Not Just Horsing Around

laminitis sole abscess
If I have learned anything in my few decades of horse owning, it should be to trust my own instincts.

My 28 year old Tennessee Walking Horse gelding came down the hill to eat and he was lame lame lame yesterday.

He's arthritic, but never this sore. So I hose him off, pick his feet. I notice some warmness in both front feet. Since I am always a worry wart, I assume laminitis. Don't know how he got it, but i have been splitting two loads of hay, one more alfalfa than i prefer so i split the feed amount between the alfalfa and some grass hay from a new hay vendor. now i have fed fresh hay before without problem but this grass was too grassy weedy leafy and new. but the hay guy seemed to think it was okay since he dried it in the field quite well.

Not so said the vet.

It should be cured, aged, whatever you want to call it for at least 30 days. Take note. My instinct of not liking the hay was correct, so I should have followed it.

However; Oscar had a sole abscess. Now I saw nothing in his hoof when i picked it, but when the vet carved into it, he found a hole in the sole, and it did the sole abscess ooze. Yuck. But, and this but is bigger than my own; BUT I am glad, and maybe he's so sore from a sole abscess which i can treat easier with medicated wraps, soaks, and pain killer. Laminitis scares me. And I am always so careful about things that cause it. Too rich hay (hence dislike of pure alfalfa,) too much lush grass, too much high powered concentrates, no hard riding on hard pavement, etc, etc.

So wish us luck. My old 'been there done that' Oscar should be fine in 5 to 7 days!

Happy Trails
Diana
Posted by Diana LMB at 5:03 PM