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| Vet Tips: Common Hoof Ailments |
You are here: Newsletters > December 1999 > Vet Tips: Common Hoof Ailments
By Dr. Madalyn Ward
Stone Bruise: If your horse does not have adequate sole thickness, he will be prone to bruising. Flat footed horses are also more prone to bruising. Hoof testers can be used to localize the area of soreness and very gentle paring with a hoof knife should uncover the extent of the bruised area. If the bruising is in a half-moon shape across the entire toe, it indicates a more serious internal problem with the hoof.
The best treatment for bruising is protection in the form of a boot or a pad. Otherwise you will need to keep your horse stalled on soft bedding until the soreness is completely gone. The homeopathic remedy Arnica is very helpful in simple bruising. This remedy helps the body reabsorb the blood or serum from a bruised area. This speeds healing and reduces pain. If a bruise is particularly painful, you can soak the food in a saturated solution of epsom salts in a few ounces of water and wrap this onto his foot.
Sometimes horses can get very deep bruises, especially if they lose a shoe on rough ground. These deep bruises also occur after extended periods of wet weather followed by hot, dry weather. During the wet weather, the horse’s feet soften then get badly bruised as the ground gets hard and uneven. Sometimes these bruises don’t show up with a hoof tester because they are very deep. Suspect a deep bruise if your horse is lame on one foot and has an increased digital pulse but no obvious heat or swelling. Regular soaking and 2-3 weeks off will usually resolve a deep bruise.
Abcess: A hoof abcess will generally be more painful and hot than a bruise. There may be swelling above the hoof. Again, hoof testers are used to locate the abcess and a hoof knife is used to open the abcess so it can drain. Once an abcess has been opened and drained, the hoof should be kept bandaged until healing is complete. Epsom salts soaks or poultices can be used if your horse is still sore after the abcess is opened. Tetanus toxoid should be given if your horse has not had one in the previous year. Most abcesses will resolve quickly once they open and drain. Homeopathy can also be used for stubborn cases.
Cracks: In my experience these are almost always due to injury or unbalanced feet. A healthy hoof should not crack. If your horse has an otherwise healthy hoof, examine the coronary band carefully above the crack. It will generally be jammed up higher than the adjacent area. Corrective shoeing will be needed to correct this condition.
Thrush: This is a bacterial or fungal infection of the foot. It can be extremely painful. The affected horse will have a foul-smelling dark discharge around the frog. The tissue around he frog and heel also appear very unhealthy. These horses should be moved to a dry area and the foot should be cleaned daily. After cleaning, a mild antiseptic such as Kopertox should be applied. Because thursh can be related to a weakened immune system, it is a good idea to evaluate your horse’s ration and consider a supplement such as Cell Tech Super Blue Green Algae.
Dr. Madalyn Ward is a nationally known equine homeopathic and nutritional consultant. She is certified by the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy, the International Acupuncture Society, and the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association. She is a member of the American Association of Equine Practictioners.