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Discussion on Shoeing bruised feet 3...pics
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2007 - 2:29 pm:
Hanks feet have been sprayed with iodine...thus the weird color. His bruises are very visible tho. OPINIONS? Could this be the cause of all his lameness? Thanks
 
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2007 - 4:40 pm:
Dianne, its a little hard for me to tell where the bruising is? Are you talking about on the toe?
My gelding that has white hoofs shows bruising right in front on the toe as well as on the soul next to the point of the frog on both sides of it .. He is not completely lame but does have issues that we are aware of.. I put him in concussion pads and it has helped GREATLY..
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2007 - 5:05 pm:
Yes Ann the purple part rings at the toe. I do wonder if his last shoeing made it worse, before only a little was visible in left front and the right front seemed ok. He was improving daily until then....still not sound, but much better than he is now. I left him barefoot for awhile to dry his hooves and he couldn't hardly walk. With the barrier boots he is almost normal. They are the only thing that has seemed to help him....even more than pain relievers. Hopefully Dr.O. can give me an idea as to what might have caused this and if it could cause severe lameness.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, May 21, 2007 - 8:27 am:
Hello Diane
As to the possible problems following shoeing they are explained in the article associated with this discussion. However we cannot diagnose bruising causing lameness looking at these images: did the bruised areas appear following being shod, where the shoes high on the inside edge, do the areas react dependably to a set of hoof testers? These are the way you would diagnose these type lameness problems.
DrO
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Monday, May 21, 2007 - 5:55 pm:
Thanks Dr.O Vet was here AGAIN today to check Hank...he was quite impressed by his soundness with the boots. He examined his hooves and dug around a little at the bruises and doesn't think that they are bruises...just discoloration from something. On a good note Hanks pulses and heat are completely gone and he is moving better without the boots but very ouchy yet. The vet said he needed more hoof wall as he is walking on his soles and frog....so to continue what I'm doing til more hoof wall grows. If he starts going down hill x-rays are our next step. He still hoof tests slightly sore at toes. So patience and time are what I need it sounds like. If he can get pasture sound barefoot I will be buying some old macs for riding, and TRY to avoid shoes if possible. I don't know what to do about winter when the ground is froze and all these problems start....I guess I have awhile to think about it. Thanks
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Member:
kthorse
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Posted on Monday, May 21, 2007 - 7:42 pm:
Dianne you go girl . Get some old macs. You cannot go barefoot with out a good pair of boots which is why so many people fail at barefoot. Every barefoot horse should have a pair of boots for at least the first year. Even if you don't use them all the time. The more comfortable the horse is the more correctly they walk and faster the feet get tough and heal, I don't think anyone should attempt barefoot without a good pair of boots to start off with. I am happy to hear you say that. Even bruised feet or laminatic feet are comfy in good boots. Maybe not for riding m but why let a horse be in pain walking if they have a choice to not hurt. This a think is the main thing barefoot advocates should push is get boots for your horse. Boots are better than shoes in my opinion they protect the whole hoof. Shoes protect nothing as far as i am concerned. mine got more bruises with shoes than he ever does barefoot.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Monday, May 21, 2007 - 9:08 pm:
Thanks Katrina, I am going to measure for them tomorrow and get some ordered. Hopefully he will get pasture sound barefoot. Right now he is wearing the Davies barrier boots about 20 hrs. a day, he is very sore without them....but improving in small increments, he is still getting at least 1 gr bute a day also so he has a LONG way to go.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 11:34 pm:
Dr.O. I have Hanks boots ordered, how do I determine he can start walk under saddle? I don't want to cause anymore damage.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 7:56 am:
What is the diagnosis Diane?
DrO
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 8:18 am:
The vets current theory is Hank had a bout of laminitis following his rabies shot, followed by a poor shoeing job, along with too short of hoof walls and bruised soles. He said for now if I wanted to save some money he didn't think x-rays were necessary..... as he is SLOWLY improving.
Right now we are cash strapped because of a few unseen things, and our vet bills pretty high because of the horses and problems calving.
