Seedy toe - hoof growth advice

[Professor Plum]

My farrier has found seedy toe in my horse. Under the vet's supervision, he cut away all the infected tissue, back to healthy hoof to form a right angle. Then crystalline penicillin was applied and the farrier filled the cavity with Jaymeg (sp?). The shoe was then nailed into the filler.

The horse - a 14 yr old thoroughbred - has very flat feet, and one splays out. He also has navicular and has been shod with wedges in front since February - which hasn't helped with the heel growing. He's got NB in front. He grows barely any new hoof at all, never has done in the 5 years since I bought him. I've made sure I've used really good farriers, kept his toes trimmed back. He was cytek shod for about 3 years, but my current vet recommended I stop as the cytek shoes were no good for his hinds (he was diagnosed with spavin and desmitis).

What do you think the prognosis is? So long as he can be sound in the field, then I'd be happy. My vet said I could ride him if he was sound, which I was suprised at - such a huge chunk of hoof was cut away. However he did seem relatively sound today... and went mad in the field after being shod yesterday, so we'll see. I just need the hoof to grow :rolleyes:

He's on Formula 4 Feet - has been since February - and has always had some sort of hoof supplement (Farriers' Formula, biotin etc). Nothing seems to work. Various people have suggested eggs, jelly. Taking his shoes off is not an option.

Any ideas? Advice? I'm in the UK and feeling pretty desperate.

(and apologies for repeating some of my post in the other seedy toe thread)

[caballus]

Some more info is needed. IF, as you say, your guy grows little hoof, then I'd want to take a serious look at this environment, husbandry and feed. So ... what does he eat? How much and how often? Is he stalled or turned out or both? What kind of bedding is he kept on? What kind of exercise (riding) does he get? If he is turned out is he with other horses? What kind of health maintenance (vaccines, de-worming, supplements, meds) schedule is he on? What does his overall condition seem to be i.e. coat shiny and sleek? Eyes bright and alert? Dry nose and eyes? Good TPR'S and Cap Refill time? No evidence of respiratory distress? What type of personality does he have? Does he seem nervous, spooky, uptight? Or is he laid back, calm, quiet?

All these things come into play when trying to figure out hooves as we don't just treat "the hoof" but we work with the entire system of the horse, physical and mental. Stress can play absolute havoc with hooves. Other physical or organic/chemical imbalances can play havoc with the hooves.

Seedy toe is mostly a result of poor balance of the hooves as in improper trimming that allows the hoof walls to remain longer than they should be. This causes excessive strain and stressors on the walls which then begin to separate from the foot and cause an opening to the inner foot through the damaged capsule ... I use the example of if one were to walk on his/her fingernails - the leverage and stress would begin to tear away the nail from the nail bed allowing bacteria, dirt and all sorts of garbage to enter the sensitive inner connections. This is, essentially, what happens with Seedy Toe, WLD, Gravel, etc. But what disturbed me to read was your statement that for 5 years the horse has not grown much hoof. A healthy horse will generate a new hoof, from coronary down to ground, in 8 to 12 months. IF that new hoof is kept in shape, there *shouldn't* be any further damages or problems. Unless there is something else going on with the horse metabolically ie; IR, Cushings, Allergies, Toxicities, etc.

--Gwen

[Professor Plum]

He grows just enough hoof to shoe. It's so discouraging.

For the last year he's been out at grass at least 8 hours a day. Previously he had less turnout and more work. Currently he's turned out 24/7 with a Shetland - and he has a small group of horses next door over the fence. When the weather's bad, he comes in at night. Bedded on shavings, with rubber matting at the door.

His coat is shiny and sleek, everything normal. Checked over by the vet regularly. Bloods done a month ago, nothing abnormal found. He's fed chaff, nuts, Formula4Feet, linseed - and pink powder (probiotic supplement) when he's moved onto new pasture, or has any change in diet/husbandry.

Worked very lightly - just hacking - these days.

He has a difficult character, grumpy, but if you don't cringe away from him, he's fine. I always wonder if the grumpiness is a symptom of something ... but nothing's ever been found. He can be a very spooky ride, but he's got alot better with me over the years. He lacks confidence. But he's definitely a laid-back TB, until he gets excited - which isn't too often these days. He seems to be very relaxed and happy. He gets on with other horses very well.

He grows an immense amount of mane - so why can't he grow hoof? Is it down to blood supply, do you think?

Before I bought him he had a very hard time in Ireland. He was raced a bit, pulled up every time, given to teenagers to point to point (unsuccessfully), then left to rot in a field. He was 'rescued', brought over here to England and I was mug enough to buy him :rolleyes: