When Vet and farrier opinions conflict

iris_surreal_euphoria · 04-11-2008, 06:07 PM

As you all know we are dealing with a foot problem, here is the thread..Great, just great! Advice please needed until the vet gets here!

BTW, he is doing a world better, all swelling, heat is gone. He is bearing wieght and it's hard to notice a limp now. He's totally eating up the attention and even got a bath yesterday.

Anyway, my vet's opinion was that the hoof was malformed due to it growing out wrong. He suggested I take off a milimeter or so every week to get it growing right, and trim as normal. (6-8 weeks) He said it was no absess, that the crack may have been an old injury. If it was something blowing out it would have typically been vertical rather then a horizontal crack. He evened the hoof up the best he could.

I had the farrier out yesterday who said the vet didn't do a good job. He re-trimmed it and it did look more normal afterward. He said he was limping due to a gravel blowing out. He suggested to trim every 3 weeks.

Here are my thoughts... I trust my vet's opinion on everything. He went to med school for it HOWEVER my farrier sees hooves by the hundreds.

How would you approach it? Reguardless of who is right or wrong the point is clear... Paco's hooves were neglected. His owners are understanding that now.

But what do you do when opinions conflict like this? How often would you trim? I mean, I'm sure they both know what they are talking about.

kanoo32 · 04-11-2008, 07:13 PM

I am in the horse business full time. While I respect all of my veterinarians and my farrier, I learned a valuable lesson from my Grandfather who told me "You don't buy fish in a steakhouse". So, with that said, trust your instinct and common sense and go with who you think is right.

BTW.........an abcess does blow out the coronet band and leave a horizontal, not vertical crack.

dreamcleaner · 04-12-2008, 06:08 AM

What I've been told. "Farrier". Even a vet said that to me once.

What I experienced: Listened to vet, kept my poor Lizzy uncomfortable for two years. Next owner listened to farrier. Hasn't been lame a day in two years.

I even had vet and farrier meet and listened to them argue.

Can you have them both at the same time?

Lady_MCSE · 04-12-2008, 07:45 AM

Having a horse with ringbone, I've heard vets conflict with vets and vets conflict with farriers, and HT advice conflict with all those . . . and with three trainers and two vets all telling me my saddle fit when it didn't . . . I lost a lot of "faith" in listening to what others say and am finally relying a lot more on my own common sense with my own horse.

If I read the situation correctly from your thread, this animal probably isn't going to get farrier visits every 3 weeks anyway unless you are the one to pay for them, so isn't your decision pretty simple? You're doing what you can, and probably doing way more than you should. Doing your best with the rasping sounds like the right thing to me.

Then again, that's just an opinion.

iris_surreal_euphoria · 04-12-2008, 11:52 AM

You guys are right... I know I need to listen to my own common sense. If he were mine, I would trim every 3 weeks.

Don't get me wrong I trust my vet completley. I call him at the slight sniffle and he explains everything to me. He really does care about animals and doesn't just do it for money.

BUT, in this case I understand that my vet looks at all kinds of animals and not just thier feet. My farrier looks at feet.

My gut tells me 3 weeks is the best thing to do. Even if I can't convince his owners it is. I think that is what he needs done and I am going to everything I can to see to it he gets that done. Things will be easier this summer when I'm on break from college and get a job as a nurse aid. (going to school for nursing)

WalkNJake · 04-12-2008, 02:22 PM

In an ideal world, the farrier and vet would confer, compare notes and experience, and come up with a care plan that suits the horse best. Both are probably right from their professional perspectives, but one solution may take longer/cost more than the other...

In my experience, I've done what the farrier recommends, as hooves are his job. Our vet even said to do what the farrier recommends.

Range · 04-12-2008, 07:51 PM

Biased here, but a vet only gets 10 weeks of horse feet...A farrier deals with more feet in a day then most vets see in a week.

I'd go with the farrier, especially knowing that an abcess can sure enough leave a horizontal crack.

GreyDot · 04-12-2008, 09:02 PM

If possible, get the vet and farrier in the same place, get them to discuss it. You shouldn't have to choose between opinions - they're the professionals, the ones paid to do the best thing, let THEM hash it out and come to a conclusion! Alternatively, get a second opinion either from another vet, or (cheaper) another farrier.

RealFolkBlue · 04-12-2008, 09:50 PM

We had this problem with Delilah when she foundered from PHF last year. The vet wanted to do one thing and the farrier wanted to do the something similar to what the vet wanted, but in his own way. They even talked to each other and discussed what should be the treatment for this mare.

We did our research and even asked a couple of other farriers on their opinions. The all said something similar to what our farrier wanted to do. We went by our gut feelings and went with the farrier's treatment.

He knew her feet more then the vet because he saw her feet every 6-8 weeks for over 2 years. What he told us made sense too. Plus has been in the farrier business for decades.

