• The entire distal part of the leg needs to be clipped and washed from coronary band to fetlock.
• The hoof is trimmed, cleaned and the horn around the entry site pared and/or filed away to a thickness that enable it to be cut easily with a scalpel during the subsequent surgical procedure.
• Surgical preparation of the entire area of operation area and application of a protective dressing.
• Anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medication and tetanus prophylaxis (see Treatment strategies).