aes
New Member
Posts: 188 
|
Post by aes on Aug 29, 2015 5:10:56 GMT
My horse is lame on her front right and the farrier thinks it's either an abscess or a bruise, he's not sure which. There's one dark hot soft spot close to the side of her hoof that seems sensitive when you poke at it. It's about the size of a pencil eraser. Farrier pulled the shoe and has me soaking daily in Epsom salts, packing it with a tampon then vet wrap then duct tape. She's in a less muddy pen than usual.
I hate seeing her like this. Should I get the vet out too? Any other advice? She's limping at a walk.
|
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Aug 29, 2015 12:25:03 GMT
There are many thoughts on soaking a hoof and why to do it...
A "dark spot" is sometimes a point of entry for a foreign object to have entered the hoof {puncture}, or a bruise.
Is that "hot spot" on the sole {bottom} of her hoof or the sidewall?
A lot of differing ideas of where to go with a potential hoof abscess and the treatment involved.
Some will "ride it out" with a wait and see attitude, others will call the vet.
So, the bottom line is you think you have abscess...
So you started to soak the hoof to soften it for a release point, correct?
{you do realize though that soaking her hoof also softens the entire hoof which can lead to other problems so be careful how long and how much this is done}
So soaking in Epsom Salts, warm water and over the top of the coronet band right???
Unless my horses feet are hard, I use a drawing agent such as ihcthammol drawing salve to pull the infection {that is what a abscess is} to the point of least resistance for release.
I really clean the hoof well, slather on drawing slave, place a absorbent pad over that, wrap with vet wrap, then and only then would I do duct tape. I prefer a medicating hoof boot or regular hoof boot as it keeps the entire area cleaner I find. My horse is now on stall rest...
So, you pulled a front shoe and see a dark spot and have heat in that area....
Has your horse ever been "nailed", a close nail, quicked, had something puncture their hoof??? Any injury in the past months to her hoof???
If it is a abscess something happened to enable bacteria to invade the innards of the hoof...
So, you need to find a way "if an abscess" to relieve the pressure and allow the bacteria, the "pus" to escape.
As soon as a opening happens the horse will feel better as the pressure is released that creates the "OUCH!"
This though is a crucial time to keep that escape route open, open of debris, allowing the poisons to escape the body. It can take a fed days to several weeks for all that debris to escape.
A series of antibiotics at this point is probably a good idea as is again super careful foot attention.
{when that abscess is popped open, the smell is pretty gross and black material leaks forth}
Only once all pus and fluids have stopped leaking out the weep hole do you replace the shoe...it could be weeks or maybe only days she is "barefoot".
** once positive everything has drained completely, sealing of that hole may be needed if it not seal itself. Something to ask the vet & your farrier about to seal out any organisms or debris from entering and starting this again....**
So, some good articles for you to read to better understand what is happening and what you are doing by soaking her hoof...
Easily read and understood with good information about doing what you are doing and for calling the vet...
www.thehorse.com/articles/19722/healing-hoof-abscesses
www.horsechannel.com/horse-exclusives/treating-hoof-abscess.aspx
www.thehorse.com/articles/19722/healing-hoof-abscesses
www.ironfreehoof.com/hoof-abscesses.html
So me...
I would be calling the vet as sometimes piece of mind is worth every penny spent.
The fact the farrier "saw" but did not try to pare a small amount of sole exactly in that spot for a blow-out.... 
You could probably wait a few days to call, but if this "limping" persists for more than 4 days as you soak to draw the infection out...make that call for vets help.
I would at the least make a call into your vet and speak to them.
They will ask questions and you will seek advice and get some...
Based upon what they are hearing, and you are hearing a decision of "wait" or "come" will be made...
This will give you some "piece of mind"...something we all need when troubled about our horses....
Some other things you should consider...
if you have your horse going outside she is now being forced to walk on a hoof that pains her...in her stall she can freely move but not be forced to walk to get outside or in...
because her shoe is pulled she is now unbalanced
whether you pad that area or not you run the risk of her breaking up her hoof because you pulled the shoe and she is not "trimmed" for no shoes and now has a softer hoof from soaking.
Let us know how she does...
Good luck.
 ...
jmo..
|
|
aes
New Member
Posts: 188
|
Post by aes on Aug 29, 2015 22:31:25 GMT
Thanks. Both front shoes are off now. There are no stalls but she's been moved to the driest paddock. I will definitely call the vet Monday.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2015 18:06:15 GMT
How is your horse doing? Better I hope?
|
|
aes
New Member
Posts: 188
|
Post by aes on Sept 3, 2015 23:58:37 GMT
The vet came out today and looked at her and x-rayed her. Severe bruising on both fronts. No sign of abscess or any bone abnormalities. She has very thin soles. So now we put the shoes back on and she will just need rest and some hoof hardener. My poor girl.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2015 1:04:03 GMT
Poor girl. Hope she starts feeling better soon!
|
|
nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
|
Post by nhg on Sept 6, 2015 3:47:47 GMT
You're a good mommy AES.
|
|
|
|
Post by lorddaxter on Sept 6, 2015 11:53:46 GMT
I like using a boot for poultices and animalintex, works much faster:)
Hope she gets better soon, the weather right now prob isnt helping much, last thing you need when trying to keep a foot clean!
|
|
aes
New Member
Posts: 188
|
Post by aes on Sept 6, 2015 20:20:37 GMT
Thanks guys. The farrier and vet recommended keratex hoof hardener, I bought some today. Has anyone used it?
|
|
|
|
Post by lorddaxter on Sept 6, 2015 21:06:36 GMT
Thanks guys. The farrier and vet recommended keratex hoof hardener, I bought some today. Has anyone used it? I use it for Ira who has soft feet, it does help, I put it on the sole and the hoof up to about 2 inches under the coronary band:) |
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Sept 7, 2015 0:57:57 GMT
My neighbor uses it on her horse.
