Heat in foot - idea/

[Thistle]

16.1 TB type with heat in his foot, stightly spreading up leg, digital pulse is OK. He is only very slightly lame.

When foot is picked out there is a slight smell to this foot.

My initial thought was abscess, but unless it is a very low grade tiny one, I don't see how as he isn't that lame and it doesn't seem to be getting worse.

He has a deep cleft of his frog, I had a good poke around in there last night and he doesn't seem to be sore, so I would rule out raging thrush.

The other possibility is bruising as the mare in the adjacent field is in season and he has been hanging round at the gate on the stones chatting her up.

I've spoken to my farrier who has a backlog this week as he has been off sick. He will call in when he is passing to have a look (doesn't want to come over specially as he is so busy, but will if I feel the shoe needs removing urgently).

This problem is definately in the foot, not the leg.

He doesn't have any apparent injuries or puncture wounds.

Bloody typical, he was due to be advertised next week.

Any ideas?

I was going to tub his foot anyway so I can have a really good look and then treat the frog with some thrush stuff I have.

He does not look ill sick or sorry in any way.

 

[charliecrisps]

With shoes on it is hard to see abcess sometimes. My horse had similar, the farrier took the shoes off and pinched all round where the shoe sits, and he let us know where it hurt!there was a lodged tiny stone hat had worked its way under the shoe and deep abcess. Looks like you will have to wait for farrier. He should sort it out.

 

[Twiglet]

How long has the heat been there?

A few weeks ago Twiglet came in mildly lame with some heat in the foot, and I thought he'd just banged it as it wasn't severe enough to point at an abscess. 24 hours later and he was hopping, and lo and behold the vet found a big abscess! He reckoned it had been building up for a few days before the lameness showed.

 

[Thistle]

He has had it for 2 or 3 days.

the heat was a bit less today, so it could be a bruise.

I tubbed it and cleaned it . Under his heel it was a bit gunky so I managed to scrape a little black gunge out. I then trickled hydrogen peroxide into the area to kill off the nasties that may be lurking there.

He is probably better off with his shoe on as we have worked long and hard to get the nice feet he now has.

I reckon he has a tiny gritty abscess which he make worse by chatting to his lady friend. She is out of season today.

I can't leave him in all day on his own so he is better going out with me cleaning it regularly.

Hopefully farrier will be passing next week.

 

[nippytoady]

I would tub the foot as if the frog is deep then it is likely that some infection is present deep down which may cause soreness and slight lameness. This is common and normally with a few days of tubbing and keeping the frog clean it will improve.
It could also be an abcess forming or even a shoe which is putting uneven pressure on the hoof. I would tub it untill your farrier can come to have a look and then let him see what he can find.

 

[scotia2k7]

Pick out as normal, brush clean - damp/wet/scrub wie Hibi if you feel you should - personally, if its just a little sore - then its "just a little sore" from those stones you mentioned.

Spray some Stockholm on a clean, dry foot to eradicate/lesson any thrush threat. Most horses feet smell this time of year anyway, since they are either out in foul soggy/poached fields, or standing in to avoid the horrible weather. TB's by nature do tend to have fussy feet - (in the nicest possible meaning!).

Abcesses dont have to smell - they can erupt from the foot right up to the coronary band if the horse is shod - generally though? - thats down to crap stable management - which doesnt sound like your case.

I love shoes off - but then Ive been able to allow mine to take time to grow the hoof capable - it doesnt suit all - TBs have "flightier/lighter" hoof density - its been inbred over centuries to let them run faster!

Scotia - good luck