Buena
SAFE Volunteer
No horse will ever teach you as much as your first horse.
Posts: 1,929
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Post by Buena on Apr 5, 2007 11:51:35 GMT -5
Sugardine (paste made form sugar and 14% iodine/betadine). Do not get it anywhere other than the sole though.
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Post by winterlakesfarm on Apr 9, 2007 15:03:03 GMT -5
JR has an appointment with a vet for a dental and check up on his feet tomorrow.......some jingles are in order......I have not seen a dramamtic improvement in his feet. I will be curious to see what Dr. Deward has to say.
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Post by schwung on Apr 9, 2007 15:25:40 GMT -5
Oh no! What do you mean Chelsea? In the way he is standing or in the thrush?
I did talk to Hannah this weekend, she said if the pus is gone and the sand paddock is dry he can go out in it without boots and go down to a single soaking a day, but if he's not doing better she might change her mind. Maybe wait and see what your vet says after tomorrow's visit.
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Post by winterlakesfarm on Apr 9, 2007 16:09:08 GMT -5
Well he is better.......but not as much as I would expect after a couple of weeks of twice daily soaking and treatments. The pus is gone. However he does still stand with his fetlocks cocked forward to relieve his heels. I think when I am picking them out the most bothersome to me is the cleft in the middle of his frogs......it is still very soft and I can push the tip of the Thrushbuster bottle easily into that slot. He has not been on wet ground at all and has been booted when out. I am thinking the boots are keeping his feet too damp? Honestly I do not know. I for sure will ask Dr. D tomorrow what his thoughts are and maybe he can call Dr. Hananh and compare notes..........
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Buena
SAFE Volunteer
No horse will ever teach you as much as your first horse.
Posts: 1,929
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Post by Buena on Apr 9, 2007 22:13:28 GMT -5
I think when I am picking them out the most bothersome to me is the cleft in the middle of his frogs......it is still very soft and I can push the tip of the Thrushbuster bottle easily into that slot. He has not been on wet ground at all and has been booted when out. I am thinking the boots are keeping his feet too damp? Honestly I do not know. I for sure will ask Dr. D tomorrow what his thoughts are and maybe he can call Dr. Hananh and compare notes.......... Yeah, that was what I was wondering. But keeping him booted might help in keeping out the sand. You might try using some cornstarch-based baby powder to help dry him out after his soaks. I used some on Ariel recently to help battle a case of scratches. It did do the trick, in association with some Nolvasan shampoo and creme. And actually the baby powder I used was the Johnson & Johnson medicated with Vitamin E and aloe vera. A cornstarch one would help because it really zaps the moisture and helps to get the dirt and sand (if there is any) dry and easy to remove with a light brushing.
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Post by schwung on Apr 10, 2007 23:45:59 GMT -5
An update from my chat today with Chelsea and Dr. Deward: JR got started on his shots today and was examined by the vet, but did not get his teeth done today, because he is still not standing well on his hind legs due to how sore his back feet still are, and Dr. Deward did not feel he should be sedated when he is not wanting to stand squarely. He had some recommendations for his feet, which are still have very rubbery soles and are very soft. We are going to stop booting him for now and keep him on the dry sand, keep up with the epsom salt/iodine soaks but also paint on some iodine on his soles to try and toughen and dry his feet out between soakings. Also, Dr. Deward recommend a new type of sole pack they have been using for tough foot problems of all types, which Chelsea is going to try on him. Dr. Deward examined his teeth and he does have some significant dental pathology going on including some severe periodontal disease on one side of his mouth, along with one tooth that probably will need to get pulled. However, he did say it can wait another few weeks until JR's feet are in better shape to stand the sedation. JR got his first set of shots and Dr. Deward will go back out in a few weeks to do the second set of shots and hopefully by then he will be standing better and he'll be able to address his teeth then. Chelsea, feel free to add if I have forgotten anything.
