Who's used a Podiatrist?

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poiuytrewq

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My poor horses hooves are terrible. A apply hoof moisturiser (water based carefully chosen!) he's trimmed every 6 weeks yet still suffers with horrid cracked broken feet and pain.
Ive a feeling my farrier isn't totally helping the situation although I like him very much and will continue to use him for the others. I've tried talking to him but his opinion seems to be " the horse is knackered anyway don't worry so much!" He is knackered that's true but one less problem would be lovely ;)
I didn't want to get another farrier as I feel like its under mining my current one but at the same time I have to put the horse first.
So I've arranged for a Equine Podiatrist (sp) to pay him a visit and give her opinion.
Any one used one? What did you think?
 
You can't trim a hoof to make it healthy, you must grow healthier hooves. Diet is the key - what's the horse eating? Bucket feed, hay, grazing, supplements etc?
 
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This is what a podiatrist does! She evaluates the horses history, living conditions, feed work load and so on aswell as trimming correctly and obviously advises on all the above if improvements can be made.
He's fed currently on Healthy Hoof molasses free and gets a scoop of devils claw added. In winter he had Speedibeet also. Then its just grass right now and ad-lib hay in winter.
Im inclined to think its less diet related as this is what he's been fed since ive owned him pretty much (7 years) The only change is that ive swapped regular Healthy Hoof for the molasses free version as is new and I prefer low sugar.
He's out at the minute 24/7 and out as much as possible in winter.
Its not just hoof condition that worries me its the fact he's become seriously low on his heels and long in the toe which he wasn't previously.
 
poiuytrewq said:
This is what a podiatrist does! She evaluates the horses history, living conditions, feed work load and so on aswell as trimming correctly and obviously advises on all the above if improvements can be made.
He's fed currently on Healthy Hoof molasses free and gets a scoop of devils claw added. In winter he had Speedibeet also. Then its just grass right now and ad-lib hay in winter.
Im inclined to think its less diet related as this is what he's been fed since ive owned him pretty much (7 years) The only change is that ive swapped regular Healthy Hoof for the molasses free version as is new and I prefer low sugar.
He's out at the minute 24/7 and out as much as possible in winter.
Its not just hoof condition that worries me its the fact he's become seriously low on his heels and long in the toe which he wasn't previously.
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I'll eat my hat if this is a trimming issue.

I'd test the horse for Cushings and I'd certainly be restricting that access to grass.
 
Is your horse sore on his feet? The only reason I ask is because mine was dreadful when I gave her Devils Claw for her arthritis - I took it away and gave her Boswellia instead and massive improvement. Could be unrelated but I could never find another explanation.
 
cptrayes said:
I'll eat my hat if this is a trimming issue.

I'd test the horse for Cushings and I'd certainly be restricting that access to grass.
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Im really not saying its a trimming issue solely but I don't think he's trimmed 100% correctly. Restricting grass is so hard- He's a highly stress TB and ive spent the last god knows how long trying to keep him happy! Ive just got there by turning out all the time in a big field with friends.
I spoke to my vet who also seemed really un interested and said he probably had a touch of arthritis (without really looking)
If I keep him in his knee seizes up so its a loose/loose situation.
Are there any other signs or symptoms of Cushings I can look for?

EllenJay- Why?

Holly hocks- the devilsclaw is only a fairly recent addition- as in he's had it because I thought it might help his soreness so in this case id not think its causing it but I will look up Boswellia as ive never tried that. Thanks
 
Sore and poor quality feet seems often to be a first sign of cushings, long before other things show and often before the test will come back positive.

I understand your problems with managing him, and I really feel for you. Don't feel you have failed if you end up shoeing to get him more comfortable. Sometimes it's the best option.
 
Im happy to shoe again if that's what he needs tho' I admit id prefer not to really. This is another part of the reason I wanted a second opinion.
I got my boss to come and look and his first words were "who the hell are you using to trim him" when I told him he immediately backed down and said it wasn't a trimming issue (Farrier/boss are best friends!) but I guess that put the idea in my head.
Ive googled cushings and although he shows no other symptoms as such I did only need to clip him once a year and he still looked obviously clipped by June- this concerns me slightly.
How would I test? Bloods?
His boosters are due in a few weeks I will speak to the vet whilst he's out about that, I was going to speak to him about it all anyway.
He had laminitis the first summer he came out of racing- mildy but he wasn't over weight by any means, he was gaining weight but it was the transition from being so fit to being a normal horse, and wasn't on amazing grazing either
My farrier at the time who sadly moved away said it was probably steroid induced but how true that was I don't know.
 
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