Hopefully that little guy of yours will continue to get better.

iris_surreal_euphoria · 04-12-2008, 11:40 PM

I don't think getting them together would work out too well. It's my understanding my farrier does "procedures" the vet defines as practicing vetrinarian medicine without a licsense. I agree... but what he's NOT doing to my horses isn't for me to judge. I could only imagine how it would go down.

My vet has a sense of humor about it and if he discovers someone off the street has totally made a blunder of lets say, a gelding procedure... He charges them double... as an ignorance fee.

My farrier is great with feet, shows up when he says he will so I'm not complaining... what he does outside that isn't my business. I just can't imagine how a meeting would go down. Someone might get gelded...and it won't be an equine.

Slim Pikkens · 04-13-2008, 08:31 AM

I think it also depends on the training of each. There are general vets and there are those who specialized in horses. What are the farriers qualifications. Just because he's done hundreds of horses doesn't mean he went to school for several years and served a lengthy apprenticeship.

dodib · 04-18-2008, 02:30 PM

Yeah at my vet office--there is one vet that specializes in lameness issues(one reporduction, one is a surgeon )so has taken a lot more training/schooling in feet and their issues...
BUT when my mare was having her issues the farrier went to the vet clinic and looked at the xrays of her feet with the vet--this was the vets request..... then came out and did what he thought woudl work for her. and it was a hit and miss deal but she is sound now. Just took some time to figure out what woudl work for her

DriftwoodAcres · 04-18-2008, 09:09 PM

I would go with ferrier, just from personal expirence

Bandit · 04-20-2008, 05:43 PM

My vet told me once that vets only have a couple days worth of training on the hoof in vet school (much more time is actually spent on the cows hoof and other split-hoofed animals than on the horse) while a GOOD, well-trained farrier spends weeks and months learning the hoof. My vet will consult with a journeyman farrier when he comes across unusual hoof issues.

However, I would not trust any farrier, but a good one with a good education and experience in his background. There are some out there that are very questionable.

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04-11-2008, 06:07 PM
iris_surreal_euphoria Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset, Kentucky Posts: 1,117	When Vet and farrier opinions conflict As you all know we are dealing with a foot problem, here is the thread..Great, just great! Advice please needed until the vet gets here! BTW, he is doing a world better, all swelling, heat is gone. He is bearing wieght and it's hard to notice a limp now. He's totally eating up the attention and even got a bath yesterday. Anyway, my vet's opinion was that the hoof was malformed due to it growing out wrong. He suggested I take off a milimeter or so every week to get it growing right, and trim as normal. (6-8 weeks) He said it was no absess, that the crack may have been an old injury. If it was something blowing out it would have typically been vertical rather then a horizontal crack. He evened the hoof up the best he could. I had the farrier out yesterday who said the vet didn't do a good job. He re-trimmed it and it did look more normal afterward. He said he was limping due to a gravel blowing out. He suggested to trim every 3 weeks. Here are my thoughts... I trust my vet's opinion on everything. He went to med school for it HOWEVER my farrier sees hooves by the hundreds. How would you approach it? Reguardless of who is right or wrong the point is clear... Paco's hooves were neglected. His owners are understanding that now. But what do you do when opinions conflict like this? How often would you trim? I mean, I'm sure they both know what they are talking about. __________________ If wishes were horses this room would need a good mucking! Visit our website: http://www.freewebs.com/lazziassacres/

04-11-2008, 07:13 PM
kanoo32 Seasoned Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 4,501	I am in the horse business full time. While I respect all of my veterinarians and my farrier, I learned a valuable lesson from my Grandfather who told me "You don't buy fish in a steakhouse". So, with that said, trust your instinct and common sense and go with who you think is right. BTW.........an abcess does blow out the coronet band and leave a horizontal, not vertical crack.

04-12-2008, 06:08 AM
dreamcleaner Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ontario Posts: 2,452	What I've been told. "Farrier". Even a vet said that to me once. What I experienced: Listened to vet, kept my poor Lizzy uncomfortable for two years. Next owner listened to farrier. Hasn't been lame a day in two years. I even had vet and farrier meet and listened to them argue. Can you have them both at the same time?

04-12-2008, 07:45 AM
Lady_MCSE Seasoned Join Date: May 2005 Location: Shytown, IL Posts: 4,518	Having a horse with ringbone, I've heard vets conflict with vets and vets conflict with farriers, and HT advice conflict with all those . . . and with three trainers and two vets all telling me my saddle fit when it didn't . . . I lost a lot of "faith" in listening to what others say and am finally relying a lot more on my own common sense with my own horse. If I read the situation correctly from your thread, this animal probably isn't going to get farrier visits every 3 weeks anyway unless you are the one to pay for them, so isn't your decision pretty simple? You're doing what you can, and probably doing way more than you should. Doing your best with the rasping sounds like the right thing to me. Then again, that's just an opinion. __________________ "A pun is its own reword." — Dance Drier, British comedian

