Did you try calling the farrier? For future reference take pictures!!! A picture of the nail in the hoof then of the nail itself would have helped a lot in knowing how bad it could be.
My horse got a 5 inch roofing nail stuck in his hoof about 5 years ago. At LEAST two, two and a half inches were up in there, the other part was bent parallel to the ground. I never dealt with a nail in the foot, I had never read up or heard that you should get xrays, so we did the first thing I could think of- we pulled that sucker out. My neighbor came over and he heaved and pulled and the horse sort of pulled back the other way and PLUNK it came out. It barely bled and he NEVER took a lame step on it. I soaked it, packed it and wrapped it in a diaper and duct tape every single day for a week. We gave tetnus right away and he did a round of penicillin. My horse is 100% sound, I’m hoping yours ends up the same way.
We had a horse at one of my barns step on a nail and he was ok with antibiotics and cleaning. I would be hesitant about SMZ’s I’ve been told those aren’t really strong enough to reach the hoof.
The vet did tell everyone that in the future if the nail is sticking out 1-2 inches you can put a roll of duct tape over it so the nail is in the center of the hole of the roll and duct tape/vet wrap it onto the hoof. If the vet can come out quick this prevents the nail from going in any further and allows them to get an xray before removing it.
Sounds like you have had much good advice. I will change the subject somewhat and ask what the likelihood is of more nails being in the arena? Hoping very much that your horse recovers without issue, but what is the barn going to do to check the arena?
[QUOTE=kasjordan;8155990]
My horse got a 5 inch roofing nail stuck in his hoof about 5 years ago. At LEAST two, two and a half inches were up in there, the other part was bent parallel to the ground. I never dealt with a nail in the foot, I had never read up or heard that you should get xrays, so we did the first thing I could think of- we pulled that sucker out. My neighbor came over and he heaved and pulled and the horse sort of pulled back the other way and PLUNK it came out. It barely bled and he NEVER took a lame step on it. I soaked it, packed it and wrapped it in a diaper and duct tape every single day for a week. We gave tetnus right away and he did a round of penicillin. My horse is 100% sound, I’m hoping yours ends up the same way.[/QUOTE]
When you say you gave tetanus right away, do you mean the antitoxin or the regular vaccine?
Gave regular vaccine as a booster. If I remember right it had been more than six months but less than a year.
Tetanus toxoid vaccine is given for a fresh injury in a previously vaccinated horse. If there are symptoms if tetanus, then the antitoxin is the only option. The vaccine is sufficient at time of injury and giving antitoxin would be a waste.
A good question to ask!
Thanks everyone for your advice.
He was head-bobbing lame this morning so I ended up calling my regular vet for their thoughts and they told me to take him to the University. Done. He is there for 5 days of regional antibiotic perfusion. They are hopeful that he missed soft tissue, but think the nail penetration was stopped as it hit the coffin bone. Thanks for encouraging me to take this further.
There was no talk of injecting a dye in the nail hole? I recall reading about that after I realized I shouldn’t have pulled the nail from my horse. Maybe it was for a different type of injury or I’m just totally remembering wrong but I would think that would tell them what was affected. Hope your guy heals quickly with no issues, glad you took him.
OP, I am glad you took him to the vet hospital. The regional perfusions of antibiotic seem to be pretty helpful for a lot of horses. We did them on my horse after he stepped on a nail a few years ago, and he is fine. I wish the vet who saw your horse over the weekend had sent you to the vet hospital right away. I’m glad you questioned his advice and went today. Keep us posted about how it is going.
[QUOTE=sid;8155578]
My stallion, Argosy, stepped on a construction screw while standing at a stallion station his first year breeding.
All the way in, at the frog, so the vet told them not to pull the screw out, rushed over and did xrays to see exactly how far it penetrated. Far enough that we sent him to the hospital and to surgery for removal, see the extent of possible damage and to debride the wound. Missed the ddt by a hair! He was put in a hospital plate, daily cleaning with sterile water and lot of antibiotics for quite a while. He recovered without any problems.
