As you may remember TC came in crippled on 14th December and the vet diagnosed an abscess. On 20th he was still no better so the vet came out again and this time something "popped", blood flew everywhere and he's been much, much better on that leg since, but not sound.
TC has a hole about 1/2" across that leads to a large cone shaped cavity and the area where the blood & pus was is about half way up the hoof. Obviously, keeping this clean and free from further infection is going to be a challenge - particularly as TC is *very* unco-operative about me faffing with that hoof - even the vet has to sedate him each time he examines him.
Today my EP was due and as my vet is fabulously open-minded he asked to be there too so they could discuss the next step. The vet really thinks that the way forward is hoof wall debridement to tackle the problem which would definately mean a return to shoes in front for a while at least - something I am keen to avoid as TC has come so far since his shoes came off in April.
However, he was very happy to listen to my EP and has agreed that we try the EP's regime first which is to Cleantrax and plug the hole.
So, after they had gone I set to with the dreaded blue boot - unfortunately the sedation was very light and I had to stand there holding the boot and he periodically paced round in a semi-circle on the end of his rope, breaking the baling twine and twice standing on the boot and nearly sloshing the lot over the floor.
At the end of this I came over all queer and dizzy and thought I was going to faint under the hooves of a marching Suffolk. Interestingly, TC seemed to notice this and stood still while I hung on to him. Feels a bit like labyrynthitis, went to GP who says it's probably because I was stood holding boot, horse was stressing me and I hadn't eaten - I'm not convinced as I still feel a bit woozy.
Anyway, I digress - I then had to plug the hole - ideally this would be antimicrobial gel or the Pioneer balm and a strip of gauze but as TC is such an @rse with that foot EP & vet have told me to use cotton wool and Stockholm Tar as it's gloopy and will stick itself in when TC snatches his hoof and slams it down. EP reckons we will have to plug for weeks TC will have to come in at night for the rest of the winter until the ground dries out a bit.
So, fingers-crossed that Cleantrax has zapped any nasties still lurking in the cavity and that the plug will keep any others out.
TC has a hole about 1/2" across that leads to a large cone shaped cavity and the area where the blood & pus was is about half way up the hoof. Obviously, keeping this clean and free from further infection is going to be a challenge - particularly as TC is *very* unco-operative about me faffing with that hoof - even the vet has to sedate him each time he examines him.
Today my EP was due and as my vet is fabulously open-minded he asked to be there too so they could discuss the next step. The vet really thinks that the way forward is hoof wall debridement to tackle the problem which would definately mean a return to shoes in front for a while at least - something I am keen to avoid as TC has come so far since his shoes came off in April.
However, he was very happy to listen to my EP and has agreed that we try the EP's regime first which is to Cleantrax and plug the hole.
So, after they had gone I set to with the dreaded blue boot - unfortunately the sedation was very light and I had to stand there holding the boot and he periodically paced round in a semi-circle on the end of his rope, breaking the baling twine and twice standing on the boot and nearly sloshing the lot over the floor.
At the end of this I came over all queer and dizzy and thought I was going to faint under the hooves of a marching Suffolk. Interestingly, TC seemed to notice this and stood still while I hung on to him. Feels a bit like labyrynthitis, went to GP who says it's probably because I was stood holding boot, horse was stressing me and I hadn't eaten - I'm not convinced as I still feel a bit woozy.
Anyway, I digress - I then had to plug the hole - ideally this would be antimicrobial gel or the Pioneer balm and a strip of gauze but as TC is such an @rse with that foot EP & vet have told me to use cotton wool and Stockholm Tar as it's gloopy and will stick itself in when TC snatches his hoof and slams it down. EP reckons we will have to plug for weeks TC will have to come in at night for the rest of the winter until the ground dries out a bit.
So, fingers-crossed that Cleantrax has zapped any nasties still lurking in the cavity and that the plug will keep any others out.
