Seedy Toe

[Steerpike]

I may be worrying more than I should and over thinking but, I had a horse who had seedy toe we managed to get on top of it and luckily it's gone, he moved to another field and his field was rested but I want to take my shoes off a different horse and put her in the field where the seedy toe horse was, am I worrying needlessly or should I keep her front shoes on until it dries up? Hopefully that makes sense!

 

[sbloom]

Shoes don't generally prevent seedy toe, in fact nail holes and any compromise to the hoof from poor shoeing/hoof balance are likely to make a horse more likely to get it. It's way less to do with ground conditions, and shoes won't hold a hoof together, or block entry to the organisms that cause it.

 

[ycbm]

Are you worried about the organism that causes seedy toe being in the field where the other one was? I don't think it works that way, it's the kind of infection that's just always around and grabs an opportunity when it sees it. Regarding the shoes, it's my experience that is much more of an issue in shod feet where the shoe keeps it trapped in a nice damp airless place.

 

[Steerpike]

Are you worried about the organism that causes seedy toe being in the field where the other one was? I don't think it works that way, it's the kind of infection that's just always around and grabs an opportunity when it sees it. Regarding the shoes, it's my experience that is much more of an issue in shod feet where the shoe keeps it trapped in a nice damp airless place.

Yes that's what I was worried about the organism being in the field, the horse who had it was without shoes, we managed to get on top of it within a few months luckily. It's the first time I've ever had to deal with it and couldn't find any information regarding the bacteria living in fields once a horse has got it.

 

[sbloom]

I don't know if this is definitive but looks like it covers everything, I think wet-dry cycles can be resisted better by horses that have all the other factors in their favour, don't think it's ever likely to be the sole (!) cause of a case.

https://www.brookvets.co.uk/seedy-toe/#1543314639350-885f1cd2-fc61

 

[Steerpike]

It was Autumn time we spotted the seedy toe and it had been wet/dry there was the smallest crack which obviously let it in, luckily we got on top of it early, I think I will leave shoes on until my ground has dried out just to give me piece of mind.

 

[sbloom]

It was Autumn time we spotted the seedy toe and it had been wet/dry there was the smallest crack which obviously let it in, luckily we got on top of it early, I think I will leave shoes on until my ground has dried out just to give me piece of mind.

Like I said, shoes won't protect the foot at all, more likely the reverse. It gets in because the white line is compromised, caused by the things outlined in the link I posted. Nail holes are one significant access point.

 

[Steerpike]

I know but at least I know her feet will not crack with her shoes on, I do put tea tree oil hoof oil on after they have been shod especially around the nails holes, I'd rather do that than risk having her barefoot now when the ground is saturated and she has to walk across a compacted stone yard to get to her field which in turn will increase the risk of them chipping and cracking with
more chance of any bacteria that is lurking getting in