Help what is this???? ((hoof/heel/frog problem))

horselover777

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Hi all,

Does anyone know what this is/have a horse with this kind of issue. The vet has been out and very undecided- given us copper sulphate to try to dry the areas out and harden the soft skin. Suggestions from mites- mud fever nothing quite fits. It really changes day by day some days worse other days looks almost healed. He is stabled 24/7 and on shavings as believed straw made it worse!:(


Any suggestions are welcomed!

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rsngosp0o96cpkg/AAD2bRFRJnbfcgIL4zMzzxtia?dl=0

Thankyou in advance
 
I dont know what it is but the horse seems to have underrun, contracted heels so it could be related to that, restricted movement in the area, both feet are affected, guessing the one in the main photo is the worst, the other one looks almost like an overreach injury to the bulb of the heel, could it be proud flesh following a strike injury?
Getting out in the fresh air moving about may be more beneficial than being in 24/7 especially while the weather is so good, getting a longer wider shoe on would open up the heel a bit, I would not be happy with those shoes, not that they are likely to be the cause but they may be contributing.
 
That is a very bad case of contracted heels. How has your farrier let it get that bad?
 
Also has the vet not made a comment on how bad they are, if it is that obvious to us in a photo in real life I expect they may look far worse.

I despair with vets and farriers sometimes. Not that we should tar them with the same brush.

OP, the only way to sort that foot out is to remove the shoe that is constricting that foot and give the horse some time out of shoes to rebuild the back of the foot and restore it back to health. get rid if the fungal infection. It's a bad thrush. Look up Pete Ramey Goo. http://www.natureshoof.com/pathology.aspx
Once it's decontracted and you have a healthier foot, you can then shoe again if you want to.

I'm sure if you googled contracted heels you will find many resources... but look up Rockley farm as well.
 
I've seen lots of contracted heels but not with this as a side effect so I am not sure they are connected. I am also not sure that hardening the skin is a good idea. I would try treating this for a week with manuka honey, the highest grade you can manage. I have had success with 24+. It was not for an identical condition (I don't know what this is) but it was in the same place and it may work. After a week I would work on applying cream to make the area flexible rather that harden it up. I just wonder if hardening it will make it crack.
 
thankyou for your ideas! he suffers from no restricted movement and never shows a hint of lameness? As for the getting fresh air we will try it while it is dry! thank you!
 
i will defo try the manuka i have heard wonders in other areas. The hardening was just because it was so spongy it made it scab and for a while it returned to normal however when then wetness again it became worse! thanks for the suggestions!
 
Hi, how are you getting on with treating this? My horse had similar looking heels which eventually started to open up :( we just couldn't seem to get to the bottom of it, it then spread to his coronet bands and was finally diagnosed as corinitus. Hope you get to the bottom of it!
 
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