04-12-2008, 11:52 AM
iris_surreal_euphoria Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset, Kentucky Posts: 1,117	You guys are right... I know I need to listen to my own common sense. If he were mine, I would trim every 3 weeks. Don't get me wrong I trust my vet completley. I call him at the slight sniffle and he explains everything to me. He really does care about animals and doesn't just do it for money. BUT, in this case I understand that my vet looks at all kinds of animals and not just thier feet. My farrier looks at feet. My gut tells me 3 weeks is the best thing to do. Even if I can't convince his owners it is. I think that is what he needs done and I am going to everything I can to see to it he gets that done. Things will be easier this summer when I'm on break from college and get a job as a nurse aid. (going to school for nursing) __________________ If wishes were horses this room would need a good mucking! Visit our website: http://www.freewebs.com/lazziassacres/

04-12-2008, 02:22 PM
WalkNJake Newborn Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Brussels, MO Posts: 45	In an ideal world, the farrier and vet would confer, compare notes and experience, and come up with a care plan that suits the horse best. Both are probably right from their professional perspectives, but one solution may take longer/cost more than the other... In my experience, I've done what the farrier recommends, as hooves are his job. Our vet even said to do what the farrier recommends. __________________ The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man...Churchill

04-12-2008, 07:51 PM
Range Kid Safe Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 6,738	Biased here, but a vet only gets 10 weeks of horse feet...A farrier deals with more feet in a day then most vets see in a week. I'd go with the farrier, especially knowing that an abcess can sure enough leave a horizontal crack. __________________ "Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it all... you just might get it all, and then some you don't want." Chris Daughtery

04-12-2008, 09:02 PM
GreyDot Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hamilton, OH Posts: 2,433	If possible, get the vet and farrier in the same place, get them to discuss it. You shouldn't have to choose between opinions - they're the professionals, the ones paid to do the best thing, let THEM hash it out and come to a conclusion! Alternatively, get a second opinion either from another vet, or (cheaper) another farrier. __________________ Dot, March 30, 1983 - August 29, 2009. A kind eye, a brave heart, a gentle soul, a wise spirit. I will always miss you, Sweet Boy.

04-12-2008, 09:50 PM
RealFolkBlue Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 888	We had this problem with Delilah when she foundered from PHF last year. The vet wanted to do one thing and the farrier wanted to do the something similar to what the vet wanted, but in his own way. They even talked to each other and discussed what should be the treatment for this mare. We did our research and even asked a couple of other farriers on their opinions. The all said something similar to what our farrier wanted to do. We went by our gut feelings and went with the farrier's treatment. He knew her feet more then the vet because he saw her feet every 6-8 weeks for over 2 years. What he told us made sense too. Plus has been in the farrier business for decades. Hopefully that little guy of yours will continue to get better. __________________ Owned by 3 spoiled horses

04-12-2008, 11:40 PM
iris_surreal_euphoria Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset, Kentucky Posts: 1,117	I don't think getting them together would work out too well. It's my understanding my farrier does "procedures" the vet defines as practicing vetrinarian medicine without a licsense. I agree... but what he's NOT doing to my horses isn't for me to judge. I could only imagine how it would go down. My vet has a sense of humor about it and if he discovers someone off the street has totally made a blunder of lets say, a gelding procedure... He charges them double... as an ignorance fee. My farrier is great with feet, shows up when he says he will so I'm not complaining... what he does outside that isn't my business. I just can't imagine how a meeting would go down. Someone might get gelded...and it won't be an equine. __________________ If wishes were horses this room would need a good mucking! Visit our website: http://www.freewebs.com/lazziassacres/

04-13-2008, 08:31 AM
Slim Pikkens Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,046	I think it also depends on the training of each. There are general vets and there are those who specialized in horses. What are the farriers qualifications. Just because he's done hundreds of horses doesn't mean he went to school for several years and served a lengthy apprenticeship.

04-18-2008, 02:30 PM
dodib Greenbroke Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ravenna, MI Posts: 3,186	Yeah at my vet office--there is one vet that specializes in lameness issues(one reporduction, one is a surgeon )so has taken a lot more training/schooling in feet and their issues... BUT when my mare was having her issues the farrier went to the vet clinic and looked at the xrays of her feet with the vet--this was the vets request..... then came out and did what he thought woudl work for her. and it was a hit and miss deal but she is sound now. Just took some time to figure out what woudl work for her __________________ Dorthy www.freewebs.com/brownranch/

04-18-2008, 09:09 PM
DriftwoodAcres Yearling Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 734	I would go with ferrier, just from personal expirence __________________ I've seen my horse a million times. And yet, everytime I see her, she still takes my breath away.

04-20-2008, 05:43 PM
Bandit Coming two Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 1,967	My vet told me once that vets only have a couple days worth of training on the hoof in vet school (much more time is actually spent on the cows hoof and other split-hoofed animals than on the horse) while a GOOD, well-trained farrier spends weeks and months learning the hoof. My vet will consult with a journeyman farrier when he comes across unusual hoof issues. However, I would not trust any farrier, but a good one with a good education and experience in his background. There are some out there that are very questionable. __________________