Coronet Band/Hoof wall Laceration

[maddielove]

My mare has added another cracker of an injury to her long list of self-harming merits. On Monday this week, she trapped her foot under a small gap under the metal siding of an outbuilding, cutting straight down into her hoof wall via the coronary band whilst getting her foot free. Thankfully I was there as it happened (in fact I was treating another issue as it happened..which she was fortunately on antibiotics for already) there was a reasonable amount of blood which thankfully stopped quickly, vet arrived within 45 mins of injury and cleaned and wrapped. The foot was x-rayed the following day and identified debris that was flushed out, potential small pedal bone fracture identified but the vet is optimistic this is an anomaly and not a result of this incident.

So far the wound on the coronet band is healing much faster than I anticipated, she has gone from non-weight bearing on Monday/Tuesday to walking soundly around her stable on 0.5g of bute twice daily. I'm hopeful the coronet wound will heal fine but unsure what to expect of the hoof wall, vet mentioned debridement of this section but I'm not sure if this would still be on the cards now the top wound seems so filled in, does anyone have experience of this type of injury? I wasn't sure if the internal structures below the surface of the hoof wall may be able to heal in a way that would be able to grow the broken section without much intervention?

See the image timeline below of the wounds progress so far, the vet is back on Monday to reassess. The top is from this morning, the middle from Friday, and the bottom was Tuesday, the day after the incident.

 

[PapaverFollis]

Honestly think that look as if it'll just heal up and grow out.

 

[ycbm]

I wouldn't even have called a vet for that, I think it will grow out fine, and even if it doesn't, there is nothing you can do except keep it clean.
.

 

[Muddywellies]

Yep I had exactly the same years ago when my gelding got his foot stuck under the loading gates on the lorry. It was much worse that yours I think tho. The amount of blood he lost was incredible. He was panicking (understandably) and had my ex not managed to free him, I'm sure he would have ripped his hoof off. It took a LOT of care and a gazillion vets visits. Box rest and daily dressing changing for 6 months. He was permanently scarred, but we did get another 8 years with him.

 

[SusieT]

Well done for recognising the severity of the injury and involving the vet. Hard to know at this stage- never any harm to update vet with pics and ask their opinion, Id feel promising that that will heal

 

[CanteringCarrot]

My horse did the same thing roughly 2 years ago. I panicked a bit because it looked so dramatic. The vet did have a look, but said just to keep an eye on it.

Horse hardly missed a beat. No lameness, the wound closed up quickly and he just had a "scar" of sorts that grew down the hoof wall and it was gone in about 9 months or so. Really uneventful.

He now wears overreach boots on his hinds and while I see marks on the boots, I see none on him! He doesn't exactly pay attention to where his feet are at all times.

 

[maddielove]

Thanks all for the replies. When it first happened I genuinely thought she was going to bleed out in front of me there was so much blood pouring out which was my main reason for phoning the vet, of course it stopped within minutes of me calling

I read a lot online about horses doing similar injuries and not even being lame which really concerned me at first as she wasn't bearing any weight but she's come so sound I can only imagine its a good sign. My main worry was she would be stuck in on box rest for months and months but feeling a lot more optimistic she won't be in for too long a stint and it will grow out without too much intervention.

 

[Britestar]

This came sound. Does not have hood wall at the back, more a solid frog like texture.

 

[PapaverFollis]

Ouch!

 

[maddielove]

A wee update on this, after a really positive visit last week and turnout being potentially on the cards, vet was back out today and decided to remove some of the loose horn to hopefully allow new to grow down but it looks horrible now, not like it will just grow out straightforwardly

Back out again with farrier next week to remove shoe for re-xray and discuss how best to go forward shoe wise, does anyone have any experience of shoeing something similar? Don't know whether they would pack it filler or similar at this stage?

After debridement

Before


Hand walking can tomorrow, and no more dressing needed, though she is so wet and box walks so bad I think it might be safer to keep it covered!

