Hoof and Foot Health

I am desparate to find someone to give an opinion on my horse's hoof situation.  To shoe or not to shoe, that is the question.  In June of this year, my 16.2 mare came down with an abcess in her front right foot.  Three days into soakings, etc., my horse  coliced two nights in a row.  Both nights, she was given banamine w/ mineral oil tubings by two different vets.  The second vet suggested that if she had any more problems that I take her to the University of Mississippi (about 150 mi. from where I live) for futher evaluation.  We turned her out and found her the next day lying down in the pasture where she was distressed and didn't want to get up.  Eventually, I did get her up and loaded her up.  She never rolled, kicked or acted in severe pain, but all three times she likely ran fever with the worst being the first night of the three days.  Later at Mississippi State, she was treated for colic (mineral oil and Maalox tubings w/ IV fluids).  Her right foot abcess reappeared and was treated there at the college as well. At that time, they did xray and said there was no sign of founder at that time and found source of abcess (which they dug out).   Basically, they found that she tested positive for Salmonella, had a neutrophil issue with her WBC, was dehydrated, and had equine ulcers.  She was eventually sent home on meds for ulcers, antibiotics, and strict instructions for soaking/treating her foot.  She limped on the r foot for several weeks and eventually, my farrier found  new abcess following the white line on the inside of both front feet.  We soaked, applied icthamol, began a biotin hoof supplement, you name it.  She stayed on either Equioxx or Butte for two full months. I've had the farrier out for frequent trimmings, keeping her feet cupped and trimmed.  She was getting better up until last week.  She has what my farrier calls severe stress rings on both front feet (which I've pictured) and now is pointing both feet and keeps that founder stance when she walks.  Rear feet are fine and front feet show no sensitivity w/ hoof testers.  She eats and drinks normally, just limps around.  She's currently on Nu Image which has biotin supplement in it.  I normally show in Showmanship, so I'm not wanting to rush to ride or anything.  Just want her to walk and trot by my side through a pattern eventually, if nothing else.  Farrier wants shoes on her ASAP, but she just can't take a nail in the foot.  I am considering rubber glue on or hoof boots at this point.  One vet thinks she had a mild founder while another thinks she just has to grow the hoof out completely before she has a chance of walking normally.  I don't want a repeat of June illness.

Please help.  I don't know what to do or who to turn to at this point. 

Hello Shel,

I would like to see a few more pictures from the side of the hoof and bottom of the hoof.  Clearly there is divergent rings occuring which suggests that this horse has some disruption of hoof growth for a host of logical reasons.  The copy or picture of the radiographs would greatly help us help you out also.

Please be free to email them to me so I can view them while at the World Games.

Thanks,

Esco Buff, PhD, CF

esco@escobuff.com

Shel,

 

I agree that if you could get some radiographs to see what is actually going on inside the hoof a much more educated opinion could be made, but from what I can see with the photos, the horse is way out of balance. The heels are very long and run under.  You have a very flat sole as well. The ring probably has to do with the fever, medication. change in diet, colic, stress or any combination. I would trim this horses heels all the way back to the frog and then put a wide web shoe on. Set the heels of the shoe back about 1/4 " behind the heel of the hoof. Then make sure the break over is positioned correctly. It also looks like the farrier is rasping the top of the hoof (Rings) off below the new growth. Be careful thinning it out to much as this can weaken the wall. Your abcess is probably resulting from the pressure the under run heels place on the lateral cartlidge. 

Re-occuring abscessing could be several things, but it is quite common in foundered horses.  As others have said here, the only way to know for sure is to radiograph the feet correctly so the relationship between the internal structures can be measured.  radiographs without properly placed markers are unuseable for measureing founder.  Once you get the correct rads, you will know without a doubt whether you are dealing with founder or not.