Sores on heel bulb
- Thread starter rosegold
- Start date
ester
Not slacking multitasking
He has terribly contracted frog clefts and likely a lot of thrush and the sores are an extension of that IMO, and yes he is likely unsound but potentially due to other pathology too as this is not a healthy hoof Any more pics?
meleeka
Well-Known Member
Is that on a front foot? Could it be an overreach injury.
rosegold
Active Member
yes we suspected she had thrush. She is 25 years old and we have had her for 21 years and her feet have never been great, has had abscesses on and off during her life... sees the farrier every 7 weeks and we manage it the best we can alongside the farrier.
No more photos at the moment.
rosegold
Active Member
I don't think it is no...
rosegold
Active Member
And yes fronts
ester
Not slacking multitasking
she needs some pretty intensive thrush treatment then. Given age has she been cushings tested?
rosegold
Active Member
No
HollyWoozle
Well-Known Member
Gosh, that looks very sore. As @ester said I would think there might be something underlying but I’d speak to a vet quickly about it. In the meantime you could look at Red Horse products perhaps, something like their sole cleanse might help to flush it all as a starter.
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
I don't know how much choice you have in your area but I think I'd be looking for a new farrier. Unless the photo is skewed, those heels look very unbalanced (one higher than the other) and contracted, the farrier has allowed allowed thrush to go untreated, and a seven week interval is a long time for a shod horse.
A test for Cushings certainly seems wise, but if she's always had abscesses then that sounds like a diet problem. If she's not already on one, then one of the high copper/zinc no iron/manganese "barefoot" supplements could be a good idea.
.
PinkvSantaboots
Well-Known Member
Agree the horse has quite bad thrush and that would be enough to make her lame it will be sore.
Highmileagecob
Well-Known Member
If she were mine, I would remove the shoes and give the feet as much time as they need to heal. Scrub once or twice daily in plain water, dry off and spray with Terramycin spray, available from your vet. This is not the same as Purple Spray available from the tack shop. Have a look at Pete Ramey's Hoof Rehab pages on thrush. We under estimate just how painful thrush can be, and because it is so common, farriers don't think to mention it.
LadyGascoyne
Well-Known Member
Ooh, those feet do look painful don’t they.
If she were mine, I would, take shoes off and pop her onto a deep, clean, dry bed.
I’d probably flush the central sulcus with syringe filled with a hydrogen peroxide dilution to nuke bugs quickly, and then get the foot as dry as possible.
I’d use then use Red Horse sole cleanse https://redhorseproducts.com/shop/hoof-care/sole-cleanse/ and field paste https://redhorseproducts.com/shop/hoof-care/field-paste/ daily and probably pop Honey Heel https://redhorseproducts.com/shop/skin-care/honey-heel/ on the sores around the hoof.
I’d monitor and flush with diluted peroxide again periodically.
Getting the shoes off is key because you need the foot to open up, so you can get oxygen into those deep crevices where all the thrush is living.
The central sulcus should be wide and open, and shallow.
You can see the contracted heels on the right hand side versus a healthy foot on the left quite clearly here. On a healthy foot, you can see that there is little room for bugs to hide and get caught, and for infection to lurk.
equenergy.wordpress.com
On shoeing intervals, we operate a four weekly cycle for all horses shod or unshod. If you’re not able to get a farrier to do those kinds of intervals then I would probably try to go barefoot when she’s sound again so that the hoof can naturally trim itself a little. The longer the growth, the more constrained the foot is going to be, and the pressure building upwards will cause those contracted, high heels which give bacteria a home.
ETA, agree with above advice to get onto a good hoof supplement too. We use https://forageplus.co.uk/product-category/hoof-skin-health-horse-balancers/
If she were mine, I would, take shoes off and pop her onto a deep, clean, dry bed.
I’d probably flush the central sulcus with syringe filled with a hydrogen peroxide dilution to nuke bugs quickly, and then get the foot as dry as possible.
I’d use then use Red Horse sole cleanse https://redhorseproducts.com/shop/hoof-care/sole-cleanse/ and field paste https://redhorseproducts.com/shop/hoof-care/field-paste/ daily and probably pop Honey Heel https://redhorseproducts.com/shop/skin-care/honey-heel/ on the sores around the hoof.
I’d monitor and flush with diluted peroxide again periodically.
Getting the shoes off is key because you need the foot to open up, so you can get oxygen into those deep crevices where all the thrush is living.
