Hole in sole

[Tiddlepiddle]

A large hole was cut in the sole, maybe half inch deep but and inch or so wide to open out an abscess hole at the toe.

I have age kept it covered with vet wrap etc as advised to keep it clean but it'll be nearly two months since it happened and horse is sore from having a boot on to keep it all in place.

so, the question is really, how long do these type of holes take to fill in or fill in enough to not need any extra protection?

spose,also, what have you used to keep the foot covered for long periods of time.... In case I have to keep going down this road?

 

[Buddy'sMum]

Is the hole still deep enough to pack? If so then I'd forget the boot and clean and pack it daily. I've used cotton wool and Sudocrem successfully in the past. Or Keratex Hoof Putty - good for packing deepr holes but I find it doesn't stay put in shallower ones. Have a look on the Red Horse Products website, their Hoof Stuff is great.

 

[Tiddlepiddle]

Yes, think it is deep enough. Would packing stay in there though? Horse turned out on stoney area full time. Do you know how long a hole like this will hang around for?

 

[TigerTail]

Hoof stuff or field paste will stay in so long as the hoof is dry when u apply

Till it grows out so a couple of months depending on growthrate

 

[paulineh]

you could look at something like the Hoofwraps http://www.trot2.com/equine-hoof-ba...&src=froogle&gclid=CIPUxbKcqbwCFSvHtAodzhgA8Q You may find you can get them from a tack shop.

As long as nothing can get into the hole. Stockholm tar is very good and I use a nappy to cover the area and then Duck tape. You can use the Hoof Wraps for turn out as well. They come with a pad as well.

 

[Buddy'sMum]

Yes, think it is deep enough. Would packing stay in there though? Horse turned out on stoney area full time. Do you know how long a hole like this will hang around for?

Yes, it'll stay put if you start with a dry hoof and pack the hole tightly. All of the products mentioned will help kill bugs so with daily cleaning and packing the hole should heal quite quickly.

And if he's on stony ground the packing isn't likely to be sucked off by the wet/mud.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Can you not get farrier out to pack it & then put a pad & shoe over? (or is horse unshod?)
Short term I use stockholm tad & cotton wool but with ground conditions the way they are, I'd not be hopeful of anything staying put in there long.

 

[Orangehorse]

Start with some cotton wool and something antiseptic, and then another bit of cotton wool and plaster it in with stockholm tar. Don't let the stockholm tar go into the wound, use it to seal the hole.

I had a very long time with having to pack a hole, and to start with I used a nappy, wrapped with vetwrap and sealed with duck tape, (in which case I didn't use the stockholm tar, only the first lot of cotton wool) but I got through dozens of everything. It eventually grew out. And then weeks later I was picking out his feet and it looked like half his hoof fell out, which was scarey, but it was where the infection had been so the old sole came away from the new sole. Just to warn you. Horse was fine though.

 

[Cortez]

I'm currently in exactly the same situation, except the hole is nearer the heel by the bars. I'm packing it with Red Horse "Hoof Stuff" and a cotton wool plug, then vet wrap and silage bale tape over. He walks through that lot at the toe every day, but it is enough to keep the muck out and I redo as needed. Pain in the A, but horse was lame for 3 months before we were able to get it all drained and I'm not giving up now!