HELP!? My horse has a swollen ankle and a hoof packed with dirt and yucky stuff! What should I do?

Answer 1

Sounds like a pretty bad infection. Call your vet immediately. Poor Horse

Answer 2

This sounds like thrush or an abcess. If the hoof doesn't get cleaned out it will become and abcess which takes almost 6 weeks to heal or more.

First clean out the hoof COMPLETELY. Have someone experienced help you. Then soak the hoof in a bucket of warm water that has dissolved Epsom salt in it. I suggest wrapping the hoof to prevent any worse infection. DO NOT RIDE! Keep as much pressure off the ankle as possible. Call a vet and the farrier again. Maybe a different farrier. Keep the horses stall clean and avoid mud or muck.

Soak the foot everyday in warm water and Epsom salt (low expense and can be found at a pharmacy or Wal-Marts). If it is an abcess you can pack the hoof with onions but only if you monitor the foot and soak it everyday!

Hoof/Leg problems can damage a horse severely.

I wish you the best of luck!!!

Answer 3

As everyone else said, call the Vet! In the meantime, clean out the hoof -- pick and hose -- while you wait for him to get there. It definitely sounds likes some sort of abcess/infection. The cool water on the ankle will help get the blood circulating and keep the swelling down. All of the answers were good, but I agree, going on line would not be my first response if i did not know what to do, I would call the Vet.

Answer 4

well sounds like an infection from lack of hoof care. Call your vet for an appointment and some antibiotics. Once seen by the vet, ask the vet for some numbers to a good Farrier ( hoof care professional) and set up regular visits to keep your horse healthy. Poor hoof care can result in that poor horse being disabled for the rest of its life.

Answer 5

Dont listen to these people about selling your horse and stuff. It might not even me a major thing. Clean the hoof, and wait a few days to see if the swelling goes down. If it does it could have just happened in the pasture or something. If it doesnt call the vet. Also if you board at a stable, ask someone to take a look at it, or if the farrier is doing someone elses horse have him look at yours. Good luck!

Answer 6

Unfortunately I can't see what you are talking about but my guess is he has a abscess in the bottom of his foot? Being that his ankle is starting to swell then its a good infection in there but if there is yucky stuff coming out of a hole somewhere in teh hoof and stinks real bad, that means the abscess is draining and thats good but if it stinks bad its a good infection. Call your vet to get antibotics to administer twice a day. Abscess arn't a big deal but when it starts to stock up the leg its advised to put on antibotics to clear it up quicker. Pack his foot with furacin and a diaper with vetwrap and duct tape, but be sure its not tight around the coronary band. I advise against soaking. Soaking just takes up your time. You can heal it just as quick without doing it

Answer 7

Get a farrier in right away, or better yet take him to the vet.

Sounds like thrush and a horrible infection. If you're lucky he's not ruined.

but first, clean out his hoof for cripes sake. Rinse his leg off well, and soak it in warm epsom salt water while you make the calls.

Answer 8

give the horse away if you don't even know to call a vet, or know enough to clean out the hoofs once in a while.
The horse may have an infection in the hoof caused by you not taking care of it.

Answer 9

clean hoof, wrap it call the vet ASAP and until u get to vet or vet comes tio u keep an eye on it. That sounds like a nasty infection!

Answer 10

I think you should call a vet and put ice on the ankle. But I think you should've been smart enough to call the vet instead of asking online