My local vet, Dr. Williams, was here yesterday to pull blood for Coggins, Insulin and routine panels on most of the horses and to also discuss what is going on with Mary's feet. Since she has been here, Mary has had this gunk in her central frog sulcus--they are open and deep. She has very sensitive tissue and will sometimes bleed in that area.
I have tried no less than a dozen remedies for thrush and fungus, with no success. Each morning, I take a cotton round, gently floss the sulcus with a hoof pick to clean out the gunk, apply whatever remedy I am trying that day, and then put on her fly boots. The flies are attracted to that area and given that she is very sensitive skinned, the boots keep her comfortable and from stomping.
Dr. Williams gently cleaned and inspected her feet and took a couple of swab samples to be sent to the lab so we can hopefully understand what exactly we are dealing with and then take appropriate action to clear it up. He knows I prefer natural methods if at all possible, and that I was concerned with using any caustic substances and did not want to damage any live, healthy tissue. So we will be anxiously awaiting the test results!
Mary, age 26, Standardbred, retired carriage horse.
Cindy Daigre is the founder and director of Ferrell Hollow Farm, an Equine Retirement facility in Middle Tennessee focusing on the unique concerns of Senior and Special Needs horses. In addition, she provides Equine Nutritional Consultations, has developed a specialized line of Natural Horse & Body Care Products, Herbal Blends and Seed Mixes for Horses, and has written several articles for Natural Horse Magazine. For more information, visit her website at www.ferrellhollowfarm.net or email her at cindy@ferrellhollowfarm.com.
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