For you the downside was not being able to get radiographs before the nail was pulled out, but with an inch not yet penetrating the foot, I can see there was no choice but to pull it out. On the upside, there was still an inch of nail that didn’t penetrate, depending upon the length of the nail.
As others have said, keep the wound sterile, call a surgeon now – just in case – and watch him like a hawk.
Good luck![/QUOTE]
Not to sidetrack the thread, Argosy, the half brother to Seattle Slew?
On the lighter side of the conversation. I have dealt with a few horses that had this happen. Non required leaving the farm, all were 3 legged for a while. Just as anyone would be. All recovered fine and just required “proper procedure”.
As another person suggested, check for more nails. Go and get a “nail magnet” on wheels, around $20-30. And just slowly roll it around the area. If you have a friend that has a metal detector give them a call. Or rent one, pretty cheap to rent of a day.
Ideally you leave the nail in and wait until the vet gets there to xray the whole thing to see where the nail is. Pad, pack, wrap the foot as best you can to keep the nail from going farther in. Use bolt cutters to cut the nail closer (not close, just closER) to reduce the risk of it being pushed in farther.
Sometimes you just can’t leave it in for whatever reason, and it’s got to come out. Use a fat sharpie to mark where it went, mark on the nail where it met the foot before removing it, take a picture if you can to show the angle before you pull it out, and then cross your fingers.
[QUOTE=gumtree;8157005]
Not to sidetrack the thread, Argosy, the half brother to Seattle Slew?[/QUOTE]
No…different horse. Hanoverian. 
[QUOTE=someday;8156942]
Thanks everyone for your advice.
He was head-bobbing lame this morning so I ended up calling my regular vet for their thoughts and they told me to take him to the University. Done. He is there for 5 days of regional antibiotic perfusion. They are hopeful that he missed soft tissue, but think the nail penetration was stopped as it hit the coffin bone. Thanks for encouraging me to take this further.[/QUOTE]
That was definitely a good decision! Many jingles and I’m still hoping for the best!
[QUOTE=someday;8156942]
Thanks everyone for your advice.
He was head-bobbing lame this morning so I ended up calling my regular vet for their thoughts and they told me to take him to the University. Done. He is there for 5 days of regional antibiotic perfusion. They are hopeful that he missed soft tissue, but think the nail penetration was stopped as it hit the coffin bone. Thanks for encouraging me to take this further.[/QUOTE]
also jingling… so glad you took him to the clinic! he will be in great hands :yes:
a comedic relief story for your stressful morning – our horses live outside, 24/7 - with a run in shed in the corner of the pasture. one summer day we came strolling down to toss grain and what do you know, a six inch carpenter nail was lodged firmly in my gelding’s neck :eek: he was happy as a clam – “hey, what’s the deal with the room service??” lots and lots of SMZs and vet dollars later, but he was fine. i have always admired horse’s talents for finding ways to maim themselves.
hoping your guy a speedy recovery and lots of carrots!
Wow! I am so amazed at the difference in the care received from the University versus the local vet! The local vet didn’t want to put the horse on any antibiotics (I asked about it which is why he gave me smz’s) and the U had him admitted for 5 days of regional antibiotic perfusions and has put him on chloramphenicol for 4 weeks. He’s on stall rest for a couple more weeks and no riding for 7 weeks!
Again, thanks for the encouragement to seek further treatment. Yes, I realize there is a chance he could have been just fine without the advanced care, but I’d rather be safe than sorry!
A lot of vets (in the field) may try to save a client a dime, as so many horse owners complain about prices of vet care. Not saying your vet is bad at all, but it’s important to let a vet know that you want no stone unturned re care IF the injury has the potential of going south and costing the horse its future soundness, and in some cases its life.
Good for you for trusting your “gut”.
I am SO glad you took him in!
