Soaking hoof - iodine or Milton?

[DD265]

Noticed this morning that my boy's central suclus in his left hind has deepened and the crack has worked its way up between the heels. He is sore if I try to put my hoofpick in there so I want to soak it.

When we first went barefoot years ago, our trimmer said to use a Milton solution to help nip any infection in the bud. We've never had a crack up in the heels before though so not sure whether this will be effective enough?

 

[Leo Walker]

Cleantrax is amazing for killing off any sort of infection, so I'd be trying that

 

[Tiddlypom]

I had great results treating a long standing persistent deep central sulcus thrush infection, using a combination of red horse products' sole cleanse and hoof stuff. The sole cleanse is an effective disinfectant spray, and hoof stuff is an impregnated wadding, which can be inserted right into the central sulcus and left in place.

https://redhorseproducts.com/shop-2/hoof-care/sole-cleanse/

https://redhorseproducts.com/shop-2/hoof-care/hoof-stuff/


Previously I had been using Alanmycin purple spray, on vet's advice, but the thrush would recur each time I stopped using it, as the cavities remained. It took a couple of months of packing with hoof stuff (replacing it regularly), but she was more comfortable within days. Now the horse has finally got open 'normal' frogs, and her deep central sulci are a thing of the past. I give her a daily spray with sole cleanse to be on the safe side, though.

 

[Nudibranch]

I use iodine with any thrushy bits, as I have litres of the stuff. It works well; I just wash with water then brush on with a small paintbrush and keep them on hard standing for an hour or so.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I would use the iodine milton really stings on open skin I found that out when I got some on my hand and as its in the heal it could well be sore.

 

[ycbm]

Neither. Stuff it full of sudocrem daily and it will go, is my experience.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Clean trax or Milton is what I have used in the past for thrush and WLD

Both worked well.

 

[DD265]

Thanks all.

I was told about "Pete's Goo" which is 50/50 atheletes foot ointment and triple antibiotic ointment but having some difficulty sourcing the antibiotic ointment and will have to order online, but I think it sounds worth having in the tool kit. On reflection, he isn't the sort to tolerate standing for a long time to soak so I also ordered Sole Cleanse (which we'd been using but run out of a fortnight ago, moved onto NT Dry which I had and am not too keen on) and Hoof Stuff.

Whilst waiting for those to arrive I have scrubbed his feet with hibiscrub this morning - he let me scrub even in the crack which is good.

Was having some woe-is-me moments this weekend, as it seems that every time I get to grips with something he throws a new issue my way! I'm working on the theory that this is from being introduced to lush grass (building 15 mins a day but still) and it being a bit warm then suddenly wet. If I don't feel like I'm getting it under control quickly I'll get his trimmer out for some advice.

 

[ChesnutsRoasting]

You will have trouble sourcing any meds containing antibiotics - they are prescription only in the UK. I wouldn't use any bleach based products personally, they are corrosive. Instead, I would be feeding a biotin supplement daily, hood picking daily & continue spraying with the alamycin.

 

[atlantis]

I've been soaking with milton once a week and I've made a spray up with it in too. I also use red horse products either hoof paint or field paste. They seem very similar but sole paint is easier and quicker to apply and field paste lasts longer in field kept horses. It depends when I'm putting it in as to which I use (she us currently in at night).

It's much better now but being barefoot it's the exercise in a hard surface that I think has made a big difference. I moved yards to be able to get some road work into her feet!!