Best 'soaking boot' for using Cleantrax...

[jaimebaker]

I’d like to hear what folks use when they use Cleantrax. I’ve heard IV bags, garbage bags, the Cleantrax soaking boot, etc. I need to do a soak on a mare and will pretty much be standing there holding her for the whole time. It sure would be nice if there was a soaking boot out there that would allow her to move around and eat hay but I AM prepared to just hold her still while her feet soak. Looking to hear what folks have used that they like.

ALSO, where is the cheapest place w/ shipping to get Cleantrax?

[Liberty]

I’ve always used the CleanTrax boot. Whatever you use, it needs to be big enough to hold the entire gallon.

The best price I found for both the CleanTrax and the boot is from Centaur Forge:
http://www.centaurforge.com/products.asp?dept=69

Good luck!

[jaimebaker]

[QUOTE=Liberty;4589047]
I’ve always used the CleanTrax boot. Whatever you use, it needs to be big enough to hold the entire gallon.

The best price I found for both the CleanTrax and the boot is from Centaur Forge:
http://www.centaurforge.com/products.asp?dept=69

Good luck![/QUOTE]

Ok, this brings me to my next question. Why would I need to use the full gallon? A half gallon will cover the hoof and then some. This is a 14 hh Arab with small feet. I was hoping to mix a gallon of solution and soak both fronts at the same time.

[Gayla]

I soaked my mare’s feet in White Lightening but I looked at CleaanTrax too. I used heavy duty gallon ziplock bags and duct tape on the top to hold on. My girl is very quiet so she stood like a statue. The directions to all of those soaks make it seem a little daunting. But when I did it is was mostly time consuming.

[jn4jenny]

[QUOTE=jaimebaker;4589057]
Ok, this brings me to my next question. Why would I need to use the full gallon? A half gallon will cover the hoof and then some. This is a 14 hh Arab with small feet. I was hoping to mix a gallon of solution and soak both fronts at the same time.[/QUOTE]

I have not looked at CleanTrax, but I looked at White Lightning a few years ago when my boy had some thrush. For White Lightning at least, the reasoning behind the whole gallon was because it was the vapors produced by the liquid, not just the liquid itself, that did the product’s magic joooo. Hence the need for a special boot/plastic bag get-up that will trap the vapors in one place. So if you try to split the dosage, you will essentially get half the cleaning power.

[jaimebaker]

[QUOTE=jn4jenny;4589430]
I have not looked at CleanTrax, but I looked at White Lightning a few years ago when my boy had some thrush. For White Lightning at least, the reasoning behind the whole gallon was because it was the vapors produced by the liquid, not just the liquid itself, that did the product’s magic joooo. Hence the need for a special boot/plastic bag get-up that will trap the vapors in one place. So if you try to split the dosage, you will essentially get half the cleaning power.[/QUOTE]

That still doesn’t make sense. Why would splitting it up give you half the cleansing if the whole hoof is still submerged and the properties are still the same with the mixture?? I don’t need the leg cleansed (as a gallon would go up to this mare’s knees), I need the hoof cleansed.

Cleantrax does not have the same instructions as the White Lightning FWIW. You soak for 30 minutes, then you take the hoof out of the soak and then, without rinsing the hoof, re-wrap it with a bag to allow the vapors to penetrate for another 30 minutes.

And for White Lightning you don’t mix a gallon. It’s 3-4 ounces of the White Lightning with 3-4 ounce of vinegar, just enough to cover the hoof capsule.

[jn4jenny]

I did say that I was talking about White Lightning, not Clean Trax, and that it’s been a few years. Sorry.

Here’s the real answer. Google is your friend.
http://www.ericnystrom.com/cleantrax.html

[Gry2Yng]

I used White Lightning. Very effective. I am now following up with Tomorrow.

As you noted, you only mix 6-8 oz of WL. 6 covers for my TB, I need 8 for my WB. I ordered the bags from WL, supposed to the be the thickness of IV bags. Then I took strips of duct tape and covered the bottom. The WB is 4 and will not stand with boots behind. He did better in his stall bedded with straw. The TB was an angel. Both horses are healing nicely. I would recommend the ToMorrow. I found some deep grooves in the medial and lateral sulcus that seem to be responding to the antibiotic and it is cheep and not near as much work as soaking.

[jaimebaker]

[QUOTE=jn4jenny;4589926]
I did say that I was talking about White Lightning, not Clean Trax, and that it’s been a few years. Sorry.

Here’s the real answer. Google is your friend.
http://www.ericnystrom.com/cleantrax.html[/QUOTE]

Yeah, but even White Lightning isn’t used how you mentioned. Sounded maybe like you were talking about Cleantrax anyway based on the mention of a gallon of solution. Maybe it was different a few years ago though.

Thanks for the link. The farriers I’ve talked to so far have said you can split the solution. Since it’s the vapors that penetrate the hoof, ‘pressure of the volume of solution to penetrate the hoof’ still doesn’t make any sense. The pressure will be higher at the bottom of the foot, I get that. But on the Cleantrax site it states its the vapors that penetrate. Then again, maybe I’ll just do it right the first time. I’d hate to have to buy more because I wanted to take a short cut and save some time.

I’ve been doing White Lightning gel on this mare for months and it’s not knocking this stuff out (this is for seedy toe/WLD not thrush) so I need to go for the big dog now. Thanks for the info:)

[EventerAJ]

I use IV bags, at my farrier’s recommendation. They’re FREE and plentiful from a local equine hospital. They’re pretty tough (average life span 15+ soakings), but if one pops a hole it’s no big deal. You don’t have to use too much water, and most horses don’t mind shuffling around a stall in them.

