!cracked frogs!

[kirstie]

i was picking out amba's feet on tuesday and the back ones were terrible :( she normally gets thrush a few times a year but now she got to be quite big cracks down her frog shes hasn't got an shoes on at all but will be getting a full set today (hopfully:) ) but i was wondering what to put on over the last couple of days i have been picking the out carefully, scrubing the sides and spraying purple spray on the crack. So i wondering is there anything else that works for cracked heels apart from what i have said????? and can i still ride????? on the pavement, grass i wouldn't be riding her in the sand arena

any information much appreciated i desperatley want this sorted :( :cool:

[PinkGlamourGurl]

stockholm tar is quite good, i get the aerosol kind its easier;) you should still be able to ride just keep her feet sparkly clean! lol Natxxx

[becs]

We use Hoof'n'Sole (purple liquid = zinc sulphate) applied with pastry brushes, for thrush.

If their frogs are ragged with loose, dead bits hanging half off, the farrier (who trims them) suggested cutting them off with a stanley knife - never tried this though.

[Jessey]

For cracked heels and frogs I normally just use udder balm (you can get it from most tack places round here) just slap it on to keep the frog moist and prevent cracks. Frogs do split if they get too long, you end up with flappy bits (technical explaination that ;) ) which the farrier will just trim off when he trims/shoes.

J x

[kirstie]

that would explain it then amba hasn't been shoed for quite a while so that might be a possible cause thanks for your ideas btw :)

[Shadowlark]

Keep in mind it's natural and healthy for frogs to shed.. is it a crack or just it shedding? Splash is a barefoot horse and is shedding his frogs right now :) I just cut the extra stuff away carefully and new healthy frog is underneath.

[kirstie]

i thought about the shedding and one of her back hooves is shredding but both of them have big slits down them there not really deep just slightly but after looking for an example i noticed that some of the pictures of hooves also had cracks down them so i'm not sure now:o :confused:
but here's an example anyway: (the pink shows were the crack is)
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c127/crimdon/College/froggy.jpg

[Shadowlark]

it SOUNDS like shedding/ preparing to shed but with your farrier out this soon I really wouldn't worry about it :) I do second the Bag balm tho if you are worried about it it's cheap plentiful effective.. you get the idea ;) Splash is shedding as his foot is reforming and he is losing the last of his "flat footedness" at first it kinda freaked me out as it looked horrendous - not just simple shedding, but now I can see the newly formed frog under, which is higher looking and tougher looking.. I am excited to take him up in the mountains on his new improved feet :)

[Pink's lady]

Um, I think they're the frog cleft, which is meant to be there. Some horses have very shallow cleft, others very deep. They are prone to getting thrush in them if they're very deep and narrow

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v715/Pinkslady/Editted%20photos%20etc/Pinksfrontfootsoleshot.jpg

Pink has very wide frog (good feet and barefoot) and the clefts are very wide and fairly deep. She therefore is unlikely to get thrush. Her back feet's frog cleft is narrower and shallower.

[clipclop]

I use Effol because it also contains an antibactirial agent in it to prevent any infections.

[vickie]

i've always used diluted hydrogen peroxide syringed into the feet for thrush etc. it works quickly and is cheap. i think alot of people in this area must use it becasue the chemist always knows what its for, although the jods and dirty boots must be a clue :p

[kirstie]

well after the farrier came on thursday i had areally good look at her back hooves again and one was fine but the other looked a little better, i asked my RI yesterday to have a look and she said some horses do get what amba's got (its starting to peel away and underneath there is a gap) she said to just watch out because it can be a bit pussy and could get infected, i'll try and get a pictyre of it tomorrow for you guys because i dont think i'm explaining it very well :o , clipclop i use effol at the moment but i'm putting purple spray on the back hoove as well, vickie thanks for telling me about the hydrogen peroxide will have a look in the chemist's. By riding instructor used to use this other speical treatment which is suppose to be for cows but works really well with horses hooves but can be quite expensive and i think you need to get it from the farrier as well. :)