So for now I opted out of the x-rays, but if he starts getting worse they will be done. The vet seems to think once he grows some hoof wall he will be much better. I don't plan on riding him in the near future, was just wondering how to tell he is ready. The vet said he thought with the boots we could do a little walk under saddle. Hank needs some exercise to help lower his weight. I do hand walk him now and he willingly trots with the boots on and looks very good. Without the boots....on hard ground he is VERY sore, on soft ground he is still sore, but not near as bad (without the boots) Thanks
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 10:35 pm:
If it is bruising Diane I would follow the recommendations in the article on bruising, basically not riding the horse until sound. See the article on bruising for more.
DrO
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 6:22 am:
Dr.O The vet said not to have Hank trimmed for 2 mos. he is due June 11. I do agree he needs some more hoofwall, but with his long toe thing finally getting better, would that set us back?
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Member:
kthorse
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Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 7:20 am:
Here is her first oppinion. I asked her if you would be able to e-mail her and send some pictures and explain whats going on.
I only got 3 pictures that came through just of the soles. I would need profile shots. What is the lameness history?
The bruising could be caused by a semi-DrOpped coffin bone though...meaning the cb is hitting the sole on impact and bruising occurs. This could have happened with his cb if he had some kind of even mild laminitis. I would need more pics and to hear what his lameness is like, how long its been, etc. though.
Also in feet with these problems those bars just cause more pain. Feet without the problems the cb is pulled up higher in the hoof capsule and the bars are not as much of an issue, but in feet like this sometimes the bars become another symptom. Its a very tough foot to work on!
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 7:38 am:
Thanks Katrina, she's right he always has had a "tough" foot to work on....even before the laminitis. I will see if I can get some good shots of his hooves this weekend. The only time he was sound barefoot is when he had a longer hoof wall.
That can cause the problems he had tho...so he is a hard one to trim. The vet thought the "bruising" in the pics above was from iodine getting under his shoe, when he scraped it, it kinda scraped off.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 8:13 am:
Diane, I would trim the foot based on hoof length and angle, does the wall show signs of too much length (cracks and flares), toughness of the sole, and possible modifying the above with the past history as my guide.
DrO
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 8:42 am:
Thanks Dr.O. actually his wall is too short according to the vet, so Hank is is doing much of his weight bearing on his soles. He always has flares...the farrier knocks them back and within 2 weeks they are back. He doesn't have cracking or chipping except where the nail holes are. I will try to get some good hoof shots this weekend for your opinion. When I measured for his old Macs his hoof was 5.5 ins. long and 5.5 ins. wide... if that means anything. Thanks again.
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Member:
kthorse
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Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 10:52 am:
Diane E-mail me and I will give you my trimmers address, She is excellent and I trust her 100%. She said she would be happy if you e-mailed her with questions and sent her pictures. It would be better to talk to her. and show her recent pictures. My e-mail is kthorse@optonline.net
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Member:
kthorse
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Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 10:53 am:
Sorry Kturner1999@optonline.net
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 6:59 pm:
Dr.O. and anyone else who might know! I got Hank out and scrubbed his feet, but I just can't get good pics, my camera is old and about shot I think. Anyway these sole shots will show you my concerns What is that ridge of sole? at the toe? Why is his frog sunken in now, when not long ago it was big plump, and very healthy looking? Could he have a false sole? It seems his back hooves do and I have been able to slowly remove it and underneath is a white hard sole. Sorry these pics aren't better I will keep trying.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 7:05 pm:
Thanks Katrina, I haven't figured out how to get my e-mail working on this new computer yet, it keeps saying something about a socket...which is way over my head. I have to get a hold of my internet co. to see what the problem is, but they are closed when I get home....maybe Tues
I trust Dr.O.'s opinion he hasn't led me wrong yet! I just need to start listening to him better..sigh.
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Member:
kthorse
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Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 8:45 pm:
Diane it looks to me its from the coffin bone rotation . I think the coffin bone is causing the bruising and the soles protuding instead of concaving. The ridge is I think is separation caused from the rotation or laminitis that doesnt seem to have healed. I hope I am wrong. Dr O is this possible. It looks like a lamintic hoof to me. When I went back and looked at bruising part 2 the bruises I am sure are from the coffin bone. I think that until the rotation is fixed he will stay with all these problems. I will send your last pictures to Kate(trimmer) and see what she thinks. I trust DrO 100% also, I would love to hear if he also thinks its from the rotation.
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Member:
kthorse
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Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 9:05 pm:
Diane, Here is kates oppinion on his hoofs from your recent pictures. I hope you are ok with me sending the pictures to Kate. I just hate to see you struggle so long with this.
