacterial infections and, hence, club feet such as the one above. The injury usually results in a prolonged injury and eventual death because the foot typically never fully heals.
Deer with EHD or nutritional deficiencies are still safe to eat.
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