Ideas for hardening feet following prolonged poluticing

[Worried1]

Regen has had pus in three of his four feet.

He is currently being poluticed on both fronts as touch wood (grabs desk!) the back one is OK now.

Today we can hopefully take off one front polutice he has been left with quite a large hole which forms a v shaped gap to the outside of his toe. It has been dry poluticed with a nappy and I have been srcubbing with hot salty water and spraying with purple spray but am really struggling to get the plug to stay in and worried that an infection might creep in again if it is left exposed.

He is currently in with mum in a large foaling box/small barn but the pair of them are revolting to keep clean (she is 17hh and he is approaching 14hh) You can imagine how disgusting they are!!!! We are doing at least one bale of straw, sometimes more and I can't decide which is better out on good flat, level pasture, no mud but obviously dew! Or else in his box which gets mucky during the day even with all of us running in to skip out every 5 minutes!

Any tips on hardening feet or getting a plug to stay in would be really appreciated!

 

[RyanJoker]

What a shame - and poor you!

My old boy prone to the odd abcess or 10! - After the poulitice is clear my vet always suggest a few days of Iodine swab to keep the area clean and also hardens the the foot. For holes pour a wee bit in then plug with a small bit of dry poutice - I then use vet gamgee for padding then a nappy, vet wrap and gaffer tape - then out he goes - works a treat and everyone happy - especially me (he won;t stay in on his own so my other poor boy has to keep him company so twice the mucking out twice a day

)

The vet recommends 10 % Iodine - but I'm yet to find a place that does that strength - so I just use one from boots which is 2.5% and it still seems to do the trick.

Also I've also started using a product I saw in my local tack shop - after the 2 - 3 days of Iodine, there's this spray can;t remember the proper name but something like Farriers Barrier or something like that - its in a can and is like a purple spray (probably is but I like to waste my money

) and its meant to give 72 hour barrier protection - so have started using that just to try and keep any infection out.

Hope this helps and good luck

 

[Jo C]

My farrier gives me (well sells me!) Kertatex Hoof Hardener and this seems to work wonders on my wimpy Patrick, I think you would have to check out whether it is able to be used on that type of thing though as it is very strong.

 

[Donkeymad]

Keratex Hoof Putty will keep the hole closed and clean and also contains antibacterial agents, which will keep working. It needs warming to get it in (warm in your hand) but then hardens nicely and stays put until you pull it out again.

 

[kellyeaton]

the putty his could put before putting it in get a scrige power plast it out dry with a swap then put putty in apply nappy wrap and tape and do that twice daily. i would but them out in some fenced off clean filed!

 

[jeanne]

there is a recipe in my "Book of the Horse" (from around 1889!) which I've used successfully for hoof hardening which is phenol, formalin & iodine applied daily (with a pastry brush) - a sympathetic chemist made it up for me - good luck

 

[Worried1]

Thanks everyone - Going to try the Keratex hoof hardner and putty!

Really hard to get to the chemist but will note down the recipe and get some made next week in half-term.

The little man is much more comfortable which is good and he went out for an hour yesterday and providing it stays dry he can go out for a legt stretch today as well.