White Line Disease -- what to do until Oxine arrives

[KCSLK]

I used up the only copper sulfate granules I had to treat white line disease today, then ordered more of that as well as Oxine (White Lightning / CleanTrax). But, they won’t be here until the end of the week! What can I do to treat it in the meantime, besides keeping the hooves picked out and clean? I’ve read mixed opinions on 10:1 water:bleach, or 1:1 Lysol:vinegar, vinegar, and tea tree oil – do any of those things work? I could also go buy Kopertox or (if I can find it) a few tubes of Tomorrow if that’s the right thing and will actually do something applied topically to the white line without soaking. At this point, I’m just confused :(.

(On another note, diet/nutrition was “upgraded” a few weeks ago per an earlier thread on this forum, so hopefully that will help also. We are now at: hay + 1 lb Triple Crown 30% ration balancer + ~155 mg poly copper + ~335 mg poly zinc + ~20 mg biotin + ~700 IU Vitamin E + ~6 oz ground flax.)

Thanks!

[Heinz_57]

I would go buy myself some diaper rash cream (40% zinc oxide, the ‘extra strength’ version) and squish as much of that in there as I could after thoroughly cleaning out the area.

I don’t know how bad of a case you’re treating, and I am not an expert but in a pinch that’s what I’d do (rather than bleach or lysol).

[luvmyhackney]

Not sure if you have a beer brewing store but they carry oxine for sanitizing and some farm stores carry it in the poultry section. Otherwise keep it clean and dry. Talk to your farrier about opening up the white line spot as air is the best treatment as per my farrier.

[rubygirl1968]

You can get copper sulfate granules at Lowe’s or tractor supply and grind in an old coffee grinder. Last time I mixed it in Vaseline because I was out of Desitin and used it in the separation.

Chlorhexidine would probably work as a soak or to stuff in a deep crack on a cotton ball. I’ve also used life data hoof clay.

It’s an ongoing issue with my horse and another at the barn. The other two never have an issue but these two do.

[KCSLK]

Thanks! Unfortunately copper sulfate is a “seasonal” item around here, so after trying 4 stores (too bad there are no beer brewing stores in driving distance!) looking for copper sulfate, Oxine, or Tomorrow, I gave up. I ended up buying some of the 40% zinc oxide and a bottle of tea tree oil, and a friend had a small amount of copper sulfate granules and was kind enough to give those to me to get me through until my order comes. I mixed all 3 together and will treat with the mixture starting tomorrow. Fingers crossed it works!

[imaginique]

You can soak the foot in 50% vinegar/water solution.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@imaginique

You can soak the foot in 50% vinegar/water solution.

This, you can use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

[kiwihill3000]

My farrier SWEARS by a copper sulfate/vinegar solution. I tried it with my horse that had a more mild case of white line and it fixed him right up. I used a spray bottle and sprayed it on his sole (so that it could leak under the shoe) and also did one spray around his coronary band so that it would run down the rest of his foot. I did it every day for a week and then more intermittently (a few times a week) for a month or two after that. He was also hot shod which my farrier said helped a lot. Not sure that’s much of a help since you can’t get your hands on any CoSO4 right now, but maybe that will help in the future!

[lenapesadie]

My farrier likes the ACV mixed with copper sulfate as well. Other options I’ve used are Today/Tomorrow and Fluid Film (a lanolin spray found at big box home improvement stores). I’ve also used Oregano oil, which actually works really well but it can blister heels so caution is needed.

My farrier swears all cracks/grooves should be packed with bits of cotton after treatment for best results.

Good luck!

[KCSLK]

This is great info! I will start doing the vinegar soak now, and stuff the Desitin/copper sulfate/tea tree oil mix in the crevice with cotton balls after soaking. When the copper sulfate comes, I can add that to the vinegar soak, or use the oxine/vinegar soak, or alternate the two soaks I guess (unless there’s a reason that’s not a good idea).

[Xanthoria]

You can buy copper sulphate crystals on amazon. Dissolve in water in a hoof soaking boot and soak daily. That said, not many topicals will treat WLD. Have a read here: https://thehorse.com/129797/white-line-disease-diagnosis-and-treatment/

[frisky]

I clean my horse’s feet real well and put 10% betadine on the white line area.

[KCSLK]

Thanks for the article! I have been reading about it, but hadn’t read that one yet. Was useful & insightful. I did order copper sulfate online. It just doesn’t come until this weekend I do have iodine, so maybe I’ll try that too.

Can I scoop out some of the blackened white line/holes/black fissures extending out the hoof wall with an old hoof knife before I treat, or is this a bad idea? I did it a little bit tonight (I was pretty conservative so don’t worry, I didn’t go wild with it! :)) after cleaning with the hoof pick, but didn’t know if that was good or not. I would like to have my farrier out again soon on a shortened schedule, but he doesn’t come back into the area again for the next 3-4 weeks.

[Xanthoria]

I have certainly picked out the black stuff (very carefully and conservatively) myself before but I’m not a vet and don’t even play one on TV!

[KCSLK]

@Xanthoria

I have certainly picked out the black stuff (very carefully and conservatively) myself before but I’m not a vet and don’t even play one on TV!

Haha, thanks! At least now I know I’m not alone…:lol: I tend to be more conservative than aggressive with things like that, so I think if I’m careful it will be okay

[Xanthoria]

Just don’t get kicked in the head :lol:

[lenapesadie]

@KCSLK

Thanks for the article! I have been reading about it, but hadn’t read that one yet. Was useful & insightful. I did order copper sulfate online. It just doesn’t come until this weekend I do have iodine, so maybe I’ll try that too.

Can I scoop out some of the blackened white line/holes/black fissures extending out the hoof wall with an old hoof knife before I treat, or is this a bad idea? I did it a little bit tonight (I was pretty conservative so don’t worry, I didn’t go wild with it! :)) after cleaning with the hoof pick, but didn’t know if that was good or not. I would like to have my farrier out again soon on a shortened schedule, but he doesn’t come back into the area again for the next 3-4 weeks.

My farrier recommends scraping away whatever nastiness possible. Though it seems maybe your horse’s case is a bit worse than mine was. Not sure if that makes a difference. I found a large syringe filled with with warmed homemade saline was useful for cleaning debris out of small cracks without causing horsey discomfort