Since last fall, our 23+ pony has foundered and had two absesses (approximately the same time).
Absesses: Initially the vet came out, opened up her hoof in the toe area and said she was tender on the side, but that absess wasn’t ready yet. Then we had the farrier out for regular trimming. We mentioned our vet’s comments about the upcoming abcess on the side, noted that her bulb seemed soft, etc. He didn’t even test her foot. He said the abcess had probably gone to the bulb and he couldn’t touch that. This was a relatively new farrier to us, yet had come highly recommended. Needless to say, for this reason and others, we’ve switched farriers. Had our vet out again and he found the second abcess. Of course, she ended up with a huge hole in her side wall. All this with soaking, taping, etc. The abcesses are now gone.
Our pastures are on flood plain. Unfortunately, her hoofs haven’t grown out to the extent they need to be. We took xrays this week and her coffin bone is rotated. The vet said 3 months stall rest, no grass, and for her to lose 100 lbs as her hoof soles are so incredibly thin. Right now she’s average weight. She’s fed a cup of food (probably only 6 oz.) twice a day, hay at night, and grass during the day. The vet looked over a tiny paddock that she can go into, told me to scalp the grass which I have, limit her hay to 12-15 lbs per day. We also put peat moss in her stall which I love.
Easy Boots: We bought some easy boots for her. Unfortunately, my husband was letting the horses out in an area that has some mud and he wouldn’t put the boots on her those days as she was constantly losing them. Now we’re not letting her out in her small paddock if there’s any mud and she’ll always have her easy boots on whenever she’s out.
Venice Turpentine. Vet said to apply twice a week and apply duct tape that can be removed the next day. This we can easily do.
Supplements: We have her on farrier’s formula. She also has Cushings and is on Prascend. We giving her Previcox also. Part of her feed consists of pelletized rice bran to give her Omega 3s to help her hoof grow.
My heart is breaking. This little pony would look at me whenever I walked out of the house - regardless of the door. She also came over to greet me in the pasture every time (had to cross a pasture to get to the barn). Now she looks at me and stands, so I go over to her. We’ve had her 20+ years and I don’t want her to be in pain.
I realize this is a long post. Will anyone share their stories of rotated coffin bones, ideas of things I can do, etc.? Thanks in advance for sharing and helping!
