Posted by Ninie Perlt on July 15, 2004 at 02:11:40:
In Reply to: Re: seeking other opinions on treatment for hoof slough posted by roxanna on December 13, 2003 at 23:44:37:
Some time ago I happened to stumble across some writings of Jaime Jackson - and learned about hoof slough.
(Foundered horses in Denmark are put down before og just after sole penetration, so I don't think anyone in the entire country has actually seen a hoof slough - and I hadn't even heard of it!)
He says, that the way to treat it is to make a soft bedding for the horse to lay on until it feels ready to stand. Preferably rubber mats with hay on, to make it easy to clean.
Allow the horse to eat plenty of hay (bring it to him along with drinking water, if he cannot stand), and do not isolate him. To keep him happy and "willing to live", let him see his best buddy. They may nussle if it can be managed in a safe way.
Did the sole fall off too?
In that case, after just some hours, new laminar tissue should start growing under the coffin bone. some of it dries uout, and will be used as "temporary sole".
Something like it happens on the rest of the hoof.
Keep the horses envirenment cleen, let the new hoof capsule grow out, and most important: find out WHY the horse foundered and remove the cause whatever it be (incorrect trimming or shoeing, too much of the wrong food etc)
Good luck!