Constant hoof problems, random question and Help!

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gingerspice

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My horse has been having more and more cases of puss in the foot and corns over the last 2 years develop, last autumn he was on and off puss in hoof for 2 months and now three days ago developed a massive corn and today is on two legs with puss again -
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After advice from vet and trusted others am changing my blacksmith, although reluctantly as have very faithful chap and I feel loyal. But think horse needs second opinion so to speak. He hasn't got bad feet and isn't flat footed just seems prone to problems now - anyone know why?

But wierdly, have noticed that all these incidents often happen after he has been turned out on grass for 24/7 for 3 or so weeks rather than being stabled at night or for few hours in the day
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Is that just coincidence or is there a reason anyone can think off? Ok last autumn was wet, but this last 3 weeks certainly haven't been here!
I'd really appreciate some help or suggestions as am at wits end with all this.

Also previous owner had him living out 24/7 for a year with no problems, albeit with different blacksmith. And I've had him 3.5 years with same blacksmith.
 
Is it that same foot?

OK I'm sorry if this sounds really doom and gloom:
My previous horse was constantly getting pus in the foot in one foot (right fore)although we had the best farrier in area, a proper remedial chap. It happened most often when she was in at night/out by day. I moved her to living out 24/7 and the pus in the foot became much less frequent - only once or twice a year. Evetually we thought she was having a very bad attack one day; she was on 3 legs and distressed. Vet assumed it was the usual and after much poulticing there was no pus, which was a first. After weeks and weeks of poulticing, remedial farriery etc she was still on 3 legs, and her hoof was x rayed and there was no pedal bone! An x-ray 5 years earlier had shown pedal bone changes but she wasn't lame and that was only picked up due to lameness on the opposite foreleg.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was connected in some way, though could be utterly wrong.

If it's different legs, I have no idea what could be causing it. Have you tried using something like Keratex to harden sole in case there's a weakness/softness inside? Could you try feeding something to increase his immune system response?
 
I too had this problem with one of my horses and I am afraid that my story doesn't have a happy ending. She was on and off for months and months and we tubbed and dressed constantly, her hoof growth changed and her angles became terrible, it just became a constant drain on my poor lady as everyday she would hobble around her stable, then hobble out to the field.. it was heart breaking to see her like that.
Eventually in December 08 after constant patching and hoping my farrier told me that I had to have her xrayed as there was obvioulsy something more seriously wrong and he was right.
She had a keratoma in her foot which is basically a benign tumour that had eaten away at her pedal bone, the puss on the foot (or similar symptoms) was caused as it stops the correct tissue drainage or something like that. We buted her up and decided that we would let her live on as long as she was happy and pain free. Unfortunately due to the amount of pressure she was transferring onto her hind legs (which had many previous injuries, she was a very unlucky girl) caused a tendon rupture and she was onto two legs. I made the very difficult decision in february to put her to sleep. I decided her suffering had been going on for far too long and it was time to let her go, patching her up had become a daily occurance and seeing her so unhappy and confined to her stable forced the decision.
It was a hard thing to do and incredibly upsetting but you really should get your horse x-rayed so that you know what you are dealing with and you can make the decision accordingly, they can have an opperation but I chose not to go ahead with it as my lady was retired anyway due to numerous other issues.
I would've kept her going on bute for as long as I could, she was just very unlucky with other problems which forced an early decision for me.
good luck and I hope your outcome is a little rosier
 
Thanks for your replies, although very gloomy
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. I'm sorry you both had such outcomes.
That hadn't even crossed my mind so I will look into the xray route, although each time it has been on a different foot
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Although last autumn was three times in one hoof, this year they have all been in different hooves.
I have the new blacksmith out this afternoon which is great so fingers crossed and will see what he says.
 
Good luck, make sure you let us all know the outcome. Different feet may be affected as your horse is having to transfer a lof of weight onto different feet when one is hurting maybe? Hopefully it's good news and something simple.. maybe he is just a wimp?! he is a bloke after all
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Good luck. If the new farrier doesn't have some obvious answers as to what the problem is, then i'd be getting some x-rays done pronto.
 
I'm afraid I agree with the rest, I'd be getting x-rays. Constant foot problems indicate an underlying problem and without knowing what it would be difficult to treat it.
 
Update for you for interest!

New farrier came this evening, was rather surprised at shoeing as shoes to small and lacking support especially to hind heels.

Removed shoe and the noticeable problem was with the shoe's nail holes, they are very coarse and rough on the inside and the actual nails are very close and one was right on the hoof wall. Obviously causing severe discomfort. On further inspection this happens all round and he felt would be reason for hoof problems all round. Also as one hoof got infected and weight altered it compounded the problem in the other hooves.

Currently didn't advise x-rays as problems randomly across all four hooves but step one tubbing and poulticing of hind hoof to sort the infections in there, and then change of shoe, shoe shape and nail location.

So, thank you for your replies and concerns, hopefully it is nothing more sinister than that and quite rightly as silverbreeze stated he is a wimp! Although a toughy, when in pain he lets you know!

So off for more shares in vet-wrap and animalintex and first poultice on so hopefully the warmth causes some comfort to the poor chap!

I know have the not so nice job of mentioning to old faithful blacksmith I'm trying someone else tomorrow, although my horse's hooves are far more important, it still isn't a nice job to have to do - I'm too loyal!
Fingers crossed there's no more problems
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That all sounds like a more positive outlook so fingers crossed for you! If you buy some elastic tail bandages use them to keep the lintex on and buy some black haylage tape to wrap around once to secure (can't think what its called but my YO uses it to repair rips in haylage bales, about 5 inches wide and black palstic looking) it will save you a fortune!
Good luck telling your blacksmith
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After poulticing syringe out with dilute hydrogen peroxide(10%hp-90%water) its good on thrush too. PM me if you can't get any. Then reapply another poultice.
After stopping poulticeing use HP for a few days after, it keeps the hole clean, also use in raggy nail holes for a couple of days.
Hope it mends soon.
 
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