Hoof Wall Resections

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AppyLover

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There is a chance our mare with an old hoof injury (before we got her) might end up having a very large section of her hoof wall resected, obviously this will be decided after X-rays and consultations with all the right people etc.

I would love to here peoples recovery, journey and experience of having this done as it looks pretty scary and I'm a person who likes to hear about actual experiences not just what the vet or farrier says as everyone's different 😁
 
Why has it been suggested? What's the injury?

Definitely think you're right to seek opinions from people and professionals but do add other hoof professionals if you can find good ones.

Whilst I don't know the reason for the resection in your post, something similar was going to happen to my horse about 7/8 years ago. It was for unresolved seedy toe and arthritis from lami - vet said he should just pts. I was really quite scared as it sounded extreme and barbaric! how would I keep it clean? How long would it take to grow out? How do I manage infections? Will it hurt him etc?

I did go into research overdrive (quite easy for me) and found many examples of non-interventional techniques from UK and lots of case studies internationally. I decided to get a second opinion from an EP based on the case studies and decided to give it a go as a last chance. I've not looked back. The horse was back sj/xc in 10 months.

Just my experience. Not saying you should do the same but it's always worth the time researching your options. If the only option is the resection then prepare yourself well. There are members here who have gone through with it I hope they can help you.
 
Yes, my homebred youngster had two extensive resections for seedy toe at ages 2 and 3. The resection was not extensive enough first time round, so had to be repeated. After 14 days box rest, the foot was shod as so little hoof wall remained, the hole was filled with keratex putty and she went back out 24/7. It was a worrying time, but she came good. She remained sound throughout, bar suffering one abscess.

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It carried on growing out:-

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Same foot age 5 - normal, no signs at all of resection even on x ray. It had thrown some weird shapes as it grew out, though :eek3:.

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And recently aged 6, in full work and competing regularly, aiming for BE100s next year.

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Good luck!
 
tallyho! said:
Why has it been suggested? What's the injury?

Definitely think you're right to seek opinions from people and professionals but do add other hoof professionals if you can find good ones.

Whilst I don't know the reason for the resection in your post, something similar was going to happen to my horse about 7/8 years ago. It was for unresolved seedy toe and arthritis from lami - vet said he should just pts. I was really quite scared as it sounded extreme and barbaric! how would I keep it clean? How long would it take to grow out? How do I manage infections? Will it hurt him etc?

I did go into research overdrive (quite easy for me) and found many examples of non-interventional techniques from UK and lots of case studies internationally. I decided to get a second opinion from an EP based on the case studies and decided to give it a go as a last chance. I've not looked back. The horse was back sj/xc in 10 months.

Just my experience. Not saying you should do the same but it's always worth the time researching your options. If the only option is the resection then prepare yourself well. There are members here who have gone through with it I hope they can help you.
Click to expand...

Ooops I should have probably given some more details but was trying to not put to much info so it wasn't thought i was trying to get diagnosis advice from people online and not veterinary professional 🙈.

She came to us almost 2.5 years ago with a deep but healed crack coming from the coronet band, which now grows in with the vertical grove/crack. She sat around most of the first year or so not doing much but perfectly sound and stayed that way until very recently. (Only slightly off now and not all the time) Had the farrier out for both yesterday and asked his advice as since he's started doing her shoes her hooves have changed for the better. He said you have many options from pads to different shoes etc we also discovered part of her hoof sounds hollow which is when he mentioned wall resectons, but obviously nothing could be decided until he know what's going on inside.

We will be looking at X-rays etc in the very near future (moving yards next week so once she's settled in) to see the likelyhood of this being an option but i like to plan so started on the research about them 😁.

When she first arrived it was said by the vet at the time it could very well be cosmetic and to pretty much leave it alone unless it causes her problems.
 
Don't be too scared, it's not as bad as your brain will have you believe.

In my experience (re-section for a keratoma) neddy was operated on at vet hospital, stayed in for 1 week. The hole in his hoof was pretty massive but he has massive hooves to start with (Clydesdale). The re-section was all the way down to the lamini but by the time he was coming home, this has already started to heal and only a light 'plug' was placed in the hole, basically to keep the muck out. I was told if the plug fell out, not to fret and it did fall out the first time he was shod afterwards.

The healing process is amazingly quick, from the inside out, as well as the top down. Box rest however is essential I think. I've not heard of any horses that have been allowed straight back outside after this type of surgery as the hoof is compromised and not solid. Number of weeks box rest I guess is dependent on extent of re-section.

It didn't end well for me, two re-sections and neddy was still lame so he was PTS. I wasn't going to put him through anymore box rest - he'd already done 18 months on and off but the op itself and the recovery process was easy really, it's just a crying shame it didn't work.

Follow your vet's advice to the letter and you should have a good outcome. I'll try and post piccies later when I'm on my phone and it's a bit easier.

Deb
 
If it is coming down from coronary band damage I'm not sure a resection will help but xrays will help with this. keratomas/highly tracked up long term infections yet. But I can't see why if the issue is at the top that it won't just grow down the same again.
 
Thanks guys for all the great replies and gives us a lot to look into 😁

The crack does start from the coronet band 1 side grows in normally and the other had a slight bump which is where he most likely hollow part is.

Hopefully it doesn't come to it and we can maybe find other options instead fingers crossed the X-rays show something easily fixable or atleast fixable. If not she will be retired to the field next year which will be sad as she's only 13 but of it keeps her around for another 10 years we will 😁
 
It would be lovely to hear how you get on and even more if you do try the barefoot rehab. All the very best to you and your mare - may there be many more happy (hopefully useful!) years ahead for you both :)
 
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