HELP! Bruised foot? Infection? Advice needed.

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Cdehaast

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My grey mare went lame on Thurs afternoon (20th August), the farrier took off the shoe on Fri morning and found a sharp stone wedged in her front stud hole. In desperation, I was supposed to be competing at Burnham Beeches BE on Sat, he put the shoe back on with pads/magic cushions etc. Unfortunately she was still lame on Sat (although much improved) and came sound Sun.

All was fine until yesterday (25th August) when after a half hour lesson she was seriously lame on a hard surface. I had the shoe taken off last night and have been soaking in hot water/soda crystals twice daily and dry poulticing the rest of the time. There is no evidence of a hole/pus or anything else upon inspection of the foot although there's slight heat in the area.

Do we think this is the beginnings of an infection or residual bruising from the stone? What should I do to get her sound ASAP? I'm supposed to be competing again on Mon
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Any advice is very much appreciated!!

Thank-you.
 
my mare has had bruised soles on a number of occasions, she was TB and had flat soles so would get bruised on any type of stone or even uneven ground sometimes.

I know you have said there is no puss but try holding the hoof up and apply pressure around the whole of the sole area with your thumbs, watch your horses reaction you will soon see if still sore. If it is you may have to ask a farrier out to cut into the sole as although you cannot see any hole or puss the puss may well be building up inside her hoof, if you get it released it will not travel up and burst out of the coronet band which will take so much more time to heal.

Ask the farrier rather than vet as they will be much better to deal quickly, you may not be competing on Mon though as you will need to hot then cold poultice for a few days.

My mare had this a lot so I knew how to diagnose it, it is very painful for them but not seen by our eyes as the hole can be minute. My vet once said she was laminitic (with no past history) we starved her so to speak then found out it was an absess. In my opinion a farrier is first call when it comes to hooves.

Give it a go it's worth a try as your soaking and cold poltice will not work if the hole has healed up and puss cannot escape

good luck
 
keep tubbing with hot salty water. not soda crystals! bruising can take 10 to 14 days to subside esp if of the flat foot variety. arnica. farrier is best to consult. next monday being 31 aug and this is the 26 i would poultice and tub twice day and get shoe on fri sat to run on mon. or get a vets note at cost for a part refund if BE. depends whether the run or the horse is more important. you might get a part refund tomorrow wih vets cert cos they can substitute off the waiting list. there are plenty more odes. shouldnt rush MOTHER NATURE1
 
keep doing your politicing and as well as that feed arnica tablets in case there is any brusing but if she is not ride you will just have to give her time until she is right!
 
the heat could indicate an abcess or a bruise.. having a TB with crappy flat feet, i have experienced both of these..
i would keep polticing as you are. if she is no better by tomorrow, ask your farrier to come out and do a bit of digging to see if he can find an abcess (they don't always come out on their own!) or a corn/bruise.. i would also withdraw from comp on Monday.
i hope she is better soon!
 
Thanks for all your advice, the farrier is coming out tomorrow and i've withdrawn from Mon - fingers crossed for next Sun now!
Is there any products you use for rubbish thin soled/flat footed TBs? She's on biotin and effol twice daily atm.
Thanks again.
 
a bl00dy good farrier is the best thing!! i find stopping the feet from getting too dry in this weather helps, i usually soak foot in water before i apply any lotions to them. i've been using solution4 feet, it's good stuff! also Kevin bacon stuff is good too!
 
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