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  Discussion on Is it founder
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Member:
Kari

Posted on Friday, Aug 5, 2005 - 7:04 pm:

I have a small donkey (approx.450 pounds) that came up with severe lameness in his left front foot on Tuesday of this week. His right front foot appears to be fine. I have treated with 1 gram of bute in the AM and l gram in the PM. due to his size. He is also confined to my work pen which has some grass but is mainly sand and dirt. Today I increased his bute to l and l/2 grams AM and PM as the previous dosage didn't seem to alleviate his pain.
In checking the articles on founder, he seems to fit three of the criterias, obease, standing with the heel up, and laying down frequently.
He is presently confined to my work pen which has some grass but is mainly sand and dirt. I am discontuing grain and feeding only bermuda and alfalfa hay.
The article states that founder usually affects both feet and there is heat and a strong pulse in the foot. Lacking these two elements can I exclude founder as a cause?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Aug 6, 2005 - 6:51 am:

Very unlikely that such a unilateral presentation is founder ST. The 1 an 1/2 grams of bute is very high and I suggest you reduce it and even 1 twice a day should be short term. You need a good exam to localize and diagnose the lameness and an abscess seems possible.
DrO
Member:
Kari

Posted on Monday, Aug 8, 2005 - 10:26 pm:

Dr. O,

As you surmised, the abscess erupted today in the coronet. I had soaked for three days and suspect that the soaking softened the foot to allow the eruption.
My farrier is reluctant to pare out the botton to find the source due to the condition of the hoof, so we are going to soak for the next several days.
Beaugarde (the donkey) has already significantly improved at this point.
I was unable to find a prepared poultice as described in your article so have prepared one consisting of two parts Fura-Zone and one part eptsom salt applied directly to the eruption area and then vet wrapped. Am I spinning my wheels with this concoction?
Thanks for your past reply.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 9, 2005 - 8:23 am:

Maybe not ST, though I would have a preference for sugardine (Betadine and sugar) because I know exposed sensitive tissue handles this well.
DrO
Member:
Qh4me

Posted on Thursday, Aug 11, 2005 - 3:59 pm:

My yearling had an absess and soaked the foot in epson salt/warm water twice daily and after the soak, we used Betadine and sugar solution as Dr O suggested, and then packed it with gauze and vet wrapped it.

Mind you, the abcess was on the sole, and I was able to put the solution right into the hole and then pack it with gauze.

Good luck. My colt was better after a few days, and back to normal within 2 weeks.
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