[Open_the_Gait]

if this is anything like laminitis, white line, or thrush or anything, just tell me and i will go read the posts on them. but i didnt want to read twenty pages of posts now to find out cuz im just too lazy.
ok, my horse has two things with his feet.
first is a crumbly white stuff on the sole along the outside edge of his hoof. now i really hope that its not laminitis or white line cuz just by the names of them it sounds like it could be. it could just be from soft wet ground because all the horses feet were tender. oh, and it is not showing up anymore since the ground has frozen.
second is a yucky black stuff which i hope is not thrush. its like mud and stuff get stuck in along the sides of his frog and starts to rot. i do clean his feet out, but its there every time. its like the old parts of his frog grow out to the side and cover up the indents along it so that anything that gets in has a hard time getting out. and it just sits in there and rots. and i dont know if its making a pocket in his hoof or if thats just the way his hoof is. its really small opening along the frog, then when you go deeper it opens up. and he hates when i dig in there and try to get the trash out, so i know its bugging him.
my farrier was out about 3 or 4 weeks ago to trim and said it was nothing to worry about.
any help would be awesome!

[Blistering Winds]

Ok..the icky black stuff is more likely Thrush. Make him allow you to get it all out and put a 1:10 bleach/water mixture on it to get rid if it fast.

As for the crumbly stuff. Could be just old sole/hoof wall, could be a spread of thrush, which if left too long, can cause an infection in the white line. Try the bleach, worry about the thrush right now. See what happens. Your horse might be needing a trim about now since it's been 4 weeks. Some hroses need trimmings more often cause they splay out more.

Wouldn't hurt to mention to your vet that you want a second opinion over your farrier. He'll recommend someone for you.

[CANDYGIRL]

I will bump up my posts on White Line and Laminitis. If you want the information I have from the Laminits clinic, you just have to pm me with your e mail address and I will send them in a zipped file as an attachment for you to download and read. lots of people on the forum have asked for them from me.

The thing with his frog does sound like Trush, but am suprised that your farrier didn't say anything, or about White Line, he would have noticed this when he did the trim. Did he trim his frog? Would you like me to post about the treatment of thrush?

Jane

[Blistering Winds]

I've noticed many farriers out today that can't recognize thrush if they had it themselves!! I had a vet actually diagnose it and the farrier had come later that day, and said he was fine. But we actually cultured it so I knew he had it. The vet was doing something on it, never knew why she cultured it, but I said OK.

[CANDYGIRL]

I have an excellent farrier, and with all fariers in the UK having to be fully qualified and registered, and do 4 years training on all the anatomy and disease of the feet, before sitting their exam for Diploma, I would expect the farrier to know, however I know from previous postings that it is not illegal to practise farriery without being qualified in US.

[Blistering Winds]

ok..>I'll rephrase...US Farriers seem to not know what Thrush looks like or if they do, they over look it.

[CANDYGIRL]

BW it wasn't a dig at you or what you posted, just thought the Farrier would of noticed if the horse had WLD or Thrush, but the Thrush could of developed after his visit.

[Blistering Winds]

true....but i have seen it where it was VERY apparent and they missed it completely. So never completely depend on your farrier. Vets, other knowledgeable people, etc are essential!!

[EquestrianVNurse]

Next time your Vet is out, do ask him to take a look at the crumbling. Some horses suffer with brittle hooves and if that's the case, your Vet will prescribe something to help treat it.

[EquestrianVNurse]

Just a quick recommendation. I don't mean to dispute anything that anyone else has said but...
Please do not use bleach, diluted or otherwise. Not until your Vet has come out to check your horse. The reason I recommend that you call your Vet is because thrush and canker are 2 diseases that are common and very similar to each other.

If you're sure it's thrush, then straight iodine or any medication with formalin in it will do the trick but only after your farrier and vet have come to inspect and trim.