Hoof Gurus!! W/Picture

csfpsr · 06-26-2009, 11:28 AM

This mare was trimmed two weeks ago and we noticed a small dime sized slit on the face of her hoof. My farrier thought it was grow out from an old abscess. She had no sensitivity at all. This is what it has progressed into in just two weeks. She is also lame on this foot now. There is no heat in the foot and no drainage from the crack. I put calls in to the vet and farrier. In the mean time, does anyone have a clue what this may be? Thanks

HoustonFarrier · 06-26-2009, 11:36 AM

Yep, sure looks like an old abscess rupture. It could have "stuff" in there festering and proliferating. Sometimes I open them up a bit more, and clean them out.

Steve

JBandRio · 06-26-2009, 11:46 AM

Take into account it may be the distortion of the picture: It appears that there is a dish in the hoof wall, stemming from a too-long toe. It appears the crack has reached that point where it's hitting the start of the added force, and that may be why it's now causing a problem.

It probably is an old abcess crack growing down, but the fact that she's lame now does mean the vet needs to come out, preferably in conjunction with the farrier, to see what's really going on.

horse-poor · 06-26-2009, 05:11 PM

Looks exactly like an old abscess. Was she lame 3 or 4 months ago? My horse had a strange soundness issue we could never figure out. He got over it fine and later I noticed the same type of crack but not quite that big. It didn't bother him after that though so maybe she re-injured herself.

csfpsr · 06-27-2009, 06:19 PM

Thanks to all for your input. No, she had never been lame prior. That's why this seems so strange. No heat. No drainage. No warning signs. This crack basically appeared out of nowhere and has caused severe lameness. The farrier and vet will both be out this week, so hopefully I'll have an answer soon.

horse-poor · 06-27-2009, 09:50 PM

Please keep us informed. I'm really curious now.

crayon · 06-27-2009, 11:08 PM

Yep, I agree with the others. Try cleaning it out or poultice it with that epsom salt goop. After Crayon's absess was poulticed and popped, I kept giving her antibiotics for teh next few days and sprayed ACV in the area. You might want to try that if there's a possibility that she does have stuff festerign in there. Yucky.

csfpsr · 07-06-2009, 06:58 AM

The farrier cut out part of an egg bar shoe slightly wider than the crack(relieving pressure from the toe). Much like putting a standard shoe on backwards, only it fit much better. Lameness is completely gone, and she'll wear the shoe until the crack grows out. Still not sure exactly where the crack came from. My vet canceled on me the day he and my farrier were supposed to meet at my farm. I'm not sure he could have determined much anyway. The general consensus from everyone is "old abscess". Appearance wise, that is hard to dispute. However, as I stated before, this mare was never lame prior to this crack developing and she's observed daily. Certainly not a text book abscess, but I guess that's the diagnoses I'll go with.

06-26-2009, 11:28 AM	#1
csfpsr Full Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 26 Images: 4	Hoof Gurus!! W/Picture This mare was trimmed two weeks ago and we noticed a small dime sized slit on the face of her hoof. My farrier thought it was grow out from an old abscess. She had no sensitivity at all. This is what it has progressed into in just two weeks. She is also lame on this foot now. There is no heat in the foot and no drainage from the crack. I put calls in to the vet and farrier. In the mean time, does anyone have a clue what this may be? Thanks Last edited by csfpsr; 06-26-2009 at 11:35 AM. Reason: Add to title

06-26-2009, 11:46 AM	#3
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 32,000 Images: 196 Blog Entries: 12	Take into account it may be the distortion of the picture: It appears that there is a dish in the hoof wall, stemming from a too-long toe. It appears the crack has reached that point where it's hitting the start of the added force, and that may be why it's now causing a problem. It probably is an old abcess crack growing down, but the fact that she's lame now does mean the vet needs to come out, preferably in conjunction with the farrier, to see what's really going on. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173)

06-27-2009, 11:08 PM	#7
crayon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MA Posts: 3,433 Images: 40	Yep, I agree with the others. Try cleaning it out or poultice it with that epsom salt goop. After Crayon's absess was poulticed and popped, I kept giving her antibiotics for teh next few days and sprayed ACV in the area. You might want to try that if there's a possibility that she does have stuff festerign in there. Yucky. __________________ Crayon is my baby! Crayon's Corner Store & Etsy shop coming soon!

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06-26-2009, 11:36 AM	#2
HoustonFarrier Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sealy, Texas Posts: 434 Images: 1	Yep, sure looks like an old abscess rupture. It could have "stuff" in there festering and proliferating. Sometimes I open them up a bit more, and clean them out. Steve

06-26-2009, 05:11 PM	#4
horse-poor Full Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 53	Looks exactly like an old abscess. Was she lame 3 or 4 months ago? My horse had a strange soundness issue we could never figure out. He got over it fine and later I noticed the same type of crack but not quite that big. It didn't bother him after that though so maybe she re-injured herself.

06-27-2009, 06:19 PM	#5
csfpsr Full Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 26 Images: 4	Thanks to all for your input. No, she had never been lame prior. That's why this seems so strange. No heat. No drainage. No warning signs. This crack basically appeared out of nowhere and has caused severe lameness. The farrier and vet will both be out this week, so hopefully I'll have an answer soon.

06-27-2009, 09:50 PM	#6
horse-poor Full Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 53	Please keep us informed. I'm really curious now.

07-06-2009, 06:58 AM	#8
csfpsr Full Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 26 Images: 4	The farrier cut out part of an egg bar shoe slightly wider than the crack(relieving pressure from the toe). Much like putting a standard shoe on backwards, only it fit much better. Lameness is completely gone, and she'll wear the shoe until the crack grows out. Still not sure exactly where the crack came from. My vet canceled on me the day he and my farrier were supposed to meet at my farm. I'm not sure he could have determined much anyway. The general consensus from everyone is "old abscess". Appearance wise, that is hard to dispute. However, as I stated before, this mare was never lame prior to this crack developing and she's observed daily. Certainly not a text book abscess, but I guess that's the diagnoses I'll go with.