 

[ycbm]

Does the vet think that's not going to grow down? It looks like it already is to me, compared with the first photos.
.

 

[PapaverFollis]

What is making you think it won't grow out straightforwardly? The coronet band looks undamaged to me but it's often hard to see what's going on in a picture. I would get some Red Horse Artimud and just keep the open area packed with that to keep any infection at bay.

 

[maddielove]

Straightforward maybe wasn't the best word! I was thinking it would be a neat wee crack to grow out but now much larger, I think I'm just worrying at the size of it now.

Had look at artimud and also the Hoof stuff that they also sell, thanks for the recommendation! Do you know if those type of products are easily removed once packing is no longer needed? Just thinking ahead to when the farrier gets a look next week, so he can see the full picture.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Keratex hoof putty should bind to that and protect it. I used it on vets directions on my horse who had a massive hoof wall resection which took about 10 months to grow out.

https://www.keratex.com/product/keratex-hoof-putty/

It‘s quite stiff coming out of the tin, you need to warm it to make it malleable - I used to pop it inside my bra cup!

 

[ycbm]

Keratex hoof putty should bind to that and protect it. I used it on vets directions on my horse who had a massive hoof wall resection which took about 10 months to grow out.

https://www.keratex.com/product/keratex-hoof-putty/

It‘s quite stiff coming out of the tin, you need to warm it to make it malleable - I used to pop it inside my bra cup!

Your boobs must have smelt of pine resin for weeks ?

Not a bad smell, better than Stockholm tar maybe?
.

 

[Tiddlypom]

It does smell rather nice and fresh. Just as well, as one day I left an unneeded extra blob of it in my bra all day, and didn’t realise til it fell out when I got undressed at bedtime.

 

[maddielove]

Keratex hoof putty should bind to that and protect it. I used it on vets directions on my horse who had a massive hoof wall resection which took about 10 months to grow out.

https://www.keratex.com/product/keratex-hoof-putty/

It‘s quite stiff coming out of the tin, you need to warm it to make it malleable - I used to pop it inside my bra cup!

Thanks Tiddlypom! Same question about this as the red horse stuff, can you easily remove the putty when needed? Or not so easily done?

I will bear in mind the bra trick

 

[ester]

IME I reckon hoof putty can be removed aboutthe same as hoof stuff albeit I am not sure the hoof stuff would stick to the area as it's open/wide/flat. Not used artimud.

 

[PapaverFollis]

Artimud is more of a paste than a putty so it would wash out. Hoof stuff won't stay in there. If he's going to be out in mud Keratex is probably best but I've never used it so don't know how well it sticks. I'd go for Keratex on recommendation above though.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Keratex is more sticky than hoof stuff or artimud - I’m a fan and regular user of all red horse products, but they wouldn’t IMHO be as appropriate for this purpose. You can dig it out with a suitable implement like a hoof pick when you need to, though.

This pic was taken when the resection had mostly grown out, it had originally reached almost as high up as the coronet band. The putty would stay in for a couple of weeks at least before I’d need to replace it, though I replaced it much more frequently at the start as I was a bit a lot paranoid about the resection.



ETA she was able to live out for the duration.

 

[maddielove]

Just wanted to pop back on this thread with where we are at now.

There was another issue that arose almost 3 weeks ago now with her frog in the same foot (near the heel on the inside of her foot rather than near this injury) which we weren't sure if it was an abscess or just infection/grit in the frog. She went from barely weight-bearing to sound after the vet trimmed this nasty section away. Though this was not before the vet had a good pick away at part of the defective hoof wall to ensure there wasn't anything harboring in there, which he removed the shoe to do.

