Anyone know what this might be...?

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orsceno1

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Hi all,
Does anyone know what this might be? Isolated to the bulbs of heels of one front and one back hoof, not on skin, just hoofy bit. kind of crusty, almost looks like its been eaten, not massively sore when I mess with it, no heat in leg or anything. have got vet and farrier coming but curious if anyones seen it - vet seen photo and was intrigued!! Not 100% sure how long its been there as I spotted it on return from a weeks hols (need to speak to person looking after). horse is out 24/7 on a dry field so shouldn't really be related to being stood in wet ground!

https://forums-secure.horseandhound.co.uk/album.php?albumid=6511&attachmentid=28228

Thanks
 
attachment.php



Sorry last image went wrong for some reason!
 
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This hoof is very long in the heels, contracted and medially/laterally imbalanced. I suspect there is infection deep in the hoof. A better trim and a serious war against thrush is needed. Where the two red areas meet in the middle? I bet I could stick a Q-Tip in there and keep going the length of it right on forward deeply under the frog without resistance. What I can see of the frog is hanging like a torn skirt, totally deflated. This infection, to me is getting serious and what's going on on the outside is just a idea of the internal infection involved. Sorry to sound blunt, but I remember learning, thrush can kill and this pic is pushing my buttons. Please get on top of it.
 
Hi, thanks for the comments but it is not thrush (no smell, discharge, pus etc) and the horse has since been reshod (he is shod every 6 wks so was slightly overdue on the pic, oops!) - you couldn't get a q-tip in there, frog is sound and healthy, as is rest of hoof....issue is isolated to heel bulbs. it looks for the world like a burst abscess (or an over-reach I agree) but for it to happen simultaneously on both feet that is highly unlikely, plus he hasn't been lame at all. The pic I posted is of his hind which is worse than the front. vet is stumped, as is my very experienced farrier who has not seen anything like it! Horse appears sound, just a bit tender as you would expect. we are now wondering whether is some sort of allergic reaction to contact with a weed in his field. swabs done anyway and treating topically at the mo......any other ideas welcome!!!
 
missyclare said:
This hoof is very long in the heels, contracted and medially/laterally imbalanced. I suspect there is infection deep in the hoof. A better trim and a serious war against thrush is needed. Where the two red areas meet in the middle? I bet I could stick a Q-Tip in there and keep going the length of it right on forward deeply under the frog without resistance. What I can see of the frog is hanging like a torn skirt, totally deflated. This infection, to me is getting serious and what's going on on the outside is just a idea of the internal infection involved. Sorry to sound blunt, but I remember learning, thrush can kill and this pic is pushing my buttons. Please get on top of it.
Click to expand...

Just to add in response to missyclare, pic isn't the best angle, as I said the front is intact (not hanging) and perfectly inflated and healthy - farrier also trimmed it and nice and healthy underneath. He actually said to me yesterday that ironically, aside from his heels he has never seen his feet looking so good in the 12 years he has shod him!
 
Skid injury? Mine got similar but just on one heel when he was brushing his hinds together but obviously that wouldn't do both bulbs both heels!
 
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