How to manage feet after surgery

[Retty]

Hello all,
Wonder if you guys can offer some advice. Max had surgery last week to one of his legs and will be coming home tommorrow (fingers crossed). Before his surgery they removed his shoes, he will have to be on box rest for about six weeks I think (will know more tommrorrow). My question is how to manage him without shoes for this time, he gets sore without shoes and his next shoeing was due for the end of this week so his feet are long. I dont think he will be able to have shoes until he comes off box rest as his back leg is in a cast, so not sure if farrier will be able to do anything? Has anyone had experience of this? I dont want his feet to get too long and start to crumble away and chunks fall away. Can anyone offer any advice? (Have left a message for my farrier to call me, but usually takes days to get back to me! So any advice in the interim would be fab).

[senjj]

He shouldn't get sore on box rest. What surface do you have him on?

[Pink's lady]

If he gets sore on box rest I would be worried there is something wrong with his feet!:eek:

The farrier should be able to trim his feet at least a little with his cast on . He'll need the toes rolled to stop chipping but that can be done with his feet extendded forwards a bit, just a couple of inches off the ground. Not easily, but doable.

You will also need to manage his feet a bit - they are very prone to thrush when standing on shavings everyday. Unless the vets told you he needed a deep soft bed (don't know why he would for a tendon injury) it would be really helpful if he has a clear bit of concrete at the front where he will stand a lot (so where his hay is).

[Retty]

He's on straw and has rubber matting @ the front of his stable. I am not expecting him to get too sore on box rest but he will be walked for short periods as he recovers before he's allowed out to pasture, sorry for the confusion on that one! I am more worried about trying to keep his hooves strong and in some sort of shape whilst he recovers. Hopefully as you have said the farrier might be able to trim him a little bit - I haven't heard back from him yet :rolleyes:

[senjj]

How about walking him in boots and pads?

[MelanieD]

A trim would be good but they aren't going to get too horrible just stood in a stable for a few weeks. They may chip but that shouldn't cause any more serious problems than looking a mess.

Preventing thrush would be a good plan since being stuck in and standing in bedding and ick between muck outs is the ideal time to get it. MSM cream crammed into every crevice it can lurk in is a good thing. Or diluted milton for a quick scrub is good as well.

He'll have some time on box rest to start getting used to the lack of shoes so might be fine for short walks out when he's ready for that. And if he doesn't cope with bare feet then hopefully by the time he's ready for walking out he'll at least be able to stand on three legs long enough to have hoof boots put on or something taped onto the feet even if he can't be shod yet.

[Retty]

Thanks for your replies. Max is home now, he has one leg in cast with wooden 'shoe' at his hoof, the other back leg has had a wooden 'shoe' taped on to make sure that he stands even at the back. His fronts are chipped. I spoke to the surgeon and Max is on complete box rest for two weeks, followed by trim with farrier (when cast and wooden 'shoes' can be removed), then box rest for 4 weeks with 2 x 10 mins walk each day, followed by 4 weeks paddock rest. After that I will arrange for his shoes to go back on provided he is sound and ready to start going back out to the field and gentle work. I will try and get some Milton or MSN, I was also thinking to get him some Keratex for when we start the short walks out to help harden up his feet.

[MelanieD]

He'd have to have some really horrible feet to not be able to cope with 2x10 mins a day, avoid stones and stick to surfaces he's comfortable on as much as possible and you'll probably be fine. A little break from shoes is actually good for the feet :)

[Retty]

Yes I was wondering if the break from shoes might actually be benefical to his feet ( he has to have shoes when ridden as we tried barefoot before and was not suitable for Max, joint decision between myself and farrier). He won't be ridden for quite some months yet though, so perhaps might be a nice chance for the nail holes to grow out etc.

[Tots N Dots]

if its a problem could you not invest in some hoof boots? if he needs a bit of extra padding you can cut mouse mats to fit inside them as cushioning :)

[Retty]

What a top tip about the mouse mats! I Have booked farrier for two weeks time when Max's cast comes off for a trim up :D

[Tots N Dots]

What a top tip about the mouse mats!

have to confess i got that from Yann :o heehee
but its a lot cheaper than buying the special pads :D

[Retty]

Well farrier has been, trimmed his feet and have to say his feet look the best they ever have! Nail holes gone from rears, front only very slight bits left at bottom. Now I am wondering if perhaps... just perhaps I might be able to keep him barefoot :) Only time will tell I guess.. previously he was too sore without shoes and hobbled about like an old man, although he is a bit sore he is improving every day. :D