Cleft or sheared frog - anyone had this?

[Llewelyn]

Daughter's supposed schoolmaster has come up with a new way of avoiding work - he has now got a large split in his frog, which goes up to the bulbs of his heels.

Vet recommended bar shoes which farrier duly supplied, and vet came back out after a week to see him. He is still about 1/5 lame, and we have PC Area this and that coming up, so I was just wondering if anyone else has had it, time it took to heal, anything I can do to speed things up?

Vet didn't suggest anything, farrier mentioned magnesium sulphate to clear out any underlying infection. He has a strong digital pulse which makes me wonder if there is any infection up there. But I don't want to mess about with it either in case I stop it healing. Ideas please?

[almorton]

blue antibiotic spray called tetracycline spray. ask your vet its prescription only but brilliant at clearing infection.
bar shoes should stabilise hoof capsule but im not sure how long it would take for you to see effects!

[shirley123]

one off my horses hind feet (he's not shod behind) is like that, but he is not lame and the farrier said it would improve/get better when he got turned out in summer and the land has dried up. some years ago i had a t/b that had very deep splits in her clefts on both front feet, you could get the hoof pick right in them. the vet and farrier were not concerned and she was not lame. don't know how its caused so will read other answers with interest

[ester]

I think a friend had similar with both her cobs back unshod feet.

I think she used a honey (assume manuka) and sudocream (I think it was sudocream am not 100%) mixture and applied it. I haven't seen them but am told they are infinitely better but it did take a while.

[Hoppa]

I posted about this a few weeks ago.

If he is lame, even slightly then you definitely must treat it and the sooner you get on top of the infection the better.

My lad developed a contracted frog, due to large sidebones forming which stopped his heels from expanding correctly.

thrush type infection is likely, but you should really worry about dirt and pieces of grit getting into the crack then the heels rub together and eventually the infection spreads up into the tissue which holds the heels together and can cause them to shear apart.

All the time there is infection present, it is unlikely that the cracks will grow down properly. And if he is lame and not putting full weight on the leg, then the blood supply will be lessened too.

Wash them out everyday with something like Milton/ dettol/ virkon, be religeous about picking out feet, pack with something to speed healing and keep dirt out. The best thing i have found is Hoof Stuff by red horse products online. Its pricey but worth it. Sudocreme or germolene are ok, but after a few hours in the field they are lost. I also use a soaking boot once a week to try and keep on top of it.

Does he live out? If not bring in during really wet weather, change bedding to something like wood pellets which is ultra dry.

It will heal over in a few weeks and then It should grow out, but I have to say it was 6 months before it started looking visibly different. Even when you think it has cleared up, keep up on the cleaning and treating. I made this mistake at least twice before I realised I had to do it everyday for the long term.
Maybe consider investigating why the foot has suddenly become contracted? I had x-rays done which were invaluable.

PM me if you want anymore info and I hope it goes well.

x