His feet are a real mess. Its hard to say. Does she have recent xrays and did she get them when he was lame last year? Also, is he equally lame in both fronts or all feet? Has he abscessed and how often?
If I know where she lives I might be able to find a trimmer for her.
When was the last time he had shoes on? Every time a shoe comes off you are also dealing with some degree of mechanically caused laminitis as the feet start flexing again. It could be unnoticeable in a very healthy horse but in a compromised hoof its worse.
Some of the pics do look like he has lots of built up sole. The frog is being swallowed up by all the excess sole material. Also if she is soaking in iodine it could be drying the hoof out which would shrivel the frog. I would soak in Apple Cider Vinegar and water if she needs to soak. There was a slit way up by the coronet it looked like an abscess exit was it?
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 9:22 pm:
HMMMM I don't know honestly the dark discoloration is from iodine, I had been spraying his sole with it. The last time he was trimmed he still had a small amount of bruising in his left front. I haven't sprayed his foot recently, but I could still smell the iodine when I scrubbed his soles so it must stay there for awhile, which don't help with the pics much.
When the vet examined him Monday, he said the good news was he didn't think it was from his coffin bone sinking. He does have a laminatic hoof, that believe it or not is improving....his white line is tightening and the bruising in the white line is almost gone. He is starting to walk a little better bare foot, even on hard ground. My vet thinks his recent BAD lameness is from trimming him to short and removing/thinning the hoof wall too much....which in turn could have set up another bout of laminitis. All bounding pulses and heat are now gone and he is getting one gram bute at night. His old macs arrived tonight and they mistakenly put in the pads and pastern wraps too...they didn't charge me for them anyway. I tried them on him and he walked very good in them, except he crosses his front legs when he walks. He just must need to get use to them....I hope. Thanks for your help and I too am curious what Dr.O. thinks that ridge is. It is in his sole bruising pics in part 2 also. Here is another bad pic that shows how much hoof wall was rasped...his last trim was 3 weeks ago.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 9:33 pm:
Thanks Katrina, we must have been posting at the same time, I'll take all the help I can get. He did have x-rays...They are in part 1. I think his sole is built up too much too, BUT should you remove sole from a laminatic hoof if indeed that is the problem, at this point I don't think it is. I guess I need x-rays to know for sure, but it sure seems he has a false sole, or it isn't sluffing off. I know the farrier hasn't been touching his sole the last few trimmings, and I think they really need some cleaning up. Dr.O. what do you think. He had an abscess 2 yrs. ago and none before or after. He seems a little worse in left front, but both are very sore, he was not lame last year at all until winter when the ground froze. It was 2 yrs. ago he foundered and blew the abscess, once thru that he got sound and remained that way...barefoot and shod.
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Saturday, May 26, 2007 - 7:37 am:
Diane,
I've been following your posts as I do anything hoof trimming related as I am learning to trim myself. Just thought I'd tell you TheHorse.com has a good article on hoof trimming and leg stress. Don't know if it has anything in it for your case but it's worth reading as it talks about the the hoof-pastern angle shod vs barefoot.
TheHorse.com-One Step at a Time: Hoof Trimming and Leg Stress
https://thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=8524
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, May 26, 2007 - 8:34 am:
For the flares I would learn to do a little light rasping to keep them away between trimmings but you should look carefully at what you are saying and review the situation: If the horse is not walking on his walls, what is causing the flare? Flares form in response to weight bearing on weakened (overlong) structures or excessive pressure caused by foot imbalance.
DrO
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Saturday, May 26, 2007 - 8:51 am:
Good point Dr.O. he does flare at the heel, where he does seem to have adequate hoof wall. He much prefers to land on his heels. The front half of the hoof is where it seems there is no hoof wall and he is landing on his sole. Shouldn't the hoof wall extend past the sole at the toe? And do you have any guesses as to what that ridge is? have you ever seen it before? Thanks
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Saturday, May 26, 2007 - 9:28 am:
This morning Hank was VERY SORE, I didn't leave the boots on overnight because of the heel bulb sores.
I put his Old Macs on with the comfort pads and decided to walk him up the road in the ditch (soft) to see how he moved in them.
