Feet people, omg!

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I picked out feet yesterday, farrier gave his feet a trim today and some this. He’s been footsore since we removed shoes (he kept losing them, also losing foot with the shoe so we went barefoot, he’s 19, heavyweight cob) He has severe arthritis on both hinds so is obviously putting pressure on his fronts, on 2 Danilon a day.

He is not allowed out of his box currently (rubber matted throughout) due to having strangles. No heat or pulses. His sole is becoming flatter, there’s pedal bruising, hood capsule is strongest farrier has seen them. My vet is due on Friday and has been sent the pictures already. He’ll be wearing his boots from tomorrow. I can’t add bedding, his box is up a step so he just kicks it out. Any advice til I see the vet? I’m worried. ?

 

[ester]

looks like a fair amount of sole carving or just the photo? What boots/pads do you have?

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Cavallos. I’m glad you answered, ester, you seem to know your stuff re feet. Do you mean the farrier has carved off lots? I’d agree, but I think she‘s normally really good. Looking yesterday, I saw no bruising, but lots of flaps around the frog and feet are a bit soggy due to being in constantly.

 

[shortstuff99]

That looks as if the farrier has taken off too much?

 

[ester]

No expert but like hooves and try to be logical. Not dealt with this before but to me yes, it looks like she's been trying to generate concavity that isn't there because of everything else going on with his hoof, and he didn't have the sole thickness to lose any (I mean you can probably manage it now).
I'm also wondering whether he is having a more generalised reaction to the strangles/box rest so was on the edge and the trim has tipped it as he just didn't have the spare sole thickness to give.
I would contact equine podiatry supplies in the morning and speak to her about using EPA pads in the cavallos and if she can get some to you asap- she might also have some other suggestions/as might your vet about managing it until they can visit.
I'd definitely want xrays.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I have pads. I think the vet will suggest x rays, yes.

 

[Casey76]

Generally if a horse grows bar all around the frog, it needs the support, and therefore shouldn’t be removed (which is what appears to have happened here).

I would definitely want to add pads, EVA gym/play mats make excellent emergency hoof pads, and are easily cut to size.

 

[SusieT]

Feet should if anything be dry if in constantly - unless bedding is wet? If bedding is wet add lots more - if he kicks it out then add a plank or similar across bottom of door. that could be something like a keratoma, or just a bruise.

 

[SusieT]

I would be a bit worried if lots of bruising about lami secondary to the strangles but would expect them to be sick with that

 

[ycbm]

Has he been cushings tested CT?

 

[Gloi]

Has he been cushings tested CT?

Was just going to say that.

 

[Equi]

My first thought was the amount of hacking done by a farrier knife.

 

[The Jokers Girl]

No advice on the issue at hand but Wow, was that the work of a qualified, licenced and insured farrier that has butchered the foot like that, or an equine podiatrist, barefoot trimmer with minimal training. If the former I would report to the farriery Council as they may need retraining and god knows how many other horses they've done that to.

 

[SantaVera]

that is terrible buchery of the sole. why on earth has it been cut away, there is absolutely never any need to do so. Sack who ever did this and get a differnt farrier and instuct them to leave the sole totally alone. infact I would report farrier who did this to the farrier council. ( google it ). poor poor horse it will take at least one month for repair possibly two months. then you'll have to go carefully.

 

[ycbm]

The hacked foot aside, the blood at the toe is not normal. If the farrier has cut wall back so far that they have hit live laminae then they should probably be reported, though nothing will come of it if previous people's worse experiences are to go by.

But I would still be worried about why his soles are thin and it's easy to reach an area with a blood supply, and if the other toe is also pink then it looks to me like a fairly typical laminitic toe bleed, which given his age is why I asked the Cushings question.

 

[Tiddlypom]

That looks pretty grim, CT. Ruddy poor butchery farriery. Its awful when your pro lets you and the horse down (been there).

It really needs a vet and x rays today, if you can get that organised. I also would suspect Cushings.

In the interim a deep bed and padding/boots - as Susie T suggested, can you put a board across the doorway to contain the bedding?

 

[Gloi]

Where you mention him pawing the bedding away OP does he paw a lot. If so that could have damaged an already compromised foot and caused that bleed in the toe. There is probably some degree of laminitis going on Need to find the cause is it Cushing's or EMS or another cause.

 

[Reacher]

Sorry your lad is going through this CT.
I’d give the vet another ring re concerns of laminitis and ask if they can come out sooner (eg today).
Can you (or YO ) feel for a digital pulse?
Folded over carpet is another good material for a temporary pad until you can buy some.

I’d also send that photo to the farrier as they ought to be aware

 

[Shilasdair]

I think you need a vet and x-rays - but you already know this.
In the meantime, you can agonise over it, or you can keep it clean to avoid dirt/infection tracking up, pad it and boot it.
I would recommend the Easyboot Clouds with the thick blue EVA pads.
Assume laminitis/EMS/Cushings and manage the diet accordingly.
I hope he gets better soon.

 

[Gloi]

How is he OP, did the vet come?

Sorry realised it's Friday.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Boy wore boots with inserts all day and is a lot more comfortable. There is almost zero redness visible now.

Has he been cushings tested CT?

No, but PAS suggested it when I mentioned his coat was looking moth eaten. Something to discuss with the vet, for sure.

No advice on the issue at hand but Wow, was that the work of a qualified, licenced and insured farrier that has butchered the foot like that, or an equine podiatrist, barefoot trimmer with minimal training. If the former I would report to the farriery Council as they may need retraining and god knows how many other horses they've done that to.

Fully qualified, yes. Let go, yes. I have my old farrier who never caused issues coming next week. I want a second opinion and he will be getting the photos.

I checked messages from last time he was done and he was properly lame. I kind of expected that, he has very bad arthritis in his hinds so there’s more pressure than usual on the fronts and he couldn’t retain a shoe on his fronts and was very footsore so often needs extra Danilon, but he could walk fine with my old farrier. I’m very upset with myself for not swapping back last time.

 

[Dexter]

did the vet xray?

 

[bouncing_ball]

He’ll be wearing his boots from tomorrow. I can’t add bedding, his box is up a step so he just kicks it out. Any advice til I see the vet? I’m worried. ?

Use a railway sleeper just inside door to keep bedding in?

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

The vet is coming on Friday. It’s tricky, I have to be last visit of the day due to the horse being contagious-week 5 of snot-and I couldn’t get an earlier appointment. He will do last visit by which time I’ll be out of work. The radiologist will come on Saturday if the vet wants her to. I think the horse is comfortable, he was wandering round his box, happy to lift feet and to have them looked at/touched.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Use a railway sleeper just inside door to keep bedding in?

I think boots and 2 pads are doing a good job. He would just ruin a bigger bed, he tends to spread it around and leave bare patches no matter how much is in there.