Hoof wall bruising?

bryngelenponies

bryngelenponies

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South Wales
www.biopharm-leeches.com
My section a mare has 3 black hooves and 1 white. On wednesday the farrier came to trim her feet. Today whilst brushing her I noticed that on the wall of her white hoof there are 2 small bruises. The bruises are not in a straight line-one bruise is at the base of the hoof and the other is slightly higher up. She is not lame and shows no discomfort. It is only the hoof wall- there is no bruising on the sole or the frog. I don't know whether this bruising has been there for a while or whether the trimming caused it. If it was not the trimming that caused this then what did? How should I treat it? I thought that it may be something to do with laminitis because she is fat (we're working no it) but she has never had laminitis and only her white hoof has any bruising, the other 3 hooves have no bruising on the walls, soles or frogs. I'm worried because I've never seen hoof bruising before...
 
A continous ring of red round a hoof is a sure sign of a laminitic event but small irregular areas are most commonly as a result of the horse banging or knocking their coronet band - this then grows down in the hoof wall. There may well be similar bruising on the other dark feet but it's almost impossible to see because of the pigmentation. It certainly won't have been caused by the trim. But if she is overweight then you do need to watch her as she is at risk of laminitis but you are obviously already well aware of this from reading your post. Make sure her grazing is restricted and up her exercise.
 
I'm pretty sure that it's bruising because when I looked it up on the internet and in the books I have it looks exactly the same. I just wasn't sure whether there was anything I could do treat it or whether it was best to leave it and that in time it would correct itself. I will certainly do everything to drop her weight, I've bought a grazing muzzle and have increased her lunging programme.
 
Could she have just knocked or trodden on herself? Maybe get the vet out to have a quick look? It doesn't sounds much like laminitus, but I'd still be a bit cautious! Has she been worked on hard ground or anything, maybe it's just bruising from concussion because of the hard ground? Just a few ideas! Hope it turns out okay! xx
 
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