The central sulcus should be wide and open, and shallow.
You can see the contracted heels on the right hand side versus a healthy foot on the left quite clearly here. On a healthy foot, you can see that there is little room for bugs to hide and get caught, and for infection to lurk.
Healthy vs unhealthy hooves
There’s a saying in the Health and Wellbeing world that many of us don’t realise how good our bodies could feel. I think that in the Horse world the equivalent might be that most of us…
equenergy.wordpress.com
On shoeing intervals, we operate a four weekly cycle for all horses shod or unshod. If you’re not able to get a farrier to do those kinds of intervals then I would probably try to go barefoot when she’s sound again so that the hoof can naturally trim itself a little. The longer the growth, the more constrained the foot is going to be, and the pressure building upwards will cause those contracted, high heels which give bacteria a home.
ETA, agree with above advice to get onto a good hoof supplement too. We use https://forageplus.co.uk/product-category/hoof-skin-health-horse-balancers/
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
I'm afraid this will take more radical action that applying a product to sort - the look like very sick feet on this horse.
I have some sympathy with the farrier as it is incredibly hard to prevent a hoof running forward and imbalances with a 7 week shoeing schedule. However, I would have expected the farrier to address the issues with you and request a shorter schedule.
I have randomly selected a photo off the internet, that I don't like 100%, but it does show where I would expect the shoe to finish in relation to the frog. I will compare it with yours, although they are at slightly different angles, it does show the amount your foot has run forward.
To recover this, I would take the shoes off and keep the horse on a soft surface initially, using boots where necessary. I would scrub meticulously and get someone good (farrier or trimmer as long as they are good and invested) to clear the frog up so there are no crevices for bacteria to hide. I would adjust the diet, low sugar, with a good supplement (I use Pro Hoof Platinum). A blood test would also be a good idea, especially with the age of the horse.
When the hoof is in use and balanced, the frog will function and stay open. This can take years to achieve, and it will need regular attention, much more than every 7 weeks, even with the shoes removed.
I have some sympathy with the farrier as it is incredibly hard to prevent a hoof running forward and imbalances with a 7 week shoeing schedule. However, I would have expected the farrier to address the issues with you and request a shorter schedule.
I have randomly selected a photo off the internet, that I don't like 100%, but it does show where I would expect the shoe to finish in relation to the frog. I will compare it with yours, although they are at slightly different angles, it does show the amount your foot has run forward.
To recover this, I would take the shoes off and keep the horse on a soft surface initially, using boots where necessary. I would scrub meticulously and get someone good (farrier or trimmer as long as they are good and invested) to clear the frog up so there are no crevices for bacteria to hide. I would adjust the diet, low sugar, with a good supplement (I use Pro Hoof Platinum). A blood test would also be a good idea, especially with the age of the horse.
When the hoof is in use and balanced, the frog will function and stay open. This can take years to achieve, and it will need regular attention, much more than every 7 weeks, even with the shoes removed.
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
As regards the frogs, I have searched out some photos of mine. They are not perfect by any stretch, but both functional to ride on all surfaces. One is my aged cob, who is EMS and borderline cushings, previously had lami: he doesn't get as much work/exercise so still needs some help sometimes with the frog trimmed so it remains open. The other is my 7yo IDX. He gets a lot of exercise and I can't remember that last time his frogs were touched - they sort of look after themselves.
Neither horse looked good all of it's life, it has taken work and regular attention. At one stage, both horses were trimmed every few days, I was shown how by both farrier and trimmer and my work checked. Although, no one else has touched them now since 2022.
These are both what a healthy (but still imperfect) foot looks like.
I would look at Pete Ramey's page and study loads of photos of hooves. It helps to get your eye in as to what a healthy one looks like.
Neither horse looked good all of it's life, it has taken work and regular attention. At one stage, both horses were trimmed every few days, I was shown how by both farrier and trimmer and my work checked. Although, no one else has touched them now since 2022.
These are both what a healthy (but still imperfect) foot looks like.
I would look at Pete Ramey's page and study loads of photos of hooves. It helps to get your eye in as to what a healthy one looks like.
ester
Not slacking multitasking
It’s why I’d like pics of the rest as I suspect these hooves have a lot of unmanaged pathology going on.
