Some help regarding my horses feet problems please?

Blizzard

Blizzard

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One of my boys, who is 18, has always suffered with thrush.
This year was no different so I have just been doing the usual treatment.

His frogs can get quite bad in winter but they are getting better now, however his feet do still have a slight thrush smell.

He has always hd a problem with scabby heels too, even in the summer, but this seems really bad at the moment, and I noticed a few days ago that he has a crack running down his hoof, all the way, and now a small chunk of his hoof has broken off.

He is unshod at the mo and is only in light work, I just wondered if anyone has any advice regarding foot discinfectants etc.

Im currently using quite a mild one but his heels are quite sore and as its running into them, well it must be painful.

I have the farrier out tomorrow to see about his hoof crack and will get him shod if it helps, and the vet is out on thurs to see about his feet in general.

He isnt lame at all and is perfectly happy in himself.

I can get pics later today if it helps.
 
When Patches had bad thrush just after I had her, I was prescribed metronidozole (sp) for her feet.

I had to squeeze it in her feet and then soak some cotton wool in the stuff and pack that into the clefts each side of her frogs too. The whole thing was duck taped on and she had to stay in (if it was wet) or was allowed turn out if it was dry. Her huge hole dried out in a matter of days.

She's now treated routinely, two or three times a week with Terramycin Spray. It's a foot rot spray designed for sheep primarily. Touch wood, this has kept it at bay.
 
Thanks Patches, he has suffered all his life, he has very deep clefts which doesnt help, usually by this time of year, and being in a dry field now, it would be better.

His hooves are usually excellent though so Im a bit concerned about the crack and chunk coming off, part of me thinks its the sudden change to a very dry field, and perhaps the hoof discinfectant etc drying them out.
 
Patches sometimes gets a crack coming from her frog up her heel. The farrier just cuts it away when he comes and says it's of no concern.

I know how you feel though, Patches too has deep clefts and it's a nightmare keeping her thrush free. I pick her feet at least twice a day.
 
I know a lot of people have good results using diluted Milton liquid. (The baby bottle sterilising stuff)

It is very cheap and they seem to stand the horses in it for a while.

I am trying to think where you could find more info. Are you a member over on EE? I know there is a lot of talk about thrush and treatments over there?

I get no where trying to soak. He won't stand still for long enough.

I had success with some products from "barefoot basics". I had to scrub the frog etc with their tea tree soap and then I had to slap on some cream stuff. It seemed to do the trick.

The thing with thrush is sometimes you are never sure whether it cured itself or whether the treatment you used did the job? I could find their details out if you are interested. If I remember rightly it was very cheap and they were very helpful.
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Thank you Bonzabean that would be super!
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Im not sure what EE is, another forum?

Yes Patches, I think the farrier will just cut it out tomorrow, he will have to be shod then though, and of course probably filler.
Yes I pick his feet out at least twice a day too, hoping he will come right soon with it being so dry.
 
I have a horse with very brittle feet that kept breaking and my farrier said that there were bacteria in the white line which were causing the hoof to be dry and crack - he told me to use Antibac from Swan Products tel 01242 621590 which has really made a difference, it contains Iodoform in Eucalyptus oil and is applied 2x a week until improvement and then fortnightly. The horses white line is now white not horrible brown and the feet are quite good now and improving after only 6 months
 
I was going to say Antibac too, I use it to harden up Jim's soles & stop cracks around the nail holes. It looks expensive but a little really does go a long way.

Helpful hint - if you don't like the smell of eucalyptus oil then wear rubber gloves because it takes forever to get the smell off your hands!
 
2% solution of hydrogen peroxide squirted into the cleft is a good way of cleaning and getting rid of thrush without being too harsh. Its really cheap, from the chemist , it usually comes in 4% so one bottle goes a long way. Simple but really effective.
 
[ QUOTE ]
2% solution of hydrogen peroxide squirted into the cleft is a good way of cleaning and getting rid of thrush without being too harsh. Its really cheap, from the chemist , it usually comes in 4% so one bottle goes a long way. Simple but really effective.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks I used to use this but it never worked well on him, and also with his sore heels at the mo I dont really want to be putting acid on.
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Can second the recommendation for the eucalyptus /idoform mix. Martin Deacon recommends it as a hoof dressing in his book on farriery - saying it's an old remedy from early days but still one of the most effective - I get mine ready mixed from the vets. The vet says it shouldn't sting but my old horse did shoot out the stable at a gallop the first time I applied it - I was probably a bit over enthusiastic as he has been fine ever since.
 
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