Horse is lame and has a contracted hoof

[Emlequss]

Last Wednesday my farrier trimmed my horses feet and he’s been lame on his back right ever since, I had the vet out and they determined it was just a bad thrush infection but I’ve been treating for thrush for over a week with no improvement, yesterday I noticed the lame hoof is significantly more contracted than the other 3 (the other 3 are very healthy no contraction at all) it’s very painful for him when I touch around the heel area, especially the deep crevice between her bulbs when I clean it. I can still smell thrush, so I’m thinking the infection is persisting within the contracted hoof crevice? Or could he just be lame because of the contraction? And could this be caused by the farrier trimming him incorrectly? I wish I payed more attention to the heel because I have no idea if it’s been contracted for a long time or just recently. Any advice on what I can do to fix this?
Edit: also adding that there is heat on his hoof and lower limb but not swelling.

 

[irishdraft]

Thrush can be very difficult to get rid off especially if it is deep in the sulcus and yes horses can be lame because of it . You need to employ a rigorous cleaning regime red horse products are very good horse stuff I think it's called for stuffing into the cleaned sulcus . Your horse has probably not been taking the weight on the leg/hoof for some time so now has contracted heels .

 

[paddi22]

yeah I think Irish draft has it spot on. we get rescues in that often have terrible thrush but it never takes long to clear up. I would worry there was an underlying issue or that it was something in the management (bedding/field) causing it? The horse that struggled with thrush for the longest here turned out to have cushings, and it cleared up once he went on medication. the reds horse field paste is the best thing I've found for treating it.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

My mare had a hoof infection which cleared up while I was waiting for the Red Horse stuff to arrive. I cleaned her hooves 2x daily with tea-tree oil spray. She also tested positive for Cushings and when she started on Prascend all her hoof issues disappeared.

 

[Goldenstar]

Is it a sheared heel you are dealing with ?

 

[paddy555]

it’s very painful for him when I touch around the heel area, especially the deep crevice between her bulbs when I clean it. I can still smell thrush, so I’m thinking the infection is persisting within the contracted hoof crevice? Or could he just be lame because of the contraction? And could this be caused by the farrier trimming him incorrectly? .

I don't think you can blame the farrier because the horse has thrush and a contracted heel. I am afraid that is down to the owner.
How have you been treating the thrush? how did the vet tell you to deal with the thrush?

there are several things you could do. You could soak in either a bucket of water or soaking boot if you have one in copper sulphate solution. Try getting some cotton wool on the end of your hoof pick and cleaning out the crevice until it is really clean then use cotton buds to get right down to the bottom. Clean it twice daily. Totally clean. You could treat it with iodine, brush it in then soak cotton wool in iodine and push it right down to the bottom with your hoof pick. Another thing you could do is use red horse hoof stuff providing the crevice is deep enough to keep it in. The important thing is the cleaning. If you can keep the foot dry and out of mud that will help.

From what you describe I guess the infection is still persisting and until you break the thrush you won't get anywhere dealing with the contraction. I would expect a good week dealing with the thrush and cleaning very diligently before the soreness reduces in a bad case. I would guess from your description that possibly you are not getting right down to the very bottom of the crevice with your cleaning and the infection still has a hold. It may be difficult to get right down there as the horse is obviously very sore and not keep on poking.
If the horse was sound before the farrier visit and lame afterwards then it could be that before the hoof was longer and was "shielding" the sore thrushy part that was not taking any pressure. After a trim to the correct length the sore part is in ground contact/taking more pressure and therefore hurts.

 

[Gloi]

If the horse has been sore on that frog for a while he won't have been using the foot correctly which could have caused the contraction.
You need to get rid of the thrush and the hoof may recover. Really get into that cleft and floss with some cloth soaked in whatever you are using to treat the thrush.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

My horse had contracted heels and they've gotten a lot better since pulling his shoes. I really had to get up in there with the thrush product I was using. I also soaked a piece of gauze with some anti-thrush stuff the trimmr gave me and jammed it in there using a popsicle stick. Now that things have opened up a bit his thrush is mostly gone and it is easier to treat now. Fortunately he was never sore or all that bothered about me poking around in there.

I would be interested in why that one hoof is contracted. I would if it is secondary to something else, or purely from the thrush?

So really get up in there. Could take a week or two to see or smell results.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Hi op, my latest horse had this too. I’ve been cramming Red Horse Hoof stuff in and am noticing a definite difference.