Proud flesh on sole

dressage_diva

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Has anyone had any experience of proud flesh on their horse's sole? If so, how did you treat it?

To cut a very long story short, my 21yr old had laminitis, then whilst on box rest developed an abscess, and now we have proud flesh on the sole. Vet advised we should treat it with copper sulphate crystals in the first instance but after 48hours there hasn't been much improvement and the horse is very sore (reluctant to weight bear at all as the proud flesh protrudes below the shoe level so it touches the ground as soon as he tries to put his foot down). Vet wants to wait until Monday to see if there has been any further change, before we consider debriding it (it won't be an easy job as he has imprint shoes on for the laminitis as we would prefer not to have to remove them).

Would appreciate any advice - I'm on such an emotional rollercoaster with my boy at the moment and it feels like every time we take a step forward we take 10 backwards :(
 
Seen this happen at the side of a frog after a nail (not farrier type) penetrated deep into the foot. After box rest and covered bar shoe were removed, proud flesh was evident. It had to be removed (debrided) by vet, but it happened a few more times and I got used to cutting it back, pressure applied with cotton wool, then leaving open to the air, if weather is dry. It's got to go, so I'd get it cut back now, it grows quickly if left.

It bleeds profusely though, don't panic at this, it's due to the excess of blood vessels in proud flesh, versus normal flesh. No nerves though, so not painful.
 
Seen this happen at the side of a frog after a nail (not farrier type) penetrated deep into the foot. After box rest and covered bar shoe were removed, proud flesh was evident. It had to be removed (debrided) by vet, but it happened a few more times and I got used to cutting it back, pressure applied with cotton wool, then leaving open to the air, if weather is dry. It's got to go, so I'd get it cut back now, it grows quickly if left.

It bleeds profusely though, don't panic at this, it's due to the excess of blood vessels in proud flesh, versus normal flesh. No nerves though, so not painful.

Thanks my vet did warn me that it would bleed profusely.
 
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