Hi,

My gelding woke up very lame one winter morning and we had him looked at by the vet and farrier. Neither could find sensitivity to the hoof testers and there was no swelling or heat in his foot. We put him on rest and hot soaked with epsom salts and used a poultice for about 5 days. During and after treating his foot we saw no signs of an abcess.

Now in the spring I notice on his white foot (formerly lame foot) he has a pink ring around his hoof. My farrier suggested that it was likely the result of severe bruising that likely was the cause of his lameness.

Has anyone else observed a pink ring like this from a bruise?

He has some bruising on his sole as well... the farrier said it was almost a corn... does anyone have experience treating/preventing bruises/corns?

Can you post pictures?

A bruise is caused from tissue trauma, causing blood vessels to rupture(just like in all animals). Hoof bruises can be from many things but if you have a ring of red around the entire hoof, you have something other than a bruise. A sole that has been trimmed too deeply will almost always bruise, showing red on the sole. Red rings with lameness from laminitic changes is very serious and I would get a vet involved asap. I suspect something changed in the diet, or chemical changes(vaccinations, worming?). Has the horse lost any of it's main or tail?

Hoof corns are from uneven pressure, either from the trim, shoes or the horse off loading one part of the hoof more than the other from pain or uneven landing.

I have had luck using straight iodine on sole bruises. Iodine helps harden the sole somewhat and helps to keep any infection at bay. Hoof boots with pads also help add a protective layer while the bruises grow out.

Melanie

This message has been edited. Last edited by: melaniem,

I don't have a picture yet...my camera needs new batteries.

The ring is light pink and is on both white feet (LF and RH). He arrived from BC in September so that could be considered a diet change. He was vaccinated on his arrival. His mane and tail are lush and full and his coat is shiny. He does tend to wear his toe more on his LF (formerly lame leg) so that his foot can get a little upright. I probably let him go too long between trims in the winter not realizing the tendency with his LF (was going 10-12 week between trims). He is now being trimmed 6-8 weeks.

I'm suspecting from your reply that he likely got the "almost corns", briusing and maybe lameness from the uneven pressure from is slightly upright foot. He's also used to being shod (did race) but has been without shoes for about 1 year.

Thanks very much for your reply!
How do you apply the iodine? Do you wipe it on or soak in it?

That is definitely too long between trims! Horses should be done every 4 to 6 weeks...
That is my first reaction. Good luck! Hope he gets better soon.

I second every horse should be trimmed on a 4-6 week cycle. I apply the iodine with an old tooth brush right on the effected area.

Melanie
www.healthyhooves.ca

Thanks for your replies.
I'll increase the frequency of his trims to the 4-6 week cycle and see how he does.