He had hoof wall separation and it has helped with that and with the tender sole her horse suffers from.
Think she applies it 2x a week faithfully and her horse has been able to go "shoe-free" riding over trails even with the tender sole.
|
|
aes
New Member
Posts: 188
|
Post by aes on Sept 10, 2015 5:47:01 GMT
Now my friends horse who had been sharing a paddock with mine until I moved her has come up lame! Same thing, heat and ouchy on both fronts. Neither of them were ever lame at our old barn. It is unseasonably muddy but the paddocks could also be a lot cleaner and they aren't huge. I'm just so sick of this. :-(
|
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Sept 10, 2015 9:41:18 GMT
That's unfortunate for both of you and especially the horses.
Weather conditions, well Mother Nature needs to cooperate some it sounds like to remedy that.
The fact your paddock area is filled with excrement that mixed with wet conditions now has by the sound of it caused your horses feet to soften and as they softened, probably fine-line cracks appeared to allow bacteria in....
So now possibly another abscess or thrush situation, a possible rocky foot-bed they stand on and with all the other conditions you now have a problem.
I would be speaking with the B/O about the cleanliness issues....if they "won't" do something either you must or you need to find a new barn to call home.
The saying of, "No Feet No Horse" are truer words never were spoken....
That or although you may not want a stall board situation your horse in this place needs one so she has the opportunity to allow her feet to dry out.
This may also be a "out" for you to have the offending horse with no paddock manners be moved and the original horse yours was out with moved to the same paddock area.
Sometimes having a t/o with shelter situation 24/7 is not always the best when conditions such as these present...
I as the owner of the other horse would be screaming bloody murder though if you moved my horse to a wetter environment. It is you who arrived last is it not? That if the case then puts you in a position of dealing with the nastiest conditions...
...
some thoughts...
|
|
aes
New Member
Posts: 188
|
Post by aes on Sept 10, 2015 11:47:45 GMT
She and I moved there together and she and I were there together last night when we discovered this about his feet. Unfortunately this barn has no stalls. We will watch him and move him to the new paddock if necessary, for sure. It's just maddening!
|
|
|
|
Post by carshon on Sept 10, 2015 14:18:12 GMT
I wonder if it is mild laminitis? Could be something in the pasture. Try remission to see if it helps
|
|
aes
New Member
Posts: 188
|
Post by aes on Sept 10, 2015 15:57:14 GMT
The vet and farrier did not think laminitis. What do you mean remission?
|
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Sept 10, 2015 17:39:30 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by horselady on Sept 10, 2015 19:49:44 GMT
I realize that all is difficult to manage but those paddocks really should be cleaned up and kept decent. not impeccable but decent. also the horses are going to need consistent worming if they are in a small paddock together and eating off the ground. hope your barn owner is aware of all this and is not ignoring the situation for a health standpoint. also as a reminder, urine and smells from feces can cause breathing problems in humans as well as horses living in those conditions.
|
|
aes
New Member
Posts: 188
|
Post by aes on Sept 10, 2015 20:27:56 GMT
They do eat out of feeders which I appreciate. The BO wants to clean the paddocks but we've had such a crazy wet summer it hasn't dried up enough for him to get in with the tractor.
We are moving paddocks Oct. to a much larger one with two other horses. No young pushy ones and looks like better, drier ground.
|
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Sept 10, 2015 21:11:05 GMT
aes.... I get at my home between 1-3" a day of rain sometimes more every day for months on end.
I can't bring a tractor into my smaller barn pasture either for fear of tearing the thing to death...the horse hooves do a pretty good job of it as it is..
Know what....I take a manure fork and wheelbarrow and go for a walk, a lot of walk actually to pick up after all the horses.
Not only are my 3 locked in here every night but during the day I have 2 more come visiting and they leave "deposits" too....my "sacrifice" paddock is not that large either.
My pasture, true pasture is 5.5 acres.
If your barn owner really wanted to clean the paddocks he would....
Maybe making a comment to him in person that the paddock is really bad will get some action.
Truthfully, if my horse has/had a abscess that has been draining no way would I want them in that filthy slop...
Don't care how cautious you are...germs and bacteria fester, breed and grow in that environment.
And you now have a healing hole in the hoof someplace to allow bacteria/germs to get back in...
Don't let your B/O give you a line of nonsense for their lack of keeping the place clean.
In the end it is your horse who is paying the price for their housekeeping skills or the lack of them... actually it is your pocket that just paid and her hurting.
You are the only one who can advocate for your horse...
...
I do wonder aes...does everyone's horse live in such wet, mucky, and filthy condition or just yours subjected to this??? Are all the paddocks this bad???
I know I could not and would not keep my horse in a barn like this if this is how it is month after month, year after year since our seasonal weather is in patterns...I just couldn't!
jmo...
|
|
...
