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  Discussion on Shoes were too tight= Severe toe bruises
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New Member:
aqhaam

Posted on Sunday, Dec 9, 2007 - 2:39 pm:

My gelding had a nine month show season this year. In November, we decided we would turn him out for a few hours a day and let him be more of a horse for a while. When he was three, he fell and tore both front suspensory ligaments along with other injuries. We have had to be really careful with him (he also acts like an idiot when turned out). He is six now and has been sound for a while, so we decided that getting out and running probably wouldn't hurt him. Well, he was wearing aluminum shoes, and he somehow broke the l.f. one (no idea) and was very lame. Our farrier came out an put steel shoes with clips on, because he has a tendency to get shoes off anyway. He was fine for a while, then he became really lame. Our vet came out and pulled the shoes. He said that the shoes had been put on way too tight. Visually, there were bright red bruises on the white line area of his toe on the underside of both of his feet. Unfortunately, our farrier had to go in and have his hip replaced. We were told to leave shoes off as long as possible anyway. He was extremely sore barefoot, so we bought him a pair of Easy Boots which have been a godsend.We soaked his feet in Epsom salts and made poultices. He did improve with bute. A substitute farrier who knows my vet came and glued shoes on him about two weeks after the steel shoes were pulled. He was fine for a day but then went pretty lame again, even when we put the Easy boots on over the shoes. Well, he somehow got one shoe off in his stall, and then the other one a few days later, and he actually looks much better, but is still off w/out the boots. We have been trying to get in touch with the farrier to no avail. We have been applying the green epsom salts gel w/ diapers and I cannot tell if it is helping or not. Overall, he is getting better and is on no bute, but he still isn't good without the boots. I am actually starting to see some bruising coming up at his heel area on the rt. foot.How long should it take these bruises to heal? Is it possible for him to have an abcess somewhere? Does the green gel really help? How long does it usually take before they can be shod? Are Rim pads a good move? He has already missed so much of his career due to injury, and I really wanted this to be a fun winter for him before next year. Thanks to any who reply
Member:
scooter

Posted on Sunday, Dec 9, 2007 - 3:17 pm:

Welcome to HA Nicole. My horse went through terrible bruising at his toes. Boots helped him, he just couldn't tolerate barefoot with the bruising present. I had him shod twice and it made him worse, had to remove shoes within days.

I think it is mentioned in the article for bruised soles that you should route out the shoe so there is no sole contact. I did this with a wide web shoe and added equipac to protect his soles. He was 100% almost immediately. It took 2 shoeing cycles with the equipack, then we just went to the routed out wide web shoe for 5 weeks and now he is barefoot. He has many other problems with his hooves but that package helped get him through the bruising and be sound and comfortable.
Member:
juliem

Posted on Sunday, Dec 9, 2007 - 4:34 pm:

Sore with shoes, sore barefoot, comfortable with boots. Sounds like a solution for the short term is the boots. I'd try to get the bruising resolved before making any more changes.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Dec 10, 2007 - 6:47 am:

Welcome Nicole,
How long? Abscesses? Treatment? specifically for your horse will depend on many small details found during examination so must be decided by those who can look at your horse and situation. I have not used the green gel: does it seem to be doing whatever the reason for dispensing it was? You will find your questions addressed at Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Hoof Abscesses, Bruises, and Gravels. You may also want to look at Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Problems Following Shoeing or Trimming to further understand your horse's problem.
DrO
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