Injured frog, advice please!!

Buds_mum

Buds_mum

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My horse went lame last Monday, although it could of been before as he had 3 rest days before this.

He was barefoot behind, so his frogs were a little tatty and I am currently treating him for thrush. Believed the main culprit for lameness to be a bruised sole so field rested and continued thrush treatment, he has always been sound in walk but rested the foot readily when on hard ground.

Farrier came this Monday, pared back frog to find a large, seems quite deep, cut to his near hind frog, said ''ouch that will of been very painful'' and shod his back feet, he said it will now heal better as its elevated off the ground. There is no heat in the hoof, leg or frog just the cut.

Lunged in the school yest, sound in walk and trot, dog lame in canter.

I don't believe there is any infection (and nor does farrier), I am cleaning it daily with salt water and he is out 24/7, now he is shod behind he is no longer resting the hoof when stood but there is still the issue of just how very lame he was in canter, could it just be the impact of the surface to the cut frog when in canter?

Farrier just said ride him when he's sound...

Does anyone have any experiences?

Reason I'm avoiding vet is that i don't want them going in digging the frog away and butchering his hoof. When probably its just a tender cut :(
 
If it is just a cut, it will heal slower now he is shod, as shoes restrict blood flow to the hoof.

I would allow it a little time to heal, but if it doesn't improve then call a vet out to x-ray it.
 
If it was me I would do as you are doing with the cleaning and probably soak it as well in the salty water then keep it coverered and clean for a couple of days.

Can you make a boot if you don't have one? I would put could out a square of animalintax (sp) then vet wrap that on over the cut and a bit of duct tape.

The cut the corner of a hayledge bag slip it over the hoof (feed bag would do but not as strong) then lots of duct tape again.

Could you keep him in over night for a couple of days? will have as better chance of keeping the boot on if he's not walking around 24/7 especially if he's shod as the shoe will quickly wear through.
 
Thanks for replies.

Spoke to farrier and he has advised just what you have said Victoria1980 :)

Will see how he goes, if he gets suddenly lamer it will be vet for sure x
 
CM once had a deep cut where the heel bulb becomes the frog IYSWIM and it took ages and ages to heal. She had antibiotics and I tubbed it to clean it, but it did need far more time to heal than I expected (possibly because of the low blood supply to that area?).
 
Hiya fc, yes this is what farrier said, the frog has a low blood supply so it will take time to heal properly. Sigh.

Thanks Vic, I have seen those boots in local tack shop, do they work? If so I will defs get one!
 
Buds_mum said:
Hiya fc, yes this is what farrier said, the frog has a low blood supply so it will take time to heal properly. Sigh.

Thanks Vic, I have seen those boots in local tack shop, do they work? If so I will defs get one!
Click to expand...

which one? the shires one has been fantastic for me. It takes a while to get the hang of getting it on but i put it on in a way that when he puts his weight into it he pushes his hoof into it. I always put a nappy over his hoof first and then duct tape overload. Just have to make sure it doesn't rub but my horse has feathers which helped. It has got us through 4 abscesses but I know some people find they don't stay put.

The eqwelli is also good but more flimsy and not so waterproof, if you can turnout in a flattish drying paddock you would be ok.

With both it's ten times easier to get them on when you are doing fronts!
 
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