He didn't want to walk in the ditch and hit the road and started doing his power walk...It was beautiful. We walked about a mile and he wanted to take off and run, I'm glad I wasn't riding him! He was prancing and full of energy. I got him back to the power walk, he looked great, hopefully he didn't do any damage, but he was VERY HAPPY to be able to move again. Now if I can get him half that good without the boots I'd be happy. I would like to walk him that far daily as it is good for his mind and body, for you guys with sore footed horses using boots, do you think I could hurt anything?
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Saturday, May 26, 2007 - 4:56 pm:
Just one more question (for now) I took Hank for another walk on the road...about a mile, the vet had said to exercise him as much as possible. He was again prancing and power walking and very much sound. Dr.o. My question is if he was foundering, even with boots on I find it hard to believe he would be sound and actually moving beautifully. The one foundered mare I had was better with boots but far from sound, and would not willingly offer a trot.....let alone a canter. Does this indicate he is more sole sore than foundering? When I let him loose from our walk (boots on) he took off cantering. Without the boots I have a hard time getting him to walk far??? Thanks
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Member:
kthorse
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Posted on Saturday, May 26, 2007 - 5:18 pm:
Diane I am still waiting from Kate to hear about what she thinks about the excess sole. She also said that the laminae can still be inflamed without rotation, which makes it all confusing at least for me.
The flaring at the heals is the easiest to deal with you can do it easily. Its the first thing I learnt and it also helped his underun heels. Just do a little at a time even if its a smidgen each day. So you feel comfortable Do it from the top.File a little downwards at the same angle that the hoof is coming out from the coronet. The idea is as you know to get a straight line from the coronet. My horse also used to flair every week i was taking it off which is why I got so good it takes about 2 minutes, Always stop when the flakes start being small and stick easy to the hoof they don't fall off.you can tell the difference after you have done it a few times. If you do a little at a time you will be safe doing it. Put the hoof down each time and check the angle. Gosh I wish I could show you its so easy. Anyway Kate had said my horse was flaring so much because of a little inflammation from his once overgrown bars, Low and behold she was right. Once the bars were controlled the flaring became under control. I was fighting a never ending battle with the flairs. Now its under control.
LastlyI think yes if he is comfortable in boots take him for walks. It will help if there is any inflammation and help all in good ways. When mine was very lame and sound in boots I rode him at a walk because I believe the more they move the better unless it makes them worse. Just use your judgment don't walk him if it hurts him. Only you can be the judge if it helps or not. It sounds like he is enjoying the walking, I say walk him and you should see improvement. Just let him be your guide. Kate my trimmer said to me in the beginning that she thought it was great you got the boots so that he can move around and help get rid of any inflammation if he has it. I always trust my horses behavior as a guide to what I can and cant do with him. For his heel bulbs put duct tape over the bulbs or that slippery stuff that people use to stop chaffing until he is used to them, something slippery.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Saturday, May 26, 2007 - 6:30 pm:
Thanks Katrina, his old macs came with the pastern wraps, which protect the heel bulbs. He got the sores from the barrier boots. I don't think I can leave the old macs on 24 hrs. a day so I am going to remove them tonight. We got a little rain so maybe the softer ground will help him.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Saturday, May 26, 2007 - 8:07 pm:
Next time I am at the farm store I will invest in a rasp....God help me and Hank! Tonight when I removed his Old Macs he walked off way more comfortable than usual. Another one of his symptoms that I have forgotten to mention was quite a bit of fluid above his fetlock joint...like stocking up in his fronts. It is finally GONE!!! It's been bad ever since this started...no heat there that I could detect tho. So the pulse, heat, and "stocking up" is gone. Could it be we are on the up swing? I'm almost afraid to ride him in the old macs as he was WAY to energetic. I wonder if lungeing is a bad idea..on a big circle? I some how have to get rid of some of that energy before riding or he will never walk. Hand walking just don't cut it.
