Crumbling sole and a smelly foot... help!

Bowen4Horses

Bowen4Horses

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hi all,

when i bought my horse, he was long overdue a shoeing. and his feet were in need of some love. but... they seemed strong and half decent.

i got farrier out, he said they had been left to grow too long, but that after a couple of good shoeings, they'd be good feet.

anyhoo, they were all a bit crumbly and smelly to start with, but after being shod, and having them picked out twice a day, they all seemed to improve.

yesterday i noticed one of his front feet was smelly. and when i picked it out, the sole was very crumbly again. i actually had to be careful when picking it out, as i didn't want to remove too much of it!

then today, it was the same. and i'm starting to worry slightly... does anyone know why he'd have such a crumbly sole? it's like crumbly white cheese...

i'd love to ask the farrier, however he has not turned up the last two times he was due (sarah23 you were SO right!)...

so... HHO experts... what can i do?

p.s. he's only in v light work, is turned out most of the time (except when VERY hot or rainy or when he wants a good sleep), he isn't in a muddy field, his stable is always clean, his feet are picked out twice a day...
 
Cornucresine folk do a hoof dressing for soft and crumbly feet - have got some here but still in early days of using it so not sure how much it's helping.

I think you need to get another farrier to have a look and see what he says - try some Frog Fresh in the meantime
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The crumbling is more than likly natural exfoliation. Or a mild fungal infection.

My suggestion is to scrub the foot with hibiscrub and stand the horse on concrete while the foot dries.. Repeat this everyday until problem solved.. you could also use hydrogen peroxide!

Lou x
 
Keratex do a disinfectant and have a website which might help you self diagnose until you can get a farrier . The hardener they sell might be beneficial once you have cleared up any infection .It helped our old mare who suffered with crumbly feet when we had a lot of wet weather.
 
Normally it it is to do with hot dry,then wet conditions
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Sounds like he is just shedding old sole,and there will be new underneath
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My lads dead sole comes away in big flaky chunks,it is normal!!The smelly bit could be his frogs which may be a little thrushy...hydrogen peroxide is great for treating!!
And find another farrier asap!!
 
it isnt cheap and peroxide will clear up thrush just as well
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at a quarter of the price...i agree with keratex for hardening hoof wall,but the soles of the foot will harden naturally but should still shed dead tissue
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i had a horse with thruse. in 3 feet . smells . i found hibiscrub it clean and leave to dry then get some iodine in there and also leave to dry. it will soon sort it out. great stuff and i found it made his feet loads better. the horse i had with thruse had it in 3 feet so bad it took ages to clear and was only to ride of hard ground no sand as sand would set it off. if was bad as it went up his heel . so give it a try your soon see it will sort it over time.
 
no dont use peroxide as it will kill the good part or the foot as well . its ok used once but as i have put try iodine not peroxide.
 
Never had a problem with this using peroxide,and have used it for MANY yrs,it only needs to be used for a couple of days and the main infection is killed off,so you can then switch to milder treatments!
 
Peroxided doesnt do any damage to the outer hoof structures if it is diluted correctly. I personally prefer to use something milder in the first instance, but will never knock someone for useing peroxide as it really is wonderful for getting rid of thrush/canker.

But i have to say.. It really does sound more like natural sole exfoliation, this is why is suggested the milder, hibiscrub approach as a first point of call..

Lou x
 
i was told by vet and farrier peroxide is ok to use once as it stings and makes horses unhappy about there feet . thats when u get some horses not wanting to let you clean feet out. it does kill good part in there feet after so long. so i was told to use iodine as its better for there feet.
 
You might've been using too high a concentration of peroxide. You don't need more than 10% peroxide and there's no reason it should sting
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I use it for all sorts of stuff (including flushing PF's maggots out of her lady bits... if it was going to sting I think it would've stung there!
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) Plus, peroxide reacts and froths when there's blood present. No blood, no froth, no sting.
 
I second the natural exfoliation, it happens regularly and is natural and harmless. The smell is another matter and is probably thrush.
 
i used 10% peroxide and rest was water trust me i knew what i was doing . read the link what is says about useing it it prolongs healing time.
 
Wildwomen.. I aint gunna argue with you.. And i dont think any of the other very experienced people on this site will either...

Lou x

EDITED TO ADD.. AM I ILL?!
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You decide =oP
 
[ QUOTE ]
You might've been using too high a concentration of peroxide. You don't need more than 10% peroxide and there's no reason it should sting
confused.gif
I use it for all sorts of stuff (including flushing PF's maggots out of her lady bits... if it was going to sting I think it would've stung there!
tongue.gif
) Plus, peroxide reacts and froths when there's blood present. No blood, no froth, no sting.

[/ QUOTE ]
Exactly
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Sadly people dont use it correctly...but the stuff is fantsastic!!
 
All vets i have used will recommend it,used in the correct quantities???Now let me see...equine vet or internet advice???hmmm i wonder who i will listen too!!
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[ QUOTE ]
i used 10% peroxide and rest was water trust me i knew what i was doing . read the link what is says about useing it it prolongs healing time.

[/ QUOTE ]
And tbh that is crap
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...i have used it twice a day for 2 days and it has done its job,i can then use a milder treatment...hibiscrub or iodine,and within days it has cleared
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And in 20 yrs i have never had a foot drop off or a days lameness,or a dodgy sole
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??
 
i listen to my vet lol like i pointed out i had a horse with it in 3 feet so think i pass for being experienced when it comes to thrush. lol
 
I think you'll find you dont.. =o)

Thrush, one case of thrush, does not class as a wealth of experience, Trimming horses day in and day out with thrush. Or dealing with RSPCA cases where the canker has got that bad that maggots have infested and the hoof capsula has been effect.. that does..

=O)

Lou x

PS.. IM NOT ILL.. ITS OK.. PANIC OVER.
 
clipcloppop read link i posted for more info on thrush as i did not rule out peroxide if used right and not so much . being new is so hard and so nasty....lol good luck with it hope you get it sorted.
 
Terramycin spray will clear thrush too, if you have it/can get hold of it.

Give the hoof a quick scrub out, stand the horse on concrete or something dry for a few mins then spray.
 
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