Highmileagecob
Well-Known Member
For what it's worth, I am fairly sure a farrier is not allowed to diagnose. You can ask if the hoof looks like thrush has taken hold, but the farrier is not allowed to point it out. I am not knocking farriers in general, but why do they continue to shoe a foot in this condition?
rosegold
Active Member
I've cleaned the feet up and this photo makes it look so much worse as the hoof was dirty and not picked out at the time...
The sores on the bulbs seem to be what is causing the soreness and I believe this is because there is thrush...
I will take a photo of her clean hooves later as I think this photo has made you all think that her feet are a lot worse than they are... I appreciate all your comments though.
The sores on the bulbs seem to be what is causing the soreness and I believe this is because there is thrush...
I will take a photo of her clean hooves later as I think this photo has made you all think that her feet are a lot worse than they are... I appreciate all your comments though.
Highmileagecob
Well-Known Member
Loads of information and suggestions for thrush management around - hope you find a routine that works for you 
The deep V up the back of the heel should not be there, and you should find that as the thrush is treated, the V will start to grow down towards the ground, and the heels will spread, allowing the frog and heels to start to take weight. Any information you can read about navicular and thrush rehab. will be helpful, as the routines are very similar. Will your horse stand with a foot in a bucket, soaking? A daily soak for fifteen minutes or so in a solution of Dettol can work wonders. Be prepared for the area to be painful, and if you get an extreme reaction from your horse, maybe choose a gentler preparation.
The deep V up the back of the heel should not be there, and you should find that as the thrush is treated, the V will start to grow down towards the ground, and the heels will spread, allowing the frog and heels to start to take weight. Any information you can read about navicular and thrush rehab. will be helpful, as the routines are very similar. Will your horse stand with a foot in a bucket, soaking? A daily soak for fifteen minutes or so in a solution of Dettol can work wonders. Be prepared for the area to be painful, and if you get an extreme reaction from your horse, maybe choose a gentler preparation.rosegold
Active Member
Thanks.
We have used hibiscrub to completely cleaned the feet and soaking them in a salt wash x 2 a day...
Once they are clean and dry spraying them with purple spray over night.
We have used hibiscrub to completely cleaned the feet and soaking them in a salt wash x 2 a day...
Once they are clean and dry spraying them with purple spray over night.
PinkvSantaboots
Well-Known Member
Purple spray is pretty useless I would buy specific treatments for thrush I use swan antibac you have to buy it on line or look at the red horse hoof products.
Eucalyptus oil is really good for the hooves just a few drops around the frog and white line is a good maintenance treatment once it is better.
For the sore heels I use a product called mud master rapid recovery its great fir mud fever or any scabs on the legs.
Eucalyptus oil is really good for the hooves just a few drops around the frog and white line is a good maintenance treatment once it is better.
For the sore heels I use a product called mud master rapid recovery its great fir mud fever or any scabs on the legs.
Highmileagecob
Well-Known Member
Unless your purple spray is supplied by your vet, it is useless. The purple is gentian violet, and there is next to no benefit in it. Thrush is broadly fungal, so in theory, squashing athlete's foot ointment into the cracks and fissures should help.
rosegold
Active Member
Thank you. Very helpful
Will get some athletes foot ointment today and do this.
Glitter's fun
Well-Known Member
Just regards "purple spray".
This covers two completely different products.
Bought from the tack shop over the counter, it is just spray which is purple & doesn't contain any useful active ingredients except a bit of alcohol, that might dry a moist scab.
The stuff from the vets contains terramycin antibiotic so is good for treating or preventing surface bacterial infections. Like all antibiotics it does nothing for viruses or fungi.
This covers two completely different products.
Bought from the tack shop over the counter, it is just spray which is purple & doesn't contain any useful active ingredients except a bit of alcohol, that might dry a moist scab.
The stuff from the vets contains terramycin antibiotic so is good for treating or preventing surface bacterial infections. Like all antibiotics it does nothing for viruses or fungi.
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
Thrush is a fungal infection so needs to be treated with anti-fungal, rather than anti-bacterial meds, or a combination of both in case there is also a bacterial infection. I find tea-tree oil spray gets into crevices well
rosegold
Active Member
rosegold
Active Member
Here is after salt bath earlier (purple spray didn't come off
)Highmileagecob
Well-Known Member
In the past, when nothing seemed to be working, I have ordered the ingredients for Ramey's Goo from eBay.com. Now, a blast of Terramycin spray starts to damp things down as soon as I see signs.