FOUNDER!

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

Even if your horse seems better today, I would have a vet look at her.

I had a nasty experience that I will share as an incentive to get her checked out.
I'll make it short to spare you the gruesome details & me the pain of remembering it all.
Due to improper trimming of his hooves by my farrier while I wasn't at home, my beloved 18 yr. old Shazam had to be put down because his coffin bones had rotated so severely that they broke through the soles of his hooves.

Please have your vet check your horse.

Jean

 

[ml]

I have had the same horse for a very long time. Knock on wood he had little problems with his feet. If I had to do it all over again, would not change many things with him but.
I would learn more about his feet. How to trim them and how they should look.

I took the time to learn how to trim my horses feet 2 years ago. I am so thankful I did. If nothing else learn what should be right and what is wrong. I got my first kit from ebay for under 40.00. Nothing like learning with the cheepest equipement.

Here is a great site to look at.

http://www.ironfreehoof.com/index.htm

here is a great case study of a founded horse that was trimed back to his feet with the proper food.

Druid
http://www.ironfreehoof.com/Druid.htm

I swear abcess can be cause of diet besides trimming. Please take the time if you have a horse to learn a few basics, a bit more then to just pick out the feet.

BTW could never ever do this without a hoof jack. My back saver.

ML

 

[verthandi]

I totally agree with the above posters. A vet check now is important. Abscess and laminitis have different treatment plans.

I had a mare founder last winter totally out of the blue. She had no thyroid activity discovered when her blood work was completed. No other risk factors.

She was treated with HCl and aspirin and is now on Thyroid L for life. Aspirin or bute can slow an abscess down and take longer for the abscess to travel out of the hoof. So knowing what you are dealing with from the start will make the treatment easier to figure out.

 

[Carole AM]

I will be calling the vet on Monday! Thanks everyone.

 

[Carole AM]

UPDATE! I had the vet out today and it is NOT founder! YAY! I am sooooo relieved!

Her soreness may have been due to trimming, but more likely she is a tenderfoot. Stone bruises are what it was!

The hoof "ring" I saw (and was worried about) could have happened under a period of stress, but that was a long time ago. She's feeling fine now-- and thanks to all of you for the links!

 

[blue90292]

sorry, i should have added that you should have a vet check the horse out after the supplement. i couldnt' even get my horse to the vet since he couldn't walk and the vet wouldn't come out since he wanted to do an x-ray. he pretty much told me i should put the horse down.

i got him back to walking, got him to the vet, had x-rays and it turned out the area where the bone he had split several years prior was inflamed for some reason. and he also said i was lucky my horse didn't just give up and die. he said he's seen many horses go through major depression, causing leg problems, after a buddy dies.

i try and shorten my tales sometimes and pertinent parts get left out. again, sorry.

carole, i'm glad to hear your horse is doing better.

 

[Standard Hen]

Carole that is great news! Glad to hear that all is well and try to make sure your farrier is not trimming her up to short.

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

I would have a serious talk with your farrier, or find a new one.
Sometimes a horse will jerk and the farrier will cut off too much, but if the farrier is reputable, they will let you know what happened & what to do about it. They will help you heal your horse, even though it was an accident. These things do happen.
Bruising can also be caused from improper trimming.

I'm glad your horse is just bruised, although that is very painful for the horse too.
I hope your vet gave you advice on how to deal with your mare's tender feet.

Jean

 

[Carole AM]

Supposedly this farrier has a good reputation, but I think I'll do some searching for another. We had a good one in the past, and we NEVER had a problem with her feet.

The vet said I can smear pine tar on her soles-- that wil help.

 

[Standard Hen]

That seems to answer it right there then if you never had this problem with your past farrier. Jean is right too, if there ever is a mishap they should be up front about it. I would look around a little and ask, ask, ask others who they use. Word of mouth is powerful in the horse world.