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  • latest reply 8 years ago

8 years ago

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Im having a big problem with abcess in my big guys feet. Which I hate but hating even more since hes at the trainer and losing training days. This is the second one that has popped up in a month.
Is there anything I can give him, a supplement or something, to help keep these at bay? I know biotin is good for the feet but does it help with this issue?
Its not a moisture thing we haven't had that much rain.

NoraWI says 2015-10-29 07:40:33 (CST)



I have found that abscesses are due to one of the following (maybe more than one).

1) Too much lush pasture. It doesn't even have to be in spring. Cool fall weather with rains after a drought can cause hoof growth and abscesses. Also, feeding too much grain.

2. A stone or something else that irritated or penetrated through the bottom of the foot. Sometimes driving the horse over gravel without shoes can cause irritation and abscesses.

3. Improper hoof trimming.

To heal, it takes diligent soaking in epsom salts, and is helped by good trimming of the hoof. Sometimes antibiotics are in order.


8 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum

Jonathan Shively says 2015-10-29 08:06:27 (CST)



Are you dealing with sole bruises/abscesses? If so, is the trainer driving your horse over gravel or along side the road on the gravel berm creating this situation? If your horse is barefoot, a set of shoes may help this situation, once cleared up if this horse has "tender" soles, maybe pads are needed. But Nora offers good possibilities about pasture also.

When we were building a new drive on our farm using large RailRoad rock for the base I would not drive the teams on that new drive. Once it had packed in and we topped it with gravel, then we carefully drove the teams on it (new drives have sharper rocks and things are not "locked" into place.

If it is a sole bruise, they are painful to the horse and need to be cut open to drain and soak in epsom salt water mix to reduce infection and create healing.


8 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum

Klaus Karbaumer says 2015-10-29 08:35:26 (CST)



Nora has it right.
To make the soaking of the foot easy there are boots available that can be strapped on the foot which is easier than trying to hold down a foot in a bucket for an extended period of time.


8 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum

Klaus Karbaumer says 2015-10-29 19:42:09 (CST)



Jonathan also makes a good point about horse-shoes, I hadn't seen his response when I wrote mine!
I remember we had this discussion I think last year: I am a big fan of having heavy horses shod if they work on anything else but grass. Due to their weight they are much more affected by rough ground, and even plowing can cause bruises if there are stones in the soil.


8 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum


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