The best ways to apply hoof meds
Most horses, at some point in their lives, will need some sort of hoof medicine or packing. Perhaps it is thrush or white line disease, or you need to dress an abscess. Here are a few simple steps to making sure your horse’s hoof gets the meds it needs, in the right places!
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Start with a clean hoof – your wash rack can help you with this.
- Pick the hoof out thoroughly, and then head to the horse. The easiest way to guarantee a clean hoof is to spray it out. If you use the “jet” setting on a nozzle, you will get things clean in a hurry and also maybe give yourself a facial at the same time.
I use the scissors to cut out the soft middle of diapers. Then I use that soft middle to scoop out the ichthammol or Epsom salt paste so my fingers stay clean.
- Wait a bit for things to dry. You can towel dry if you need to. If you will be applying a liquid or runny medication, wait for the hoof to dry completely. For pastes and packs like ichthammol and Epsom salt paste, you can likely just wait for a bit of drying.
Apply your medication of choice.
- Some meds drip on, some spray on, some are pastes. To save your fingers, wearing gloves is one option. You can also use the inner part of a diaper to scoop out thicker poultice or packing, and then just casually slap things on. For more runny or liquid meds, consider using a brush. Like a clean toothbrush to scrub stuff into cracks and crevices.
Spray and scrub. This bottle comes with a brush, you could also use a hoof brush.
- You can also pack an area with meds. This is often effective with cracks that have been opened up. Start by packing in some cotton, you can even use a cotton ball. A horseshoe nail is a great way to push cotton into a crack. Then use your med of choice to saturate the cotton. This method is great for spray medications or more liquid-type medications.
Once you pack a crack, you can just pour your solution of choice onto the cotton.
Wrapping the hoof may be a good idea
- One option is a homemade diaper/vet wrap/duct tape concoction. Another option is a Hoof Wrap Bandage. You can also go hardcore if your horse will be out and about for days on challenging ground, in which case a boot is your best bet. All of these options aim to keep the meds where they should be, and the dirt out.
- You will also want to keep tabs on your horse’s digital pulse and any differences in the way he’s moving around. Any changes away from his normal is an indication that there’s something brewing in the hoof. Call your vet right away and stay ahead of the curve. (VIDEO BELOW of how to find the digital pulse)
Tips for packing hooves in a few simple steps, no duct tape needed.
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For added squish during laminitis or other painful hoof trauma.
Support and softness for laminitis and other painful hoof conditions.
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This supplement helps high-laminitis risk horses and has calming ingredients like magnesium.
If hooves are your jam, this book is for you.
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These boots are the gold standard for jumpers and horses that like to interfere.
Classic, clean, stylish boots for your horse. Great for jumping.
Be practical when wrapping your horse's legs with a traditional color, but toss in some spice with the understated pattern!
Protect your horse's legs and let them shine bright.
This salve is an alternative to Fura-Zone!
Show off your horse's legs with these safe, reflective, and fashionable boots.
These SilverSox are great for protecting the legs from rubs, help with scratches and mud fever, and provide some compression, too.
If hooves are your jam, this book is for you.
A simple and trusted hoof supplement.
For added squish during laminitis or other painful hoof trauma.
The gold standard for stinging hooves and anytime you need to pack the hooves.
Hi-quality no-bows with Back On Track reputation (that's good!)
These boots are the gold standard for jumpers and horses that like to interfere.
Support and softness for laminitis and other painful hoof conditions.
Buy bulk and save! This is great for stubborn hoof infections like seedy toe and thrush.
Feed your horse's hoof health from the inside out.
This supplement helps high-laminitis risk horses and has calming ingredients like magnesium.
The gold standard for bell boots in a rainbow of colors.
Classic, clean, stylish boots for your horse. Great for jumping.
Be practical when wrapping your horse's legs with a traditional color, but toss in some spice with the understated pattern!
Protect your horse's legs and let them shine bright.
This salve is an alternative to Fura-Zone!
These boots are my favorite for wrapping hooves with poultice or clay and a diaper. No more duct tape boots! You can also use inserts with these for more squish.
This style is great to protect the hoof, but is not soft and squishy for laminitis cases.
Show off your horse's legs with these safe, reflective, and fashionable boots.
These boots are great for protecting barefoot horses.
These SilverSox are great for protecting the legs from rubs, help with scratches and mud fever, and provide some compression, too.
These are amazing for riding. They take some wrestling to get on, but they will stay on.
If hooves are your jam, this book is for you.
A simple and trusted hoof supplement.
For added squish during laminitis or other painful hoof trauma.
The gold standard for stinging hooves and anytime you need to pack the hooves.
Support and softness for laminitis and other painful hoof conditions.
Buy bulk and save! This is great for stubborn hoof infections like seedy toe and thrush.
Feed your horse's hoof health from the inside out.
This supplement helps high-laminitis risk horses and has calming ingredients like magnesium.
The gold standard for bell boots in a rainbow of colors.
These boots are my favorite for wrapping hooves with poultice or clay and a diaper. No more duct tape boots! You can also use inserts with these for more squish.
This style is great to protect the hoof, but is not soft and squishy for laminitis cases.
These boots are great for protecting barefoot horses.
Thank you!
