Horse Hoof issues

[rhorses]

Captain has always been the problem child with his health. He is a repeat founder horse, but we always get that under control. He is the one that fell in the pond last year when it was frozen and we had to rescue him. About two months ago, he was limping on his front right foot.

We did not see any issue with founder, no pounding pulse no heat coming from the hoof. He kept getting worse, so we called the vet. We also called the farrier. Vet came out and found an absess of sorts. He cut away some soul and drew blood and said it was like a blood blister. He thought it should relieve some pressure and thought it would take some time to come out or grow down. So we had him stalled up in a 24 X 12 foot area, with plenty of shavings. We soaked foot every day in epson salts for 20 minutes. Did not seem to be doing much good. So we kind of said forget it. He would be so weak on his front end, shaking not able to use the left front very well. We kept the pampering up and talked to the vet about it. Of course he has been on bute the whole time. If we cut him back he would sore up really fast and then it would take a few days before we could get him half way comfortable again.

Last week Rod decided to put a medicine boot on him and fill that up with epson salts water and leave it on him for 3 hours or so. He did that three days in a row, and then a couple of days not booted up. He seemed to really improve at that point. The hole in his foot was pretty stinky but we could not find the thrush medicine so we have not doctored it for that. Well Rod let him out of his stall the last couple of days. He would get out for three or four hours and seemed to be doing really well. This morning he still is doing well, so I think the epson salts it pulling out whatever may be in there, softening up the sould and hoof wall. Anyway, we hope he will not be on mend. He is doing real well.

I would have asked about any suggestions that my HB's would have, but it is too difficult to explain and show the issues, it is something you have to see live. Anyway, we thought the exercise would be good for him since on thanksgiving a lot of the horse people were talking about horses getting sore muscles from being stalled up too long. We are happy they he seems to be on the mend. We figure that this could be hoof growth that is finally coming down, from the frozen pond incident and could be causing an issue, since it does take a year to grow a new hoof. Really believe that it could be part of the issue. Vet thinks that could be it also.

Poor Captain, he is such a nice horse and he surely has gone through a lot but keeps on trucking on and with a good attitude. When Rod gives him his bute paste, he does it all without a halter or rope or anything else. Captain is so use to be doctored that he takes his medicine like a good boy, he know the treat will follow.

[rhorses]

Just an update on Captain. We spent another $500.00 with the farrier for some special high heel boots, no guarantee that they would work for him. I had my doubts, seems like putting him on his toes would be more painful. Well it was. the next day the wraps came off and we had the farrier come back out and rewrap. Saturday I was home from work and Captain was moaning and groaning and finally laid down and put his head down on the shavings and just moaned. I told hubby get those thing off of him. Which we did. Immediate relief. Told the farrier that they were not working. Had the vet out and he gave him an intervenous pain killer shot to help him out. This was last week. He has slowly again regained some use of his left front and is not in the founder stance on his back legs. He had a absess that is now draining out the bottom of his bulds and through the top of the coronary band. Rod had been soaking him several days in a row for 20 minutes in epson salts, but his hoof wall near the coronary was so soft, it was like skin from the coronary to an inch down.

He did not soak him yesterday or today and his hoof near the coronary seems to be toughning up some. Still draining, but he is able to put more pressure on his left front. A little bit of improvement. Still on bute. We have had his stools tested, no blood so no problem from the bute. He did have strongid and we did a five day treatment with panacur.

It is a fighting battle but we have our ups and down, and we have not given up yet. It has put us in debt, but we care for our animals. What else are ya going to do with money.

There goes my horse trailer. Oh well, another year what the heck.

[Zebra Dun]

Yvonne: Has this horse been tested for Cushing's disease?

[Blaze]

Gosh Yvonne! I had not seen this before. Poor Captain. What I would do first is go to a different vet and get an x-ray . See if there is a foreign body in there. With what you are spending and not getting anywhere, you need a different opinion I think. I know you don't have a trailer, but can you get someone to take you to an equine vet? My son-in -laws horse stepped on a broke needle that previous owners had dropped on the ground by cattle working head gates years before apparently. He wound up almost dying! We had to dig and dig before we even found it, he was just lame and had and abscess type wound.We didn't know what was wrong. Hubby finally found it, broke off, way in there... (He made it and is the most loved by granddaughters now... )
As far as Cushings, is he neavy necked, overweight? Might by an issue as they founder easily. Good thought ZD.
Sounds like too much soaking too...? Good luck!! It is ok to put a limit on what you are able to spend on a horse. You can just do so much. ...Make sure the vet is aware of that. I would.

[Zebra Dun]

Good thinking, Blaze, about having an xray taken. One of the symptoms of Cushings is repeated laminitis, that's why I asked. A horse doesn't necessarily have to present with the typical cresty neck or overweight to have Cushings or other metabolic issues.

Yvonne: I hope you get some answers for your poor guy, and yep, I completely understand about the money deal. Good luck and keep us posted on his progress.

[horses41]

Another thought. You also live in an area where fescue is the primary grazing and hay, correct? We had a horse (we lived in NW Arkansas, just a few miles from the state line) that was a real founder problem as well. This horse was ridden or worked almost every day year around until her later years, but would founder in the fall and spring every year. We had a dairy and therefore had fescue pastures for the cattle so her primary diet was the same as theirs. She got 2 cups of feed throughout the summer when she was working on the farm and also being my rodeo horse.

In Arkansas they called the condition "fescue foot" and after we started keeping her dry lotted and only on hay in the fall and spring she stopped foundering. Seems that the dew on the fescue is very bad for horses and it is the worst in the fall and spring. Almost all of the horse owners in the area around where I lived either keep their horses in dry lots or have changed their pastures to orchard grass and the problem isn't as common as 30 years ago.

[okeydar]

RHORSES.....I just saw your post on your horse yesterday while roaming around. I usually just stay on trails.

I am so sorry you are having such a problem with Captain. It is one thing to spend that much money and get a fix. It is frustating to be spending that much and still be in the dark. I agree with the statement that you might have to get another opinion. Whatever you do or decide I wish you a speedy answer. Please keep us informed.

Is Cap your only horse?