Is there any tender skin around the heel and pastern of your horse?
Is there any inflammation or swelling of the area right above the hoof and below the fetlock?
Is there any presence of red, raw skin on the back of the pastern, with serum or scabs depending on the stage of the condition?
Is there any cracking of the skin?
Does your horse exhibits lameness?
Your horse doesn't show any sign of having cracked heels. Keep your horse’s legs clean and dry as best as you can. During periods of excessive wetness, such as the spring, daily cleaning of the horse’s feet and lower legs will help prevent this condition.
Your horse shows one common sign of having cracked heels. Experienced horse owners can often diagnose this condition themselves, however, sometimes a veterinarian is needed to properly treat the condition. Horses that spend a great deal of time in wet, dirty environments may develop this condition. Keep your horse’s legs clean and dry as best as you can. During periods of excessive wetness, such as the spring, daily cleaning of the horse’s feet and lower legs will help prevent this condition.
Your horse shows several common signs of having cracked heels. Horses that spend a great deal of time in wet, dirty environments may develop this condition. Keeping the lower legs as dry and clean as possible will help with treatment. At the start of treatment, bathing the affected area with a mild antibacterial shampoo with a drying agent will help clean the skin. After bathing, ensure that the leg is completely dry. If the horse has developed scabs, the bath is the time to remove these. Sometimes this requires sedation of the horse since this can be an uncomfortable process.
Your horse shows all common signs of having cracked heels which provide conclusive evidence for this condition. Keeping the lower legs as dry and clean as possible will help with treatment. At the start of treatment, bathing the affected area with a mild antibacterial shampoo with a drying agent will help clean the skin. After bathing, ensure that the leg is completely dry. If the horse has developed scabs, the bath is the time to remove these. Sometimes this requires sedation of the horse since this can be an uncomfortable process.
https://www.petmd.com/horse/conditions/musculoskeletal/c_hr_cracked_heels
Sreten null
Hi! I’m Sreten Filipović. I graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Belgrade, with a master's degree in Environmental Protection in Agricultural Systems. I’ve worked as a researcher at Finland's Natural Resources Institute (LUKE) on a project aimed at adapting south-western Finland to drought episodes. I founded a consulting agency in the field of environment and agriculture to help farmers who want to implement the principles of sustainability on their farms. I’m also a founding member of the nonprofit organization Ecogenesis from Belgrade whose main goal is non-formal education on the environment and ecology. In my spare time, I like to write blog posts about sustainability, the environment, animal farming, horticulture, and plant protection. I’ve also published several science-fiction short stories.
You can find me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sreten-filipovi%C4%87-515aa5158/
