Use the navigation bar above to access articles and more discussions on this topic.
| Author |
Message |
    
katrina
Member
Username: kthorse
Post Number: 914
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 7, 2007 - 5:38 pm: |   |
Dr O, I made a mixture of candle wax and oil to put on my horses feet to stop the excess moisture. Before I put this on would it be ok or should I use bees wax with the oil instead. The mixture came out great but I didnt know if candle wax would be harmful.
Thanks |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 18995
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Friday, Aug 10, 2007 - 1:17 pm: | |
I don't know either katrina, it seems unlikely to be harmful but I just don't really know.
DrO |
katrina
Member
Username: kthorse
Post Number: 915
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, Aug 10, 2007 - 8:26 pm: | |
Thanks Dr O, I used it on myself with no reaction then I tried it on his feet. Its the best thing I have ever used to keep the moisture out. Next batch is with bees wax to be on the safe side. Thanks for your reply
Katrina |
Shelley
Member
Username: sswiley
Post Number: 385
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, Mar 6, 2008 - 9:08 pm: | |
I was wondering what kind of oil to use with this mixture.
We are trying to help my daughters pony's feet. This is the pony under "Abcess for over 2 months". We ended up having a complete hood resection done to clear the infection. This pony has the WORST feet I have ever seen. Now this spring as we were re-shoeing her, everyone was quite horrified as her wall just crumbled as my farrier applied the nippers. She is on hoof supplements (platinum hoof), I am changing the brand in case the quality is not what it should be. It seems that the old holes for the nails allow too much moisture and dirt. This is all it takes to completely disinigrate the wall in the area of the nails.
What I am going to try next is to seal the old nail holes as best as I can. I am thinking either wood filler or some kind of wax/oil mixture. I know this will need to be reapplied and there is nothing to completely seal the holes, I am just trying to minimize the damage. I like the idea of a wax/oil mixture because I can add some kind of antiseptic ingredient. Also, I think it will last longer because it will not be ridgid.
My farrier heat sets the shoes so the bottom of the nail hole gets sealed up fairly well.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. |
Tonya
Member
Username: pbauer
Post Number: 417
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, Mar 7, 2008 - 8:42 pm: | |
Dear Shelly,
I'm not sure, but "wood filler" might be a viable option...DrO?
This information is part of: 10 Handy Horsekeeping Ideas~
Chunks of missing hoof wall or deep cracks in your horse's foot will only get deeper and larger while you wait for your horse's next regularly-scheduled farrier visit. Dirt, arena sand and other debris erode away at the edges of the defect, and your daily cleaning of the area will only make the hole bigger. Use the edge of your shoeing rasp to make a horizontal notch in the hoof wall above the crack to stop it from going further up the wall. Thoroughly clean all of the dirt out of the defect using an old toothbrush. When the area is dry, fill it in with "wood filler" purchased at your local hardware store. It will be in a small can and consists of ground-up wood/plastic mixed with glue. Press the wood filler in firmly and let it dry thoroughly before your horse goes outdoors or back in his stall. Dry time is 30 to 45 minutes depending on how big the patch is, so give your friend a good grooming on the cross-ties while the patch "sets up."
The following link is for the other nine 
http://www.petplace.com/horses/10-handy-horsekeeping-ideas/page1.aspx
Take Care,
Tonya |
Shelley
Member
Username: sswiley
Post Number: 387
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, Mar 8, 2008 - 12:10 am: | |
Yeah, I thought the wood filler was a good idea too, I am just thinking that it will crack and fall out eventually because it is so brittle and the hoof will move. This, of course, is fine if I catch the hole and refill it before it fills with gunk.
Good web site, there are so many good sources on the internet these days.
thanks |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 20214
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Saturday, Mar 8, 2008 - 9:49 am: | |
I have not tried wood filler for this purpose and personal experience with "real wood" suggests it would be too fragile for repairing "chunks" of missing hoof wall. Maybe small cosmetic cracks... I also disagree with their thoughts about keeping defects clean being a major chore that only worsens the hoof. If fact I feel just the opposite covering them over with such superficial preparation is likely to cause more harm.
Such patches, when they do hold, are prone to horn infections that set up a abscess once they eat down to sensitive tissue so you must take care to properly prepare the covered surfaces.
DrO |
Shelley
Member
Username: sswiley
Post Number: 388
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, Mar 8, 2008 - 10:36 am: | |
I hope I am not hurting her feet more. What I was considering was to fill the old nail holes with something to keep them from filling with dirt. I figure since they will fill with dirt and manure eventually, it would not hurt to fill them with something clean first.
My farrier thought hoof packing might work to stuff down the nail holes because they have an antiseptic. |
Tonya
Member
Username: pbauer
Post Number: 418
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, Mar 8, 2008 - 1:44 pm: | |
Dear DrO. and Shelly
Thank You! Shelley, it sounds like your farrier has come up with a good idea.
Make it a great day!
Tonya |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 20227
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Monday, Mar 10, 2008 - 7:14 am: | |
The problem is they are never really "clean" Shelly and the sealing creates an anaerobic environment that promotes some of the horn digesting bacteria. Packing with antiseptics would prevent this but why are you having such a problem with nail holes? Are the nails being set high in the wall so they persist beyond a single shoeing cycle? Maybe a image of the problem would help.
DrO |
Shelley
Member
Username: sswiley
Post Number: 389
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Monday, Mar 10, 2008 - 10:27 am: | |
I think you hit the "nail on the head" Dr O.
My farrier does put the nails in high. I have always considered this a good thing because if they do pull a shoe the nails come out clean and dont tear away the wall. We were talking about using clips next time so we don't put so much stress on the nail holes. I will suggest to him putting the nails in lower.
He did comment on wanting the holes to breath. but to be honest I am not sure how much breathing they will do packed with dirt.
Part of the problem is that her hoof grows soooo slow. Last time we left the shoes on 9 weeks just to have something to trim off.
Unfortunately I already put the nail filler in, I did however pour iodine in the holes first. Do you think I should try to pop the filler out? Now I am going to worry about this. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 20237
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008 - 7:16 am: | |
I don't know Shelly, probably not unless it can be done without digging around in the wall.
DrO |
