Dealing with cracked heels

[Snowy Celandine]

My pony is suffering with a cracked heel. He's a bit sorry for himself and has gone lame on his near hind. I've clipped all the hair from the affected area (and his other feet too) and applied a soothing barrier cream. Is there anything else that I can do to make him a bit more comfortable?

He's a bit of a wuss and I am giving him lots of grooming/scratching his bum time He's also had two apples today and I turned him out in a small, quiet paddock so that he could just mosey round without getting too excited and playing daft games with my other horse. He was keen to come back in out of the wind but seemed a bit less lame after his turnout.

Am I doing the right thing or is there a better way to do things?

 

[noblesteed]

make sure you get all the scabs off the sore heel, even if it means scratching them off with your fingers as the infection lives in the scabs.
I would recommend Barrier heel to hoof barrier cream, my lad had a sore heel a few weeks ago and I gave it a good pick and scrub with Savlon spray. After coating it for a week with the barrier cream it has completely cleared up.

Poor things, their heels look so painful when they get it.

 

[Snowy Celandine]

Thank you noblesteed. I have picked the scabs off. Poor boy. It did look sore and he kept looking round as if to say, why are you doing that to me Fingers crossed that it gets better as quickly as your lad's did

 

[Maesfen]

make sure you get all the scabs off the sore heel, even if it means scratching them off with your fingers as the infection lives in the scabs.
I would recommend Barrier heel to hoof barrier cream, my lad had a sore heel a few weeks ago and I gave it a good pick and scrub with Savlon spray. After coating it for a week with the barrier cream it has completely cleared up.

Poor things, their heels look so painful when they get it.

Please, don't ever scratch scabs off! It's most painful for the horse and can lead to him beginning to get noughty as soon as you go to touch his legs in future.
Yes, the sacbs should come off but they should come off in their own time. If it was me, I'd plaster with the cream (I like Protocon or zinc & castor oil from preference) and massage as you put it on. Don't wash off, the next day plaster again, you'll be surprised how many scabs roll off as you massage. Just repeat until all scabs are off and you have healthy skin underneath.
It will also help if he has a good balanced diet as skin heals from within, it's not just on the outside.

 

[LucyPriory]

re the scabs. If you want to get them off without causing pain and risking a kick then try this.

Smear/rub in gently a quantity of Heel to Hoof before 'bed'. The next morning most of the scabs will have softened and can be removed with a bit more H2H and a gentle rub.

Also great in healing the sores. and quite good for chapped hands too - if you don't mind smelling of lemons

 

[Snowy Celandine]

Thank you everyone I was using zinc & castor oil cream but will look for Heel to Hoof tomorrow. The scabs came off quite easily after the first lot of cream was applied but the skin underneath was very raw looking so maybe I took the scabs off too soon I've never dealt with cracked heels before to be honest.

 

[Oberon]

The bacteria hides under the scabs so they have to come off.

Interestingly my horse (who was prone to it) hasn't suffered since 2007, when I stopped feeding mollassed feeds and went onto a 'barefoot' diet.

I am learning that a lack of zinc in forage (which is appearing to be common in UK) can lead to a horse being prone too....

I washed the legs with hibiscrub

Dried thoroughly

Applied cheap and cheerful udder cream (ones with aloe vera in them)

Wrapped the legs in clingfilm overnight, with stable wraps over the top

Massaged the scabs off in the morning

Applied a bit more cream and kept him in until it cleared.

To prevent it I used Keratex Mud Shield powder - best stuff I ever found.

 

[Snowy Celandine]

Oberon - thanks for all that info I've had him for 3 years and not had the problem before and I would like to prevent it happening again if at all possible so will definitely get the Keratax Mud Shield powder.