Concerened about split on the underside of hoof -photos-

[Hoof_Prints]

Hello, my horse has been barefoot for around 1 1/2 years ( a little less). And has had no trouble- feet are quite tough. Only issue he's had was an abscess around this time last year- I think the wet ground doesn't suit him very well. I hacked him to a comp today, and when I picked his feet out after I was worried when I saw a gap ! I don't have much knowledge on anatomy but looks like the hoof wall and sole have parted? It's quite deep and I haven't noticed anything like it before on either of my horses without shoes (apart from small stone holes) so any comments or advice welcome, he had them trimmed about 2 weeks ago. Apologies for the mucky feet, I should have brushed the muck off for the photo but I was rushing around a bit !

 

[Meowy Catkin]

It looks like a hole in the white line. I would clean it out by squirting a syringe of diluted iodine (water:iodine 100:1) into the hole twice a day for a few days to stop bacteria taking hold and therefore causing an abscess. Or you could tub and poultice to see if any black gunk comes out.

 

[Hoof_Prints]

It looks like a hole in the white line. I would clean it out by squirting a syringe of diluted iodine (water:iodine 100:1) into the hole twice a day for a few days to stop bacteria taking hold and therefore causing an abscess. Or you could tub and poultice to see if any black gunk comes out.

Thanks for the reply, I have some surgical spirit that my vet gave me for his abscess last year, so I suppose I can use that to clean it, and try and pack it with a little wool soaked in spirit. He's had no signs of lameness yet but last time his abscess rumbled on for 6 weeks so definitely something to avoid !

Is there any particular reason this would have appeared?

 

[Meowy Catkin]

A small stone could have made a hole in the white line (the stone could have fallen out again) and then anaerobic bacteria have a nice little hole to live and multiply in. The best way to prevent this (or lessen the chance of it happening) is to have a nice, tight white lines and that comes from correct diet and exercise.

You can imagine, that if left to develop, the following abscess would continue upwards and then pop at the coronet.

If you put your nose to the hole and sniff (be careful!) does it have that nasty abscess smell?

 

[Hoof_Prints]

That's very interesting as his abscess last year was in the same place on the opposite side of the hoof, and it eventually popped at the coronet band. (after a long painful ordeal). He's on a low starch 'feet friendly' diet, (is fed happy hoof, alfa-a molasses free and D+H staypower cubes). Very healthy and fit at the moment, but does live out apart from a few hours during the daytime- due to the weather the ground is quite soggy so I imagine it would be easy for a stone to dig its way in to a soft hoof.

I will have a sniff later on today ! and fingers crossed no more abscesses develop :/

Thanks again