Differing opinions of vets... What do you think?

MM&PP

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Hello,

I was wondering whether I could get some opinions on the below situation:

4yo mare; first set of fronts put on in late May due to beginning to back and to give support to grass cracks at front of hoof. Grass cracks cut away and hind shoes put on fronts.

Horse came in from field 2 weeks ago lame. Vet came out and diagnosed bruised sole and told to box rest and bute. Horse improved but not sound so vet back out again and scraped away at sole of hoof looking for abscess. Poulticed for a few days but nothing came out.

Horse then hobbling lame few days later and emergency vet called. Horse was sound after nerve blocks just above the hoof and advised likely to have insulin regulatory disorder and serve laminitis. Mare is not working fit as very immature 4yo; bit of a crest but no fat pockets behind shoulder or gulley between hind quarters etc. In at night and out in the day and never been laminitic before.

Vet returned to x-ray and had prepped us for this horse having to be PTS (if pedal bones had rotated) due to severe laminitis - very distressing. Advised bruised sole was incorrect diagnosis and horse and laminitis. Also advised that farrier had pricked the lamini when cutting grass cracks causing further discomfort.

X-rays showed one hoof had potential minor pedal bone rotation (on hoof which sole was scraped away!); other front hoof fine but with some shading on x-ray; thought to be an abscess. Box rest, sedalin and bute prescribed with a low sugar diet.

Continued poulticing and a huge stinking abscess burst out of the frog; it was horrible. Vet wanted shoes and pads put on the horse and spoke to farrier on the phone. Friend advised poultice was still drawing crap out of foot but vet adamant that horse needed pads on. Shoes and pads put on horse, taken off bute and horse reverted back to being uncomfortable on foot which had/has the abscess.

The horse is a large draft x cob type but not heavy, with flat feet. I think farrier hasn’t done a brilliant job with her feet as he’s just shod her to her natural shape leaving her very close to the floor.

What do you guys think? I apologise for it being so long winded… What would you do as a next step? Leave pads on and continue with vets diagnosis of horse having laminitis and needing support? Or get pads taken off and continue to poultice? Fluid was still coming out of frog when pads were put on, and my friend did mention this; but she was so distraught that her horse was so close to being PTS that she went with what vet and farrier wanted to do and put pads on horse…

Any advice/suggestions/help would be gratefully received. :)
 
I would take the pads and shoes off, keep poulticing until the poultice comes clean! You leave crap in there and you are asking for problems! Once the poultice comes away clean then yes, shoes and pads. We have a horse on the yard with very flat feet and he wears pads most of the time and towards the end of the season he gets those gel pad thingys.

Personally I would get a different vet and a different farrier!
 
Shoes and pads off, poultice until clear, then boot and pad - not shoe. Sounds like the horse has dietary issues that need addressing - they will still be there if you shoe, and you will be forcing the horse to load its weight on already compromised laminae.
 
I feel very sorry for the horse and very disappointed in the professionals who have attended thus far. :(
 
I would also say new vet and farrier, the last thing the horse needed was the abscess covered up while it was draining well, a good deep bed correct trimming and diet should be enough to support while the abscess drains.

I had a similar situation with my pony 18 months ago, a deep abscess that would not come out anywhere and some rotation, the vet recommended the pony was pts, no insurance to pay for expensive pads etc, my farrier was brilliant he came straight out and took over the treatment, no shoes just very regular trimming and keeping the abscess treated, it took 4 months for the abscess to go completely and there were times we thought that there was no end to it and that the vet was correct.
The pony is now in work, jumping and having fun, I am very careful with his diet but he goes in a paddock every day, he is still barefoot and will stay that way as it is better for him, he is trimmed every 4 weeks and his feet are in good shape.
 
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