Dry hoof walls?

[PapaverFollis]

What could cause the outer surface of the hoof wall to be all dry and rough looking instead of nice and smooth and shiny?

(The usual massive rambling post deleted as it just boils down to the above question!)

 

[ycbm]

Same as for human nails. Ill health, diabetes/insulin issues, wrong food.

Have you got a horse with an issue?

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[PapaverFollis]

It's MrT. In every other way he seems completely fine. Skin, coat, eyes, weight, attitude = picture of health. His hooves are pretty shit though. But I think the rough surface has only happened in the last couple of weeks... although growth hasn't been great for longer and he's had a nasty abscess that's just clearing up. He gets a vit&min supplement and a mix of hay, haylage and grass (Equimins Diamond omega... first step will be to go back to Hoof Mender or Advance Complete I think).

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Might it be because he has moved twice in a short space of time? Different forage, different grazing, abrasive surface plus it has been so wet I’m not surprised hooves are struggling.

 

[ycbm]

I can't see anything in that which would cause issues. is he on any mollassed food? had a Cushing's test?


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[ycbm]

Might it be because he has moved twice in a short space of time? Different forage, different grazing, abrasive surface plus it has been so wet I’m not surprised hooves are struggling.

Ah stress, that will do it.

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[PapaverFollis]

Could it just be stress? He did move twice. I'm worried there's something missing in the forage but Beast is on the same forage and no supplement and hers seem fine.

He's only 10 and no other signs of Cushings so I'm hoping it's not that!

 

[PapaverFollis]

No mollassed food generally but be has been getting a horselyx lick while I've been tubbing his foot... but that's just been the last week, could that have such a quick effect?

 

[PapaverFollis]

We have had some very hard frosty ground too - could they just be getting rubbed? Again though, Beast's seem ok, better than his but perhaps not as lovely as usual?

 

[ycbm]

Could it just be stress? He did move twice. I'm worried there's something missing in the forage but Beast is on the same forage and no supplement and hers seem fine.

He's only 10 and no other signs of Cushings so I'm hoping it's not that!

I know a nine year old, it's being found very young these days with only foot issues as a symptom. Bear it in mind.

 

[ycbm]

We have had some very hard frosty ground too - could they just be getting rubbed? Again though, Beast's seem ok, better than his but perhaps not as lovely as usual?

They could, but if it's his whole hoof then that's an issue from at least six months, because they'd have to be poor quality first, I think, to be so affected.

 

[Gloi]

Is the periople staying on the hoof wall and not wearing/peeling off as it grows down?

 

[PapaverFollis]

Is the periople staying on the hoof wall and not wearing/peeling off as it grows down?

No, periople appears normal.