Reoccurring front hoof abscess

[Emilyl999]

Hi I have a 10 year old Clydesdale mare. For the past 5 years I have been battling hoof abscesses in the front hooves.

she is bare footed and not in regular work. I have a bare foot trimmer that comes every 4 weeks. Her hooves are super strong and look good from the outside. They generally occur In winter, I can’t remember a Christmas without poulticing.

she has been on sugar free feed and forage balancers for years and feed only grass and hay. Her white line is getting worse, more stretched out which I assume is how the abscesses are occuring so I’m not hopeful about going into winter this year. ?

she has been tested for ppid and was negative, vets not concerned about that at all. The ver has advised a biotin supplement ? Maybe starting to use a farrier instead of a trimmer? I’m at my wits end.
Any similar probs of advice welcome

 

[PapaverFollis]

Find another trimmer maybe? Have you had your hay and grass tested and specifically balanced? It might help if you haven't already done that.

 

[ycbm]

Which forage balancer?
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[alibali]

I'd ask for a TRH stimulation test to double check for Cushing's. I think you need to wait until November as it's seasonally sensitive tho. Liphook do a really good fact sheet on Cushing's/EMS diagnostics. If you Google ppid trh stimulation test it's the first result. Well worth a read. The stimulation test is recommended for early/subtle symptoms. Recurring abscesses were the only symptom my lad had pre-diagnosis with ppid.