Since the shoe went back on a couple of weeks ago she seems to be occasionally tender on it, when asked to back up or move laterally in the direction of the defect (if that makes sense when I'm asking her to move over in the stable or when tied up) walks/trots/hoons around sound. I'm not sure if this is due to the hoof wall being less supported or there now being a gap between the shoe and the defect which can get grit in it (cleaned out and disinfected daily) or something else going on. She is due to be re-shod on Monday and if there is no improvement I will have the vet back to re-assess. I was going to have them out before this but she's thrown a shoe in front and don't think this is probably the best for assessing her soundness!

I'm concerned that the foot looks like it needs more support but quite frankly don't think I'm clued up enough about feet to make a proper judgment about what she may need. Farriers only comments on the foot so far are that it's growing down fine and doesn't need anything special but I just worry that there could be something to help her be a bit more comfortable.

See pic's attached, one shows the new growth well and the other I think is a better side profile of the hoof/heel - I think! Does this look okay/normal to folks?

 

[ycbm]

The problem with that foot is not the injury, it's that, if the photos are a true representation (and they sometimes aren't) the foot is really severely underrun and the heels have collapsed.

I'm really sorry to worry you, but I would say she is at serious risk of a navicular/ caudal hoof pain type lameness if it's not addressed. Has your farrier or vet mentioned it at all?

 

[PapaverFollis]

I think the injury is growing out well. As ycbm says though I don't think the injury is the biggest problem with the foot. Do you have other options regarding farriers? I wouldn't be happy with the hoof care professional that has created that foot I'm afraid. ?

 

[Tiddlypom]

The injury is growing out ok, but that foot balance is really very concerning indeed.

Has the vet not mentioned it?

 

[ihatework]

You have got a major shoeing issue there! Involve vet and remedial farrier pronto is my advice

 

[maddielove]

Thanks all, as much as I know that the foot isn't great I'm glad that you seem to agree that there is improvement needed.

I wondered if the vet/farrier were less concerned about the possibility of navicular etc with it being a hind foot? I know that is no excuse to let the heels get the way they are, I'm just not sure how less likely/common it is in hind feet.

I'm in two minds as to whether to see/ask how he plans to address the issue next week or just to go straight to the vet/different farrier after the festive period. I'll need to get her done then by him to see her through the next couple of weeks and replace the missing front shoe, I don't see it is feasible to find a farrier to take me on at that short notice.

 

[ycbm]

Crikey. I'm shocked that's a hind foot ? I'm a bit lost for words, I don't think I've ever seen a hind foot like it. Does she have any back or hock issues?

In terms of the farrier, I wouldn't like to continue with a farrier who hasn't tried to sort that out and told you what s/he was doing.
.

 

[Regandal]

Those angles are a ticking time bomb, will be straining the suspensories and other structures. I’d be getting a different farrier, and possibly vet if your current one can’t see it.

 

[maddielove]

Crikey. I'm shocked that's a hind foot ? I'm a bit lost for words, I don't think I've ever seen a hind foot like it. Does she have any back or hock issues?
.

The opposite hock has recently diagnosed arthritis (August, treated with steroids but haven't been able to properly assess if/how well they have helped due to this injury and various other factors, will be re-assessing this in the new year, probably after we get this foot looking better and back in more regular work) I think this also contributed to discomfort behind the saddle that the physio would pick up on and work out when she saw her. This seems to have massively reduced since the steroids but could be down to less work. I don't think the hoof on that leg though doesn't look nearly as bad but still not amazing, maybe I just haven't looked at it as much as I have this one.

This leg had significant trauma 3 years ago, a big, deep wound that somehow didn't sever any tendons, took months of box rest to heal, however, she's never shown any trouble with it since despite the scar. The hock on this leg xrayed clean in August.

I have spent this morning trying to gauge which farriers in the area appear to be most suitable to get in touch with, will see if I can get some more word of mouth opinions over the next couple of weeks. Recent retirement and maternity leave have resulted in a lot of farriers in the area not taking on new clients but hopefully someone will be accommodating.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Do you have a photo of the off hind for comparison?

And indeed of both fronts?