Horse hoof warm after metal stuck in frog.

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danny79dan

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Hi, this is my first post, and im looking for some advice. My daughters pony got some rusty metal stuck in her frog a week ago, the metal wasnt causing any distress because it was found after been ridden, and she dhowed no signs of distress at all. The metal was removed and hoof cleaned and the next day we had the vet out to check it over. At this point her hoof was warm. The vet found the hole and said we were lucky and the metal had just made a hole in the soft tissue. She prescribed some antibionics precautionary and we changed dressings every day. 2 days ago the antibiotic course finished and we stopped dressing the hoof but did apply purple spray. But today the hoof feels warm again. When going for a walk around the yard the pony walks fine and she doesn't seem to be in any pain. My daughter is really worried so I'm hoping someone can advise.
 
I'd call the out of hours vet to chat it through and get advice. They may want to come out or may advise something like hot tabbing and poulticing since horse isn't sore or lame.







But yeah, basically speak to the expert who knows the horse ans the exact location and depth of the original puncture.
 
danny79dan said:
That's what I was thinking, don't understand how it's been cool the last few days though.
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Depends if there has been a tiny little organism managed to find its way from somewhere. Was it a 4 day course? Sometimes its just not long enough. Hopefully she will be fine, good that shes not lame ☺️
 
fingers crossed pony just needs a longer course of antibiotics and all will be well! definitely better to be safe than sorry especially with something like this xx
 
For future reference if you get anything metal stuck in a hoof, such as a nail, it is best left in situ and the vet called.

This is because it can be bent and not follow a straight path. You never know how deep it is and if there is a chance of vital structures being breached.

Once removed it is only guess work as to where it actual was in the hoof.
 
I would always flush a puncture wound in the frog with peroxide twice daily, because the frog is so rubbery holes close, and you don't want it to close from the top down, but from the bottom of the hole up to the surface.

Hopefully if you feel all four feet you'll find she's got one cold one, not one warm one. It's surprising how often that happens!
 
rabatsa said:
For future reference if you get anything metal stuck in a hoof, such as a nail, it is best left in situ and the vet called.

This is because it can be bent and not follow a straight path. You never know how deep it is and if there is a chance of vital structures being breached.

Once removed it is only guess work as to where it actual was in the hoof.
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Hi, yes I heard that and we know for next time. It wasn't actually us who removed the metal, someone on the yard did it when i wasnt there unfortunatly but the vet did find the hole and managed to check how far the metal went in.
 
ycbm said:
I would always flush a puncture wound in the frog with peroxide twice daily, because the frog is so rubbery holes close, and you don't want it to close from the top down, but from the bottom of the hole up to the surface.

Hopefully if you feel all four feet you'll find she's got one cold one, not one warm one. It's surprising how often that happens!
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The vet flushed the hole out butbwe haven't been doing it every day. It has been covered every day though until two days ago. I will check the heat of the other. Thanks for the advice.
 
danny79dan said:
The vet flushed the hole out butbwe haven't been doing it every day. It has been covered every day though until two days ago. I will check the heat of the other. Thanks for the advice.
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You need to check all four to be sure you have one warm foot and not one cold one on the opposite side to the injured one. It's caught me out often 😁
 
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rabatsa said:
For future reference if you get anything metal stuck in a hoof, such as a nail, it is best left in situ and the vet called.

This is because it can be bent and not follow a straight path. You never know how deep it is and if there is a chance of vital structures being breached.

Once removed it is only guess work as to where it actual was in the hoof.
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This!!
And vet would often want to x-ray to confirm where it was.

My old yard owner had a piece of something metallic stuck in her horse's hoof. She called out of hours vet and while waiting wrapped the hoof with loads of packing and gamgee and we kept the horse as still as possible.

Vet was there in 30 minutes, sedated the horse and x-rayed the foot - it had gone quite deep towards the pedal bone. I think the vet removed it and horse was sent for emergency MRI - thankfully there was no fracture or structural damage and the horse made a full recovery after a few weeks box rest. The item was an ammo cartridge (from a rifle )!

Just sharing this to show seriously foreign objects in the hoof should be treated - this item could have been pulled out quite easily but it also very very nearly went into the pedal bone.
 
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