seedy toe

[Cazza525]

Any advice on how to deal with much appreciated as its the first time i have dealt with it.
25 year old mare, 2 hooves started cracking in April and BANG, seedy toe!! Lives out virtually 24/7 as much happier like this and stiffens up if in. She's lame but not as bad as before,currently having half a bute twice daily in an apple to make sure she's eaten it all. Brought in virtually everyday to clean with salted water and spray with iodine and then throw back out again. Farrier has pared it half way up hoof last week so a lot of exposure. I am cocerned about the mud really and the bacteria being in there. Have been told by vet and farrier NOT to cover it .
How long am i looking at recovery?? I have been trying since April with no luck, but to be honest she's only started going lame in the last month. Farrier has obviously exposed it to give it chance to breathe and be treated.
Am I able to treat this from the field over the winter as i have been?? She really does not appreciate being in!!

 

[CPW]

My horse had seedy toe, the farrier took away lots of hoof wall to expose it and he went really lame - after being fobbed off by vet thinking he had an abcess I got him referred to one of the big equine hospitals. Turns out he had got laminitis and pedal bone rotation due to lack of support from the hoof wall - I don't mean to frighten you but seedy toe does not cause lameness, it is damage to the internal structures that does due to hoof wall being removed.

I would get the horses' feet xrayed asap - I hope my situation was a one off!

 

[teddyt]

If you have had no success clearing it up in the last 6 months and she has been lame for a month i would advise changing how you are treating it because its obviously not working. Speak to your vet again

 

[Donkeymad]

Apart from exposing it, you need to try to keep it from getting too wet. Can you stable at night so that the bedding can draw out any excess moisture?

 

[lynsey1808]

Life Data hoof disinfectant is brilliant for this. Admittedly my boy's wasn't as bad as this but it kills the bacteria.
I carried on turning out but when I brought him in every night I thoroughly brushed out the mud etc and disinfected.
It's made by the same people who make Farrier's Formula and it's about £20.

 

[Cazza525]

I really have valued your advise on this subject Donklet, I know you have a mass of experience on the subject.
The problem with bringing the old dear in for too long is that she is crippled with arthritis and goes incredibly stiff. Both farrier and vet have told me to keep her out as much as poss rather than dealing with a host of other problems.
I am expecting a new livery on friday and have decided to turn her out with the 2 little ponies and put them up on the large winter field (4 acres for the 3 of them). Hopefully, there will be some improvement in the next week or so and i will carry on with bute.
Obviously as the winter goes on and she shows no sign of improvement i will HAVE to bring her in overnight.
BTW, I have been getting feet trimmed every 4 and a half to 5 weeks the last 3 months. Do you think that as she has had it cut away i should ring in 3??
May i also point out that the farrier has said that he WILL remedial shoe that particular hoof if it continues.
What do you think??

 

[Donkeymad]

Not to worry if you can't bring in, obviously as she has arthritis it is best to keep out. You might like to try using hydrogen peroxide for a week, then return to the iodine.
I have never tried it, but there is a soaking product called Cleantrax, that is very highly recommended, but not the easiest to use.
Having the hooves trimmed frequesntly is great, and shoes would certainly not harm, and will give support if too much of the hoof wall is now missing. I wouldn't worry about calling farrier in three weeks unless it either looks active (white crumbly stuff appearing) or if she becomes more lame.
It sounds as if you are doing the right things, but it can take quite a long time to clear sometimes, and your poor horse sounds as if it is quite bad. Best wishes for her recovery, it will happen.

 

[CBFan]

In the past I have used stockholm tar and then routinely applied kevin bacon hoof dressing to corronet and wall to promote healthy growth... worked a treat in both cases but does take a while to grow out...