posted by Horse Owner Today |
December 3, 2011 09:11
Q: Our big mare, has been lame for 2 days. Had the farrier out this morning and apparently a deep abscess blew and her a toe is now cracked. He cleaned it out and wants us to soak it in Epsom Salts and Iodine twice a day for three days. This is NOT an easy mare to get to stand still for treatment. Would love suggestions how to keep her still.
A: If your mare won't stand still for soaking, make a poultice paste of epsom salts and a little betadine solution . Use some gauze to wrap it in to make a little pack. Use gloves if you don't want yellow/brown fingers. Apply to area of crack/hole and wrap in place with vetrap over whole foot including up over heels. You can leave this on all day then rinse out with a quick swish in a pail and redo for the night. In summer I reinforce with duct tape but is slippery in winter.
If you prefer to use the soaking technique you may have to spend more time repeatedly replacing her foot until it bores her and she gives up or apply a twitch and/or use a chain until she learns to stand even if she would rather not. I don't like the feeding her grain to distract her technique as horses get even more irritated and fidgety when you are working on them when they are eating and it distracts from the work of training your horse to comply with nursing care.
Dr. Lisa Wayman
CPVS