Severe Hoof Rot

3352 Views 54 Replies 13 Participants Last post by MellonFriend, May 30, 2021

Aasiya

Discussion Starter · Apr 28, 2021 (Edited)

Hello everyone. Rigel has gotten into another bad spot of trouble☹ .he's just about recovered from polio when I noticed that he holds one of his front legs a bit upwards while walking. I examined the leg and found nothing abnormal....his hooves were slightly overgrown so I just trimmed that down and gave him some selenium gel and cod liver oil. He had been recently wormed and copper bolused; his famacha score was ok.
This has been going on for a few days..I checked a few times and found nothing abnormal. It rained, so I put down pallets in their shed, and kept them in the dry lot. However, he often came over to the garden to forage..and it was pretty muddy there. Anyhow, so suddenly yesterday I noticed his leg was swollen...from the shoulder to the hoof. I found that his hoof was stinking of rot and was soft, the part of between the hooves was sloughing away. I was pretty shocked; I cleaned it up and called the vet. He said the clinic was closed ( we are in lockdown).. but it was hoof rot; I should sterilise a pair of scissors and cut away as much of rotten bits as I could, put biomycin on it topically and start him on penicillin. Iv done all he had said....Rigel is eating and drinking but has a slight temperature ..and is completely lame ofcourse. Is there anything else I should be doing? Thank you and sorry for the essay...

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happybleats

· #2 · Apr 28, 2021

Poor guy. Do you have banamine? Or dexamethsone? These can help with inflammation and pain. Keeping the hoof clean and dry is most important. There is a product called Kopertox that is good for hoof rot. Not sure what your area of the world carries. But maybe look it up and see what might be available locally. If not keep with the biomycin a few times a day.. Keeping him penned in a dry lot with food and water close will help. Don't want that to spread to other goats.
Best wishes

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NigerianDwarfOwner707

· #3 · Apr 28, 2021

He needