Growth on horse's hoof, any vets around?

[tallyho8]

It's Saturday evening and I can't get a vet or a farrier until Monday and I just noticed my old gelding favoring his rear foot. It was fine about 10 days ago when I checked his hooves and now it has a growth on it about the size of a peppermint candy and it looks like some bruising behind it.

I was wondering if anyone had seen something like this before as I never have. Most of the horse forums are very slow and you don't get an answer for weeks so I am relying on the collective wisdom of my favorite tractor forum.

 

[aczlan]

It's Saturday evening and I can't get a vet or a farrier until Monday and I just noticed my old gelding favoring his rear foot. It was fine about 10 days ago when I checked his hooves and now it has a growth on it about the size of a peppermint candy and it looks like some bruising behind it.

My wife (Who has a BS in Animal Sci and years working as a Dairy Herdsman for a 400 cow dairy) says that it looks like a "Heel Wart" that cows get (they look like that and come on quick). She isnt sure if horses get them, but on cows, she would cut it off and hit it with a topical solution (everyone recommends putting on something different).

Has he been standing around in slop for extended periods of time? Cows get them when they are in slop all day.
If it is a heel wart, it is viral, it can spread to the other feet or to other horses (if you have other horses) given the correct conditions.

So, a vet might be a better person to call than a farrier as you will probably need to get the topical solution from a vet.
If it is a heel wart, waiting until Monday shouldn't permanently injure the horse

Aaron Z

 

[whistlepig]

It looks like a canker sore. The vet will have to cut it out. All the horses that we keep here are unshod. We believe that shoeing a horse causes lameness. Still, an unshod horse must be constantly trimmed by a farrier. And, with all due respect, this horse is in much need of a trimming by a competent trimmer.

 

[aczlan]

Any updates on this?

Aaron Z

 

[tallyho8]

Any updates on this?

Aaron Z

We called our farrier out. He said he has seen a lot of these and they are caused by thrush. He cut it off and applied iodine and we bandaged it.

We have removed the bandage daily and alternated applying iodine and Coppertox. His foot looks a little better and it definitely does not hurt him as much.

I hope my farrier is right. There is only one horse vet in our parish (which is the largest parish in Louisiana) and he is quite expensive and doesn't make house calls.

 

[tornadowatchranch]

good luck on this. He must be pretty proud of himself to not make house calls! What is the horse is down?!?!? Our vet's shop is 50 miles away but he lives 5 miles away so he comes on his way home. He often doesn't charge us a trip fee as he gives us a pretty wide window of when he will arrive. We work with him on time and he works with us on price!

 

[SkyPup]

Thrush is caused by a fungi Candidia albicans, iodine or crystal violet or formalin will take quick care of it....

 

[rmully]

Apply pine tar to the hoof to keep it from rotting and help it mend. The pine tar is real thick and stays on. Best of luck.

 

[tommu56]

There is only one horse vet in our parish (which is the largest parish in Louisiana) and he is quite expensive and doesn't make house calls.

No house call's I guess he is already enrolled in the Obama health care plan:laughing:

I just couldn't resist.

tom

 

[jayste]

We called our farrier out. He said he has seen a lot of these and they are caused by thrush. He cut it off and applied iodine and we bandaged it.

We have removed the bandage daily and alternated applying iodine and Coppertox. His foot looks a little better and it definitely does not hurt him as much.

I hope my farrier is right. There is only one horse vet in our parish (which is the largest parish in Louisiana) and he is quite expensive and doesn't make house calls.

Tallyho, I'm not an expert at anything but mistakes but I'd go with what your farrier said and watch him (the horse). Early signs of thrush is usually the smell (yes, worst than the bottom of the stall he's standing in). I think color and the dampness of the frog area will be telltale signs as well. Coppertox as well as iodine is what we used. Try keeping them out of the stall and out of damp areas might help. After he heals pick up his feet and use a hoof pick on them occasionally.:thumbsup:

And as far as that old large animal Doc who won't make house calls, he needs to be snubbed up and horse whipped....