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Member:
kthorse
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Posted on Saturday, May 26, 2007 - 8:40 pm:
Way to go Diane, I am so happy with the news. If you lunge make sure its not to get rid of energy. Make him thinking with the proper side of his brain, just walk a circle trot a circle walk a circle trot ,etc etc dont let him canter or get silly. Respect works better at calmimg than does tiring them out. oH i AM SOOOOOOOO HAPPY for you, just go slow, he is not yet healed. Those boots are helping him learn to walk properly. You know sometimes some horses(mine) if they have had pain for a while keep anticipating the pain even after its gone, it takes them a while to realize its not comming back. Yours sounds so excited to be in less pain I dont blame him for being a little excited he probably feels your ecitement also. Great great news. Way to go barefoot and boots, I love the combination. Rasp yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Go slow this is to exciting to rush anything.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Saturday, May 26, 2007 - 8:51 pm:
Thanks katrina, I hope in the morning he isn't his usual crippled self. Hank is a level 2 Parelli horse and knows his manners. He Will behave on the lunge, I was just worried about circles being hard on his feet. He is just so full of energy with the old macs on I am not sure I can get the "right" side of his brain working without a little tune up...which involves circles. He really is beside himself with energy
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Member:
kthorse
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Posted on Saturday, May 26, 2007 - 9:10 pm:
You know what you are doing if he has the training it will come back,Large slow circles, should not hurt. Just watch him like a hawk , but I know you will anyway. I really believe he could be on the way to recovery. it sounds like its the best he has been in a long long time. slow and steady wins the race. Yippee!!!!!!!!!!
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Sunday, May 27, 2007 - 6:29 am:
Looking out the widow at dawn I saw a shadow walking across the mud pen....with 4 white socks. He is not crippled this morning and moving fairly well. Was the best sunrise I've had for awhile. The ground is semi-soft from the sprinkle of rain we had, but that didn't make a difference last week. I hope I can get him off the night bute soon! and this isn't some kind of fluke. My vet will be sooo happy to hear this he had been calling me everyday almost to check on Hank. Hank was his 1st patient and now his favorite
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Member:
zarr
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Posted on Sunday, May 27, 2007 - 5:17 pm:
Diane, Clint Anderson just had Pete Ramey on his show. Apparently Clinton has gone barefoot big time, he can afford P. Ramey. This was one of the best demos I've ever seen. It was on RFD today at noon pacific. Pete does have a DVD on it. The 2 things they both stressed was soul it is holy ground and should never be made thin and it takes a couple of months of boots on during the day for feet to get tough. Wish I could just zap this to you it was so good.
One of the most beautiful sunrises a person can have is to see a horse on the mend, Will hope and pray things just get brighter! Cindy
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Sunday, May 27, 2007 - 5:39 pm:
Thanks Cindy, I get RFD-TV and will have to check for a re-run. They seem to run those shows over and over. Thanks for the heads up, I will keep my eye open for it.
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Member:
quatro
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Posted on Sunday, May 27, 2007 - 9:41 pm:
Hey Diane, Isn't it weird, but my first thought of the day, every day, is is Levi swinging his head for his grain in the morning, indicating he is feeling Okey Dokey. Until I let him out of his stall and see how he is moving, I can not start my day. I hope that we can just put this in the memory file someday. Good Luck with Hank
suz
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, May 28, 2007 - 7:23 am:
Foundering horses who are painful do to the tip of the coffin bone pressing on the sole will be more comfortable with a protected sole but I agree it would be odd for a foundering horse to be completely sound in a boot or under any other condition.
DrO
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Monday, May 28, 2007 - 7:26 am:
They can set the tone for the day! Yesterday I didn't feel well and wasn't able to walk him, I also didn't put his boots on because of the heel sores. Last night he was pretty sore. I took the comfort pads out of the old macs and taped them on, figuring his sores could heal. He did move better, hopefully this won't ruin them. He isn't out paceing the fenceline for breakfast...which isn't a good sign.
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Member:
kthorse
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Posted on Monday, May 28, 2007 - 11:52 am:
Diane, Kate my trimmer said she cant give advice on the soles without seeing the horse, She said she could try and find a barefoot trimmer if you were interested. I personly dont think you should touch the sole, what if in the rare chance the coffin bone was that close to the sole, Disaster, plus the sole is sacred ground to me also. I would keep the boots on and use some duct tape or slippery stuff to stop rubs on the heel bulbs. Hope he is feeling ok this morning and your pads survived.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Monday, May 28, 2007 - 12:50 pm:
Thanks Katrina, The pads survived and he was pretty good this morning...for him. Put his boots on and went for our walk, he was much calmer and moving pretty good. The neighborhood kids on all the roads we walked had to come and pet the beautiful horse He loved the attention and was a gentleman. I think I will just leave the pads taped to his feet, they seem to help. We are suppose to have rain the next few days and I will remove them when the ground softens.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Monday, May 28, 2007 - 9:21 pm:
Dr.O. Hank is doing very well with the comfort pads taped to his feet. 99.5% sound. here's a description. https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?PGGUID=0d4e9828-a708-4381-839c-4be9cd5de 3e7
Would it be O.K. to just leave them on 24/7 for a couple days at a time? They don't seem to make his feet sweat or hold moisture, and I don't have to worry about heel sores. Thanks
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 7:48 am:
If there is no rubbing or wetness, I don't see why it would not be ok.
