With all the recent wet weather many horses are struggling with soft, crumbling hooves, cracks and soft soles which can lead to white line disease and abscesses.
With all the recent wet weather many horses are struggling with soft, crumbling hooves, cracks and soft soles which can lead to white line disease and abscesses.
Once the hoof is soft, separation and cracking can occur on the wall and within these cracks, bacteria and fungi have the opportunity to infiltrate and destroy the hoof wall tissue.
This is known as white line disease or seedy toe.
Most abscesses start with bacteria gaining entry to interior hoof structures through the junction between the sole and the hoof wall.
The dry/wet weather conditions can weakens the integrity of the hoof wall and/or sole and make it easier for bacteria to invade and result in abscesses.
In very dry conditions the hoof dries out and this can cause tiny cracks and fissures in the sole-wall junction.
When the weather becomes wet these fissures and cracks fill with mud, allowing opportunistic bacteria to invade the hoof and cause an abscess.
Muddy ground can also soften feet making the sole more susceptible to a penetrating wound from rocks, nails or glass.
Soft soles are easily bruised which, although not penetrated, may abcess from bacteria circulating in the bloodstream which find the area of hemorrhage from the bruise perfect for reproduction.
Pictures of one of our customers horse who was highly susceptible to abscesses.
Many of our customers have found success with The Aussie Farrier Hoof Growth Formula.
This pelleted supplement can help to create a strong, elastic hoof capsule and thicken the soles - and because it is pelleted you can see they have eaten it!
Copyright 2023 Aussie Farrier Pty Limited ABN 80 609 364 383