Question about heat in hoof and Lameness?

[Nickles1973]

Could do with some advice please? My boy lost a shoe in this horrible sticky mud on Friday. Yard owner rang to tell me as he brought George in for me, and he tells me that he's come in sound and there nothing untoward to worry about. I have the farrier booked to come 8am tomorrow morning and George has lost shoes before with no other probs so I didn't worry too much. Anyway yesterday morning I arrive at the yard to find that he's got quite a bit of heat in his hoof but there was no swelling further up and after walking him around the school and seeming fairly sound (maybe a little foot sore but I thought this was to be expected as he's wrenched a shoe off) I turned him out to be with his friends. Last night when I brought him in he was more obviously lame and I felt really stupid and guilty for not going with my gut feeling and keeping him in. So I cold hosed for a while and put his bioflow wraps on over night. This morning He's definately lame. There is slight redness that looks like a bruise starting on his coronet and his hoof is hot which has spread a little up his leg. I have cold hosed again and kept him in today with a lovely big haynet but what I'm wondering is do you think this could all possibly be just a bruise from losing a shoe or should I also have called the vet to take a look in case it's something more sinister? I should also add that althought the people on my yard are very knowledgeable thay also have a tendency to dismiss most of my concerns and make me feel like a worry wart! Sorry this has been long and rambley but I am grateful for any replies!

 

[daisalph]

I would just rest him or a couple of days before bringing the vet in. Doesn't sound too bad if no swelling above the hoof. Prob bruising.

 

[trick123]

i would suspect gravel if there is heat in the hoof, get your farrier to hoof test and maybe he can dig away a bit to reveal where the inflamation is. i always use my farrier first if its in the foot. then i would suggest poulticing. always be suspicious of heat in foot you are quite right, and its nothing you've done wrong, sometimes if they lose shoes they can tend to gravel easily.