Vet or Farrier

[apps4me]

When there is lameness that appears to originate in the hoof, do you call the vet or the farrier first?

[cameo05]

Me, it would be the vet.

[Ferronsgranny]

Last year when JC was off, I had both come out. The vet showed up first and about 5 minutes later the farrier showed up. It ended up being an abcess.

[Horses&Soccer]

I'd call the vet first, then get the farriers opinion too.

[apps4me]

In this case I did call the vet first and am leaning towards a new farrier. My sister's horse, Lexy, wears shoes in the summer because her hoof wears faster than it grows and she ends up walking on tender little stubs even though she wears Easy Boots on trail rides. Three weeks after the shoes were put on, the shoe had slid forward and the nails were standing up from the hoof. I tapped the shoe back into position, clinched the nails, and tapped the clips into contact with the hoof. This lasted another 2 weeks and her hoof started to grow beyond the back of the shoe, so I pulled the shoes and the next two days, I put the Easyboots on her during turnout. On the second day, Friday, I noticed some puffiness in the left front leg - no pain or heat. Saturday morning, the farrier came.When he picked Lexy's right front leg up, she didn't want to bear weight on the left front - tried to take most of the weight on the back legs. I thought she was tender on the gravel and suggested he start with the left front and get the shoe between the hoof and gravel. Lexy was fine while farrier worked on that one, but it didn't ease her pain and she kept pulling the right front and left hind away - she was fine on the right hind because she didn't have to bear as much weight on the left front. In the end, she ended up with a very high nail in the right front, and bleeding from the sole of her left hind. She could barely hobble back to her stall. Lexy has been on bute ever since and I am waiting for the vet office to call back with an appointment. She seemed to be getting better at first so I didn't call the vet at first but it has now been just over a week and she got worse again on sunday.
Sorry this is so long, butI wanted to give good info and also vent a little. I appreciate any comments/opinions.

[lbequ4002]

Good farriers are hard to find. I'd keep looking. I'm going through the same thing with mine. I'd call your vet if he can't see her right away and ask if she needs to be on antibiotics.

[apps4me]

Vet came Wed. Lexy had an abcess in her left front. Thankfully a straight forward fix. She pulled both shoes and also agreed that I should find a new farrier. I had already decided this because the last 3 times the farrier was out, the quality of his work had gone downhill, and the work was only adequate to start with.

[XtendedTrot]

I call the farrier first....to avoid the trip charge of the vet. Usually it's a simple abcess or bruise. If the farrier rules out the norm than call up the vet RIGHT after the farrier leaves. Afterall if XRays are needed the vet would be the person to call.

[CatsTack]

Wowsers! Sounds like you made a good call!

I've noticed that same farrier will do great work on one string of horseys, but on another will do terrible work. I'm not sure why, or even if he/she realizes it.

It sounds like you're guy has gotten a bit lazy.

I also got a question for ya. I'm a barefoot trimmer and have yet to come a cross a horsey that wears their feet too much. How much do y'all ride? And if y'all don't ride a bunch, I wonder y your horsey ain't growin' the feet.

I'm really interested in this and ain't on here much. Could you please email me to let me know? My email is info@catstack.com. I'd love pictures of them feet too!

In the meantime, good luck

[dreamcleaner]

Farrier. I have had vet's themselves tell me, best sometimes to ask the farrier. The farrier has way more experience than a vet does with feet. (if you have a good farrier)

Plus, someone did mention the cost. If my farrier can diagnose an absess for $25 or bruising, why would I pay $100 for the same advice?

Case in point, which is weird, I was just talking to Mike about this before reading this post.

John, (trainer, farrier and instructor) told me on his last visit about how he was treating a horse for WLD. Said it wasn't bad. Both him and the vet were there. Was able to cut it away, he charged $25 for the trim. The vet charged $225 for watching him. He will be keeping an eye on it, and said, for that kind of cost, he won't encourage a vet to be involved.

[apps4me]

Surprise, the vet needed to come out again on sat. for an abcess in the rt front right where the nail went to high when the farrier put the shoes on. Poor Lex was so sore on fri. that I couldn't treat the first abscess. the second abscess is very sore when I clean it and it started to bleed (not pus) when I cleaned it.

[apps4me]

I feel like I should give you guys a little history on Lexy so you can appreciate how well she is handling all this. My sister bought her from a horse trader. She was "12" years old as all horses are when the goal is to make a quick buck. Her incisers were level with the gum because she cribs. She was a nice ride and gave my sister the good feeling of rescuing her from the killers (she was in the back of the barn).
She turned out to be very defensive of her feet, stall, and udders, she set back when tied, was very aggressive with other horses, very difficult to catch, and couldn't stand to be brushed with anything other than the finishing brush. She is also smarter than most other horses I have dealt with.
The only issue I haven't been able correct is the cribbing and that is reduced.
She is now ridden, led, groomed, and loved by my 7 yr old daughyter who has ADHD.
I have been so impressed by Lexy's behavior through all this, strangers handling her feet when they hurt, shots, I wrap her feet sometimes with only her fly mask to hold her with. I am so proud of her.

[ohiobred]

both.