DrO
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 6:40 am:
Thanks Dr.O. I figured it would be O.K. I lunged Hank yesterday....walk and a little trot both ways, for a few minutes. He looked sound even on the corners.(with pads on). Tonight I am going to remove the pads to see how he is doing with out them...hopefully he's improved.
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Member:
kthorse
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Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 6:52 am:
Diane,
Dont be suprised if he still is a little sore without the pads. Usually hoof problems arnt solved this fast. Patience.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 7:12 am:
Katrina I fully expect him to still be sore without the pads, I'm just hoping there is some improvement with out them. He is getting better daily in the pads and this weekend I am going to remove the night bute, and hopefully he will be o.k. in the morning with out it. He is not crippled in the mornings anymore, but still a very little sore. The improvement is great tho. He will remain in the pads until he is sound without them....if that ever happens. Thanks for the patience reminder, I need it occasionally.
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Member:
kathleen
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Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 10:24 am:
Diane, I have come in late in this post, so don't know everything that was suggested. My mare Mona (21 yr old Arab) is diagnosed with laminitis a few months ago. Vet originally thought bruising or founder. She had not been sound since, but no excessive pain which would indicate using Bute. The farrier has been using EquiPak (calls it something like a tennis shoe) that goes over a mesh pad located under the shoe. He has been using it for the last three shoings and she didn't to improve any. He has retired and his colleague worked on her yesterday and shortened her toes and used the Equi-Pak. We put her back in the paddock to do the other two trims and by the time he was finished, Mona was running and bucking and running and running. I have seen nothing but a short trot for many months and until now there was no improvement (per regular vet check). Can't say for sure that it was the Equi-Pak or the shortening of the toes or both, but she is definitely more sound and vet has given OK to start riding. This is just FYI in case you want to talk to your farrier about it.
Kathleen
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 2:42 pm:
Thanks Kathleen, we tried the equithane and it made him worse, we also shrotened his toe, which also made him worse! His toes are longer than they should be, but I think it will have to be a very gradual backing up to keep him comfortable. He is sound in his boots and also the comfort pads, I am going out right now to remove them and see how he's doing barefoot. I probably will have to put them back on tonight, but every day he is improving, especially if exercised lightly. He also still needs to loose more weight, but it too is coming off now that I can execise him some. Hoping to walk under saddle next week.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 6:54 pm:
Dr.O. Hank Is somewhat better without the pads. Still sore tho, am I better off leaving them on all the time, or leaving them off occasionally? I am torn between the two....with the pads his hooves have time to heal, but I am afraid of softening the sole and hoof wall further. When I took the pads off tonite they were a little damp, they had been on since Sun.
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Member:
kthorse
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Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 8:51 pm:
Diane what is his living arrangement? How long stalled how long turned out. I left boots off in a soft thick padded stall and put them on during turn out.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 9:48 pm:
He is out 24/7 in a "dry lot" which is very hard right now....rain is on it's way, I don't know if that is good or bad. He walks pretty good on soft "grassy area" ground. He has access to their lean to which is deeply bedded and dry. I really don't want to stall him if I don't have to.
Tonight he is moving much better, but he had his night bute. We will see what morning brings. I don't usually give him bute in the morning unless he is very sore....which has been awhile, but he has had his pads or boots on also.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 6:07 am:
I would keep the feet dry and protected Diane. There is nothing wrong with using the pads only when on rocky or very hard ground but off when on soft ground.
DrO
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Member:
kthorse
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Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 8:04 am:
24/7 thats perfect. No I would not stall him either. Movement is the key.
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 12:32 pm:
Hang in there Diane!!
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