sloughing hoof capsule foal

[eencarr@ATT.NET]

I have a three week old foal who within the last 24hrs. has sloughed both front hoof wall capsules. Foal can stand and seems reasonably comfortable.

Any thoughts on pain management and control of infection. Also any other ideas for care and prognosis would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Dr. Nancy Carr
303-435-0333
eencarr@att.net

[caballus]

What is the cause of the hoof slough?

--Gwen

[Rick Burten]

Have you called your vet? S/he needs to see this baby immediately. Until then, I'd clean her feet and get them wrapped up in sterile bandaging. Make sure the stall is kept clean and dry, dry, dry.

This is definately a veterinary issue and perhaps if the vets who respond here on the site see this they will also respond.

Rick

[BarrelsandMore]

?One question? Does the foal have new hoof growth coming in already (i.e. visible?). Check w/ the vet--but in our case several of our foals over the years have had a similar problem--but you could see fresh hoof growth coming in--the vet told us that in some foals the part of the hoof that is supposed to come off in the womb, or at birth-- doesn't until later--this can result in a very disturbing appearance--sometimes it looks like the hooves have 'sprouts' coming out of the bottom, or coming-off the hoof, also. Good luck. We were told, if you can see new hoof coming in--just put betadine of the bottom of the hoof. A key here may be whether the foal can stand, nurse, walk around--or does it have to lay down?