pulled shoe and possible nail puncture

C

Cuillin Arabians

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Hi all,
On Wednesday last week my horse was re-shod with his bar shoes, he has pulled his shoes off a lot of times before with no ill effects but this time he managed to pull one off the following day, he looked very slightly sore that night but the following morning he wasn't able to put weight on it at all.

I stabled him and put an epsom salts poultice on with a nappy, vet wrap and duct tape.
the following day he was slightly better , but only slightly.

today he is much the same. Ive added a thin wooden plate to the base of the poultice (after advise) and the Farrier is coming today so at least he may be able to find the source of pain. Im confident its the hoof and not higher up in the leg or fetlock. Im not confident that replacing the shoe will actually help that much though or even be possible due to the level of pain he seems to be in but will leave that to my farrier to decide as he is excellent. if he suggests a vet visit I will do that.

I don't have any Bute so have resorted to the herbal form, anti inflammatory, of Devils claw, (Ive been told it is powerful and as strong as Bute)
He is up to date with his tetanus shots.
I can't actually see a definite puncture, but not convinced he hasn't got one.

so, anyone else had this problem and if so how long before the horse was showing improvement? and how was the situation managed?

Thanks :)
 
My chestnut mare stood on a piece of wire and had a puncture wound on her heel bulb a few years back. I remember that it took a couple of days to locate as it was a tiny wound with no discharge and it became more visible with time. She was tubbed and poulticed on the Vet's recommendation as we knew that something was wrong with that foot causing her lameness (but not getting worse as you would expect with an abscess and not bad enough to worry about a fractured pedal bone). It also was quite slow to heal.

ETA - I think she had three days of hot, wet poulticing and then was dry poulticed for about a week and was given danilon in her feed and an antibiotic injection.
 
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bar shoes were the bain of my life before we went shoeless so I feel your pain. He was pulling out every 10 to 14 days. Hope you get sorted.
 
Hopefully he'll come sound soon.

Unfortunately my pony stood on a nail, x-rays showed he'd missed his navicular bursae by 2mm. Thankfully after a horsespital stay, box rest and remedial shoeing he's still here.
 
thank you everyone.
farrier didn't come yesterday in the end, he rang and as he suspects it is an abscess he said to continue poulticing and he will be up on wednesday.
he isn't getting any worse but no better either. if he can't locate an abscess or other cause then it will be back to the vets for more x-rays.
He has had lameness issues in that foot before which is why we have bar shoes on him. (vets advise)
the last pair he had on where fine and stayed on for 5 weeks with no lameness and no problems.
Im guessing there is a possibility there is another reason for his lameness (as was previously) but considering he was absolutely fine until he ripped this one off the other day Im assuming its the cause.
poor boy is not enjoying box rest at all. :(
 
but on the plus side……

I found the missing shoe!!!


:) :)

it was THE proverbial needle in the haystack- 15-20acre paddock with sand in some spots, knee high grass in others, mud, and dry 'swamp country' filled with trees, fallen branches and lilly's.
 
I think the horse should have seen a vet, especially if there is a possible puncture that may have caused unseen internal damage. I think it's pretty shocking that you have a horse that has been non weight bearing for for 5 days and the only analgesia it has had is Devils claw and that it hasn't seen any sort of professional.
 
OMG a non weight bearing injury must see a vet pronto , I can't believe a farrier saw the horse and did not tell you that .
Surely Op have you expressed that badly is he truly non weight bearing ?
 
I had just assumed that the advice that the OP got was from a vet. I think the Op isn't in the UK, so I don't know how easy it is for them to get a Vet along.
 
I've just checked and CA is in Australia. The description of the paddock didn't sound like Skye to me. ;) I agree completely that a Vet should be involved with any possible puncture wound, the fact that CA has stated 'back to the Vets' is reassuring that that the vet is involved. :)

I really hope that it is an abscess (and that it pops soon) and not a more serious issue.
 
Faracat said:
I've just checked and CA is in Australia. The description of the paddock didn't sound like Skye to me. ;) I agree completely that a Vet should be involved with any possible puncture wound, the fact that CA has stated 'back to the Vets' is reassuring that that the vet is involved. :)

I really hope that it is an abscess (and that it pops soon) and not a more serious issue.
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whereas I read that back to the vets was that it went before at which point the bar shoes suggested.

I cannot see anywhere that the vet has been consulted for this issue which is what worries me so the horse is going to have a farrier check a week after the incident and will still not have had any veterinary input.
 
Sorry to startle all of you!

To Clarify:

Yes, I have spoken to vets, they have advised to continue what I am doing at this stage with Poultices until the farrier has seen him.

there is no visible puncture wound at all, no visible sign on any damage to the hoof at all.

Farrier has also phoned me daily to check on him, and advised to continue with poultices, he is coming tomorrow (the earliest he could come)

NB-Yes I am in Australia,(grew up near the Cuillins which is why my breeding prefix is as such) Vets here do not come out and visit as we are some distance from any of them. it will take me approximately 2hrs to transport him to them- one way.

Weight bearing…. ok, sorry! bad use of words there. he does put his weight on it, uncomfortably, but he is very lame.

I am more concerned about it than you are, believe me! but when living remotely you can only do what is actually possible and until the farrier has been able to visit and have a good look I am not willing to cause more pain to my boy with a long and difficult ride in the float to the vets. Like I said… if the farrier thinks it is beyond his expertise and he needs to go to the vet then I will certainly have him there before the days end.

Valli is frustrated at being locked in the stable but is his usual cheeky self in every other way, he has not triggered any other worries in me apart from his hoof. Ive never had a horse get an abscess before so I have no experience with them to fall back on.

Devils Claw is a fantastic anti- inflammatory too by the way (and doesn't damage their blood vessels while its at it- like Bute)

He has also had IM Antibiotics as well, as a precaution

:/
 
Abscesses can be awful. The worst one that my chestnut mare had resulted in her being on three legs, proper 'broken legged' lame, her leg swelled to the knee and I was about to book her in with the Vet for x-rays (both the vet and farrier had looked at her hoof and couldn't locate an abscess) when I did one last check and she was pretty much sound and the leg looked smaller. She had a wet coronet and when I pressed on it you could see the slit that the gunk had popped out of. My hand stuck for ages despite lots of washing - once you've smelt an abscess you never, ever forget it. The hole from the abscess exit just grew out with her hoof and caused no issue.

As an aside, the only time that my vet has ever given antibiotics or anti inflammatories for an abscess was that one with the swelled leg.
 
Good News.

The farrier was right and it is an abscess. the poulticing for the past few days has allowed it to burst so we have puss!


so, more poulticing for the next few days and he will hopefully be feeling a lot better soon.

:)
 
Glad that is resolved. Re antibiotics, a lowly vet student told me antibiotics are of limited use as they don't sort of spread to lower limbs, any comment anyone?
 
Phew allright! Ive been so stressed out I had to sleep n the spare room (I was keeping hubby awake) to also make things hard were going away for 3 weeks in about 3 weeks time so this has really added to my worries…. but all looking much better. he had some paddock time (very small grassy paddock). Yes vet did say that they don't usually recommend antibiotics for it as it can prevent the abscess coming to a point.
 
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