hoof care advice please? :) (also i new lounge)

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LittleMouse

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15 December 2010
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hiya, Mouse's hooves have been cracking quite alot from the shoe up to the nails. also, yesterday i noticed the nail in his left hind has moved right down the hoof!!! it is now only about 5mm from the shoe! he has 2 weeks left until he is scheduled to be shod, and it has left a large wide crack in its wake, which i think might be the start of him loosing the shoe! he has never lost a shoe before, its stressing me out, and although they crack, his hooves have never been awful.
im pretty sure the weakness is due to the constantly changing weather, but i dont know if it is due to the hoof being too wet or too dry?
this is NOT him...but his hooved do look a lot like this. unfortunately cannot find a pic of what has happened to the nail. (will take one)
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=ho...=166&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0,i:100


so at the mo, i am using kevin bacons hoof dressing daily. been doing so for about 2 weeks.
i am well aware that most hoof improvement comes from the INSIDE. so what shall i feed? i would like to get a supplement as i think it will help.

any suggestions...about the problems right now and the future?

manythanks,
Becky xxx
 
Just looked at pic. This damage is caused by the nail holes and bacteria getting in them. Wet weather won't b helping.
Feed is important for hoof quality. But u need to help by getting rid on any current bacteria or fungus in the damaged horn.
I measure of Milton to 10 measures of water soak weekly or spray every other day or get red horse spray think its called sole cleanse.
X
 
thanks very much x
he is currently fed a small feed of fast fibre once a day, just enough to give a multivitamin supplement and garlic.
he lives out 24/7, but the field is fairly bare as he is on a diet :) x
 
This weather is not helping, the feet are wet then drying out rapidly which is weakening them especially around nail holes. Diet will help but takes time to have an effect, if you bring in to the stable wash the mud off as if it dries on them it will make the feet worse.

I would bring forward his shoeing date, it is better to get them done early rather than losing a shoe and having the foot broken more, at this time of year they grow quickly and may need shoeing more frequently, mine are done every 4-5 weeks to keep them from getting too long.
 
Personally I would prob up fibre slightly. Some more fast fibre/kwik beat and a of molasses free or lite chaff. A small slipping 've f soaked hay once or twice a day. And magnesium. X
 
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