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Post by winterlakesfarm on Apr 11, 2007 11:35:21 GMT -5
Nope you got it covered! ;D He was a good boy as always for his exam and vaccines. I am frustrated by his feet, but they did not get that way overnight and they will not get better overnight either. I always try to live in the "now" with the rescues I take in and not dwell on their past, for my own mental health, but when I see this wonderful old boy with the light of life in his gentle eyes and such a sweet expression it makes me want to do bad things to his old owner's feet and make them walk around on them for the same length of time that poor old JR has!
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Post by cat67 on Apr 11, 2007 12:27:06 GMT -5
I sympathize with that desire...I'd help you. I also agree that they did not get that way overnight and they will not be fixed overnight. You're doing all the right things and I know he will get better. Hooves are like anything else, the quality will improve as the good nutrition starts to make an impact with his entire body.
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Post by cat67 on Apr 15, 2007 0:14:14 GMT -5
JR's nose today. Couldn't really get it out of the grass for a picture! He was busy mowing Chelsea's lawn. His feet are obviously still bothering him but I have to agree that I've seen a lot worse feet. It seems to me that his back ones are bothering him worse than the fronts but at his age, he probably also has his share of hock arthritis coming into play. He doesn't stand square in the back ever - he's always resting something/trying to take pressure off. He certainly does make a good lawnmower though...GREAT appetite and starting to shed that nasty coat now that he's eating well.
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Post by winterlakesfarm on Apr 15, 2007 12:41:38 GMT -5
Well, his fronts are far more sensitive to picking/cleaning than his rears and I do see him fully flexing his fetlocks occasionally now instead of always having them cocked forward to relieve his heels......Juliane was over Friday night and she feels there is significant improvement in his feet......it is just really hard to see this old sweetheart in discomfort. But I trust Juliane since she and Jamie saw him at his worst and she would know. It makes me feel a bit better......a bit. Sometimes I would give my left arm for a magic wand to help these guys
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Post by winterlakesfarm on Apr 15, 2007 20:11:53 GMT -5
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Post by schwung on Apr 15, 2007 21:32:29 GMT -5
Oh, thank you Lisa! So glad that worked out well and you got some help Chelsea! He really does look better. Ye, still scary thin but definately, definately getting better, and still has a lot of spark in his eye! I can't wait to see him all shed out as well.
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Post by cat67 on Apr 15, 2007 23:09:24 GMT -5
Oh, I know he enjoyed that! I was finger-currying his neck yesterday and it was just falling off of him. He's going to be a lot less itchy with all of that fur off. Is Lisa on the message board yet? How great to have a new volunteer!
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rhea
Junior BB Member
Posts: 59
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Post by rhea on Apr 16, 2007 21:21:50 GMT -5
Last fall Havana had at least 4 abcesses on 1 front foot. I was certain her hoof wall was going to detatch. It was terrible. I tried duck taping her hoof with a poultice but had more duck tape stuck on me then her. I borrowed my neighbors boot and soaked her 4-5 hours a day using betadine and epson salt water, switching between the 2 when I felt I needed to. I ended each soak with a 50/50 bleach water quick soak and would use a syringe to get the bleach right into the hole going through her frog. The bleach dried it up enough in between the soaking. She was also in SMZ's and 1/2 to 1 gram of bute as needed.
Her frog fell off, has grown back and now sound. It was very frightening. I honestly did think her hoof was going to detach. I think the bleach helped dry it out daily.
He sure has put on some weight from his first pics. I love his dark coloring coming through. Great job ladies!
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Post by trillium on Apr 16, 2007 21:36:32 GMT -5
I went back and looked at the first pictures you posted and you can see alot of improvement in JR, especially at the top of his hips. He is still awfully skinny but you can definately see the difference when comparing the pictures. Gaining weight back is a slow process so you don't overload them. He is coming along wonderfully. Good job.
I also see his dark bay color coming through the winter hair that is falling out. He has a sparkle in his eye too.
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