I always put the bag on the foot with the seam pointed north-south, then slowly pour in some water. Chances are the horse will move, possibly spilling the bag so don’t add the magic potions until the horse is comfortable and still. I usually hold the bag around the pastern and pick up the foot so the horse feels the weight of it; then put the foot down, add Clean Trax (or whatever) and top off with a bit more water. A snug (but NOT tight or constricting!!) ring of duct tape around the top fetlock, and a looser ring below (around pastern) keeps the bag on. Duct tape sticks REMARKABLY well to the thick vinyl bag… sometimes it’s even re-usable! Once the bag is on, squeeze the water bag to mix the contents. I pick up the foot again, slosh it around once again reminding the horse that there is something on his foot.

I use about half a bottle of Clean Trax per treatment, since there’s quite less than a gallon of water in there. I also use the IV bags for iodine/epsom salt abscess soaks, and for icing feet after xc. My farrier recommended keeping a separate dry bag for the clean trax “gaseous phase”, but sometimes I’m lazy and I just empty the soak bag and tape it back on despite it’s inner dampness (I’ve not noticed much impact on Clean Trax effectiveness).

It is VERY IMPORTANT to acclimate the horse to the weight and sloshing of the bag on his foot before you walk off and leave him alone. I usually soak in a stall-- bedding cushions and protects the bag, and an enclosed environment is safer. Many of them have a minor freak-out when they first discover a monster stuck to their leg. I always introduce it slowly, picking up the foot carefully to avoid surprise. I may encourage the horse to take a few steps on his own, to prove to himself that it isn’t a life-threatening experience. Once I’m sure they don’t care anymore, I’ll give them a flake of hay and leave them unsupervised. It beats the heck out of babysitting a foot in a bucket!!

[Liberty]

[QUOTE=jaimebaker;4590534]
…I’ve been doing White Lightning gel on this mare for months and it’s not knocking this stuff out (this is for seedy toe/WLD not thrush) so I need to go for the big dog now…[/QUOTE]

You could try grapefruit seed extract (aka “GSE”, but not to be confused with grapeseed extract).

GSE is completely nontoxic and inexpensive. A little goes a long way, so one bottle will last a very long time. You can probably find it on the shelf at your local drug store. You can also get it online from:
http://www.nutriteam.com/servlet/the-1/Grapefruit-Seed-Extract-All/Detail

All you do is apply it, straight from the bottle, onto the affected areas of the hoof.

Here’s a story explaining how GSE solved a very tough case of whiteline disease:
http://www.equinelove.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=26

I know you said it’s not thrush you’re dealing with, but for future reference and/or anyone else reading this, GSE works great on thrush too.

[jaimebaker]

Liberty, I actually read your article a couple of weeks ago! And I’m glad you stressed the grapefruit part because even when I read it I thought, does she really mean grapefruit or is she talking about grape seed? So, YAY!

I will be sure to pick some up while I’m waiting on my Cleantrax to come in.

[SonnysMom]

I have been told there are bags you can get at REI and other outdoor hiking/biking/kayaking type places that work well. The bags I think are used when kayaking and boating to keep things dry. They have a flat bottom and are pretty durable.

[Gry2Yng]

Just to add to AJ’s technique. After I scrub their feet really well in the wash stall I put the bags on and secure them with Vetwrap. (I have also found north south seem to be best.) I take a duct tape “pad”, (four strips north south four strips east west prepared ahead of time) and tape to the bottom of the foot. I walk the horse to his stall in the baggies. I bring the WL, vet wrap and scissors to the stall. Then I mix the WL in a measuring cup (love the ones you can read from the top). I pull the baggie/vet wrap away from the heel and pour in a little at a time. They usually jerk their foot with the first poor. I add the rest and then wrap the vet wrap around a few more times to seal in the gas. I have been able to reuse the booties a few times. When they get worn I have inserted a clean baggie and just used the old one with the duct tape as a boot. Thankfully my horses are almost done with this process. Scrubbing their feet is wrecking my wrists.

[Bluey]

To soak legs, we use cut to size inner tubes, folded over at the toe and taped on the top.

You can make the boot any size you want, they last forever and are easy to put on and take off.
Free at most garages.

[Drive_NJ]

We do the white lightening treatment with our Coop - who has occasional issues with white line disease

Cooper has found a way to damage any plastic bag we’ve tried using on him. So we went all out and got some Davis treatment boots that he could not destroy

Coop is very “play” oriented and would move his feet around alot in the bags but he stands well with the Davis boot

We had some Davis barrier boots for his turnout when he was barefoot and recovering from an abcess. Size 4 was a bit small to fit easily for treatment
Sooooo we tried the size 6 treatment boot. OMG ! ! ! they were literally the size of a 5 gallon bucket. Its hard to imagine, but drafters feet really ARE that big ! ! !
So we finally settled on the size 4 again and they fit loose enough to slide on and off and have room for the treatment goop AND stay on if Coop moves his feet a bit for the duration

[Judy_h]

I continue to struggle to find the best soaking boot. The best thing I’ve ever used are the large IV bags. But for whatever reason, the last batch I got didn’t last very long, so I went ahead and bought the official soaking boot. I really hate it. The next thing I’m going to try is going to be putting an IV bag inside of a Davis soak boot so that the base of the IV bag is well protected and hopefully won’t spring a leak so soon. This is a great product, but it is such a torture to use.