Posted by Phil Armitage on November 10, 2003 at 12:56:30:
In Reply to: horse lame on right front, many questions posted by Joanna on November 09, 2003 at 16:23:01:
: My 8 yo TB gelding was on my parent's farm while I was establishing job in different city. When our farrier came out the time before last, about 6-8 weeks ago, he and my father decided not to put shoes back on his front feet because they weren't in good condition.
: Horse became lame on right front.
: Had one vet out, he thought it was probably an abcess, so he used hoof testers on him, and from what my mom said, was just squeezing the foot really hard, trying to get an abcess to drain. Nothing came out, horse still lame. Took xrays, then while we were waiting for the xrays to be developed and read, that vet quit the practice.
: Different vet at the practice looked at the xrays, called me and told me he had an infection by the coffin bone. He wasn't real clear about it, gave my mom a weeks worth of some pill that I think had sulfur in it, to 'fight the infection, help the food rebuild'
: Now the horse is with me, still ouchy with no shoes on, and the farrier is supposed to come on tuesday.
: This horse has had 2 abcesses and one incidence of seedy toe since I got him. The foot that is lame now is the one that has had seedy toe. He still has a mis-shaped foot, looks to me like there is a spot where he might have seedy toe again. he has very flat front feet, and one is bigger than the other. The foot that is larger has an outstanding quarter crack that he's had since I got him [injury to the coronary band, won't really grow out]
: Question: what causes this type of infection, what can I do to help him, and should I get glue on shoes instead of regular.
: I really want to go slow and get this problem cleared up, not just throw shoes on him and say it's fixed.
: Should I have another vet look at him? Should i wait to put shoes on at all?
: I'm really at the end of my rope here. The vets in this area (Harrisonburg VA) are apparently sparse. I could possibly take him to the Charlestown WVA track to see a vet there if necessary.
: Thanks in advance.
The signs of Seedy toe, flat soles and abscess tells me he might of torn the laminie and may be susceptable to laminitis, it could be mechanical or metabolic. I would check into getting a vet out that knows about laminitis and proper trimming and balance and what to check for and what to do. Is your horse over weight? Does he have a crest in his neck? How much protien are you feeding? Is he in a wet enviroment, wet muddy ground can do the same damage. Are his feet balanced and trimmed properly. You could post pictures of his feet front, side and bottom views and maybe we can help. Maybe all he needs is a proper trim, proper shoe fit, hot fitted with clips and pads. Hard to tell without seeing, some things to think about anyways.
Phil