Need help with Dew Rot

[AnnieandAmber]

Hi, I have a 14 year old TB Mare with horrendous feet. My farrier has told me that my mare has something called dew rot, which is on the outside of her hooves, causing them to be soft and crumbly. He told me to treat them 2 to 3 times a week with a bleach water mixture or to try White Lightning. I have been using first the bleach wash, then the white lighting, and when I ran out of the white lightning went back to the bleach wash. My question is this. How long do I do this for. He said until he tells me to stop.

Second question. my mare also had a pretty good abscess in February of this year, that blew out the side of her hoof. It's growing out and is now at the point where it's about an inch from the bottom of her hoof. Due to the Dew Rot, I think, the hoof below the crack is starting to crumble. Should I be concerned?

I called my farrier, and he said it's nothing to worry about. I'm looking for a second opinion.

Thanks,
Annie

[Phil Armitage]

This is an indication the horse is standing in too much moisture, sounds like bacteria in the whiteline. Can you turn out the horse on dryer footing, getting them dry is a great way to get rid of it and prevent it. White lightning is a very safe and affective product, usually only needs one application to kill fungus or bacteria. The proper way to use it is to follow the mixing instructions on the bottle, mix with white vinigar. White lightning is not harmfull to live tissue and will not cause scaring to the frog. Bleach however is not safe to use, it does damage tissue and causes the frog to scar which causes an enviroment for thrush under the scarred tissue. I have no idea what using bleach and white lightning will do, but I do not think it is a good idea, it was never intended to be used that way. Hope this helps

Also when using whitelightning, it works well if you apply it to guaze and use vet wrap to hold the treated qauze to the area that needs treatment. When you add the Vinager it starts a chemical reaction that creates fumes that penetrate the hoof very deep and kills the fungus or bacteria, the gasses are oxygenated. Typly only need to do this for about 15 minutes. I have applied it to the feet for up to an hour, but I would not go longer than that. Leaving the foot wrapped up with moisture too long is not good for the feet. For Bateria the whitelightning will kill it pretty quick, it is a different story for white line desease, may need to be more agressive like adding the solution to a bag (IV bag works best) and tapeing the bag over the foot for a few hours to kill whiteline fungus, and even then it may not get it all but it helps.

[AnnieandAmber]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for your reply. I think I may have confused the issue. I was not using bleach and white lightning together. I used the bleach wash for a week, then I got the white lightning and used that until it was gone, and then went back to the bleach. I will heed your advice though and get more white lightning.

My main concern is her back hoof and the horzontal crack. The hoof has now cracked from the bottom, up to the horzontal crack and now has a diagonal crack going from the horizontal crack half way up her hoof. I am very concerned shes going to snag it on something since there is a piece of hoof wall sticking out at the bottom of her hoof like a giant hang nail. Should I put a boot on her? Should I shoe her?

Annie

[Phil Armitage]

Here is what I would do.
1. Less is more when soaking or treating feet, if the foot is exposed to too much moisture is makes things worse. Usually a one time treatment is good enough no matter what you use to kill bacteria. Feet need dry footing and air, Let it dry and allow air to get to it. Air kills anirobic bacteria instantly.

2. I think the crack and seperating horn is a problem. It sounds like the footing this horse is in is very wet and the feet are soft and need to be protected. I do not like boots because it can trap to much moisture and bacteria in the foot, I preffer steel shoes and if possible hot fitted. The feet need to be trimmed to remove all flareing and clean out all seperations and round up all sharp edeges so they do not continue to seperate and chip. Shoes with clips may stablelize the foot and protect the sole and prevent reabcessing.

Hot fitting helps melt the bottom edge of the horn makes is stronger and seals it so moisture and grit cannot work its way into the horn and whiteline. Hope this helps, it is difficult to give good advice without seeing the situation, maybe your farrier is doing the best he can. Doing a good job depends on how well the horse behaves and the work area, lighting, space, cleanlyness etc... I am not the one doing the work or there to see the paddock, the stall and bedding, nutrition or behavior of your horse, so I really cannot give an honest opinion, just a general one.

[danverschild]

Phil's already given you some great advice, but you might also want to read more on the Keratex International Hoofcare forums and site. Yes, it's a commercial endeavour, but it's good, solid information that's about educating as well as marketing.

[rbloom11]

My name is Rachael Bloom and my family owns Grand Circuit, the producers of White Lightning. What phil is telling you to do is great. Note that the white lightning is only active for 12 hours once mixed with white viniger, so only mix what is needed for that moment in time. The soak with the saleen bag is best. Make a note that the liqued will rust a shoe if the horse is wearing one. we also make a gel for more minor cases of a fungal infection. However, please know that the white lightning is only topical so it will needed to be re-aplied if the fungal infection is severe. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us directly at 1-800-USANVIL. many poeple will tell you different things and suggest many different ideas to cure the infection, here at Grand Circuit, we have a little saying, "many words have been written about white line disease and fungal infections, you only have to remember two, White Lightning." i hope to speak to you soon. Rachael :)