seedy toe

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Can seedy toe cause lameness?
My cob has suffered on and off with this condition for a while and although acknowledged by my farrier, he felt it was not too big a concern.
However the horse went lame on a hack last Monday, on the same hoof with the seedy toe. My farrier came out on the Tuesday and pared 2 grooves of seedy toe out, which I have been disenfecting twice daily. When the farrier attended my cob he was noticeably lame in walk, but although appears sound in walk now, is still about 2/10th's lame in trot. Is this usual or could there be an underlying infection that my farrier hasn't detected?
Also if he is just a little foot sore from where his hoof has been pared out, how long would you expect it to take for him too feel more comfortable?
Thanks.
 
My mare went lame with seedy toe, she was marginally lame on all four feet (worse on the fronts) as she had it in all four hoves - which made her look very odd as she was so footsore all round! It's cleared up now and she's back to being "sound" (as sound as my broken old nag can get
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It is unusual for a horse to become lame through seedy toe, but it is possible.
There has been an enormous amount of seedy toe this year too, becasue of the wetness. Dealing with it myself right now
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Mine has just had a small patch discovered. He's not lame, and I'm treating it twice daily with Hibiscrub (letting that dry) and then applying Purple Spray. I've got no idea when to stop this treatment and am assuming I'll carry on until the next farrier's visit in about a month. Hope I'm doing the right thing.
 
Hi Sidney, my horse was diagnosed with seedy toe last Christmas. He gradually had more and more hoof cut away as the seedy toe had tracked all the way up the front of his hoof, he then became very lame on it gradually but within a week seemed foot sore to the point where he couldn't weight bare! He went into Rossdales in the end for an MRI after lots of trial and error with rest, different shoes etc. It turns out that just lack of hoof structure can cause lameness but it can also lead to laminitis - the latter was the case with my horse! Due to lack of support between hoof wall and laminae they pull apart and the pedal bone also looses its support - my horse ended up with a four degree rotation!! Be warned seedy toe can cause more damage than you think!! However after three months box rest and field rest my horse is now back in work, only three weeks in but he is very nearly sound on that foot now! I am still treating the exposed area of hoof with neat iodine every day. Good luck!
 
I'm sorry, I don't mean to frighten you! My horse did have a very bad case of seedy toe and it was only because so much hoof wall had to be resectioned that the problems occured. I am just trying to put across the importance of treating it aggressively initially, but if lameness occurs to get it checked out! In my case the condition had not been picked up for some time by a previous farrier hence the severity!
 
Please don't apologise. I should have sought guidance before. My boy is perfectly sound but has the long toe and low heels of the typical TB. My farrier was a bit noncommital about how to treat it, suggested various options and then proceeded to discount them all! Awaiting my vet's call but hoping she doesn't say he's got to come in and keep his feet dry.
 
Just had farrier out again as pony was still sore, and it appears that the seedy toe was a red herring, as he found the start of a gravel abcess in the heel of the same foot. So poulticing, box rest etc should resolve the problem.
One good thing has come out of this - my farrier has taken his seedy toe more seriously and hopefully dug it out!
Thanks for all your replies.
 
Spoken to my vet who hasn't suggest I panic yet
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(I've just discovered smileys!!) but has prescribed hydrogen peroxide 4% undiluted, then flush off with dilute hibiscrub (1/50) every other day. Followed by a spray of Terramycin.

Many thanks CPW for prompting me to get professional advice. Let's hope this keeps everything under control.

So glad to hear Sidney that you now know the problem and fingers crossed he mends very soon.
 
Glad you have sorted out the 'seedy toe' problem
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Hydrogen peroxide is a widely advised treatment, as is strong veterinary iodine. Borax is also rcommended and the best product is apparntly Cleantrax, which I can't use as my girl is a 10hh donkey!!
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I am currently using iodine as the donkey sanctuary recommend sugardyne - a sugar and iodine mix. Seems to be working well so far.
 
As an add on what are your opinions on poulticing, as in box rest or turnout? I have kept him in today/tonight but have a poultice boot that he could go out in tomorrow. He is sound at walk and not the type to 'hooley' around.
Thanks again for all your help.
 
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