Why is this hoof shaped like this?

ATrueClassAct

ATrueClassAct

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Just cleaning out abscess the other day and I thought her hoof looked an odd shape.
Horse is completely sound, no discomfort on foot at all but it does have 8 degrees rotation in that foot. And she is due for a trim, over due very slightly but due to having abscess causing problems the farrier didn't want to add extra pressure/soreness to her.
She is quite badly pigeon toed on this foot,more than the other and I'm not sure if the angle of the photo has made the hoof look even weirder

2ymio88.jpg


Abscess was cleaned up after picture was taken and looked much better.
 
Not sure RE: question of the thread, but is that the abcess breaking through the coronet band?

Also, is it bullnosed slightly?

P.S. I did a handstand to look at the pic, but others may find this difficult. :D

P.P.S. I realise I've just asked more questions, rather than providing an answer, and for this I apologise.
 
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It is. Burst out of there about a week or so ago. And is it?? Oh no! I'm on my phone so to me it's the right way round and image shack said it was right way round :((( not having a good day!
 
Afraid not! Still upside down :)

Just one of those days eh? :D

I'm sure someone with infinitely more experience than me will be along soon.
 
The hoof isn't just bull nosed to me, it's flared (which looks chronic to me) and it's been heavily rasped at the toe to try and reduce mechanical leverage.
 
That looks like a chronic cushings foot with repeated lami bouts.

How long ago was the last episode? There doesn't yet look like there's new, better angled growth.
 
Last episode was October 14th but she had an attack 3 years ago which was very severe. That is her worse foot. The rotation has lessen from the original attack as her x rays which we done 8 weeks ago were not as bad as though. However she is quite badly pigeon toed so her inner side has more wear which is trying to be rectified. Horse is completely sound although still under complete veterinary care and orthopaedic specialist.
She is a cushings horse too.
 
The hoof shows repeated mild attacks in the last couple of months: those rings are an indication of recurrent metabolic upset. With the'last' attack 6 months + ago I'd expect to see at least an inch new, better-angled growth but there isn't any. That suggests that the lami isn't yet under control and I wouldn't satisfied with the treatment since far.

The rotation can be grown out. I has a pony with 15 degrees rotation :eek:. The vet wanted to go down the ridiculously expensive remedial showing route but instead I went for boots and pads. He grew out an entire new foot in a year.
 
P.s trying to correct her pigeon toe now will make her lame. As an adult horse her joints are now angled to match the squint foot (or more accurately the squint foot has grown to compensate for her asymmetrical leg). Her pigeon toes have no bearing on her lami.
 
That's really interesting to know. Thank you.
I'm really stuck what to do if I'm honest.
She is remedially shod and is so much sounder and happier on her feet. Vet has said she would be crippled shoeless and farrier has been really good with her. Her pedal bone is also rotated slightly sideways due to her pigeon toedness.
Her Feed was changed to top chop lite from hi fi lite and that did seem to diminish the footiness she had. Could that have been an influence.

I just feel abit lost if I'm honest, she's sound but even I know deep down its not a healthy hoof :(
 
Pigeon toedness isn't being corrected, we know its due to her limbs. It's just something I always note to people since they comment about her odd feet.
 
Firstly you need to get her lami under control. Shoes v barefoot is academic if you cannot control her lami.

Is she on pergolide for her cushings? Without it you won't be able to manage her laminitis. As you'll prob know, recurrent lami (even on an normally acceptable diet) is a major symptom of cushings.

You need to sort out her diet. Without a suitable 'laminitic' diet she'll never grow a better foot. NO sugar at all. No molasses or ANY feed stuffs (chaff or hard feed) coated in molasses. No green grass. No grains or cereals. It sounds simple but actually require a fair bit of though, research and feedbag-reading to get it right.

Once you have her laminitis under control you can start to think about growing her damaged feet out. I've used, and know best, the barefoot route so that's what I'd use. I wouldn't even know where to start with shoes. I believe barefoot is easier and far more effective (and cheaper!) than remedial shoeing but I'm well aware many vets and farriers are obsessed with fancy shoes and it's entirely understandable that you'd prefer to used a proffesionals opinion.

Good luck with her. It'll not be easy fixing those feet.
 
Thank you very much Kallibear. She is on 1 1/2 Prascend a day. Her diet consists of 1 hour soaked hay, and a handful of top chop lite which claims to be molasses free. Would it be best to swap maybe to fast fibre instead of the chop? That's what the farrier was leaning more to when we last spoke 2 weeks ago. She isn't out on grass, only sand paddock.
Barefoot vs shod, is something I'm on the fence with however as you've said diet is the first to sort out.
I sent a message to the people who make probalance/ pro hoof feeds, heard good things about them.
Thank you again for the advice.
 
Have her levels been checked recently to check the 1.5? Just a thought. Top chop does have alfalfa and soya oil in it which might not be agreeing with her. I feed fast fibre or speedibeet to mine (the latter is slightly higher energy but fewer ingredients to 'irritate' iyswim)
 
Her levels were tested in October and were a low 45 but she was still upped to bring them down. Not been retested. She has been on top chop lite for years and it never seemed to affect her but maybe she's changed. I think I'll go grab her some fast fibre ASAP. Thanks for advice ester. :)
 
I have a diet sheet for laminitics which was given to me by a very good equine nutritionist for my old IR mare. I can't find a way to attach it but if you message me your email address, or email me at jill@allsopp82.orangehome.co.uk I'll mail it to you.
Basically is it very low sugars (best is unmollassed beet pulp) a top quality balancer and mineral balance. I would be using Speedybeet, magnesium oxide, and a good vit/min balancer, depending on body condition. And no high sugar (stressed) grass. And as soon as possible soundness wise get the shoes off so her feet can flex and move and get the blood supply going.
 
Oberon said:
That's a very sick hoof :(.

I take it the horse is under veterinary care?
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It is. :( An experienced, modern thinking Vet is essential.
The abscess is the least of the worry, look at the coronary band oozing, I'm afraid that isn't usual from an abscess. I'm sorry if I upset you but please get a professional who is experienced and successful in dealing with laminitis and laminitic hooves.

http://ecirhorse.org/ Have a read of the info here especially diet, trim and hoof support. http://ecirhorse.org/images/stories/Emergency_Diet.pdf Add an iron free balancer to this diet. Pro Hoof is one to consider.
Agree with Kallibear but I do think trim type and support is important here too.
 
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Agree with Kallibear and Amandap.

Also OP, soaking for an hour is probably insufficient. The recent equine nutrition course recommended soaking for no less than 3 hours to reduce sugars, and for a chronic laminitic I would soak for 24 hours.
 
We tried longer but she just wouldn't eat it. Even after it was fully rinsed and drained. I'm gonna start increasing soaking time for her and see if she will still eat it. She went a whole night and morning without eating after having 12 hour soaked hay.
 
ATrueClassAct said:
We tried longer but she just wouldn't eat it. Even after it was fully rinsed and drained. I'm gonna start increasing soaking time for her and see if she will still eat it. She went a whole night and morning without eating after having 12 hour soaked hay.
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She probably wouldn't eat it because it was much less sugary, so not as tasty :D. I would start increasing the soaking time by an hour a day - she should get used to the reduction in sugars if done gradually.

Forage is usually the biggest source of sugars, so with laminitics it's really important to get it under control. Good luck :).
 
OP - Gradually increasing the soaking time is a good idea. That's what I had to do with mine. We got there eventually, but not without tears (mine) and tantrums (hers) along the way.
 
Yes, it can take a bit of time to wean them off their sweet tooth but it is so important. Luckily I haven't had any problems with getting any of mine to eat 12 hour soaked hay.
 
Thank you :)
We've just had a vet referral to another vet which specialises in lamintis cases and have fantastic reviews. They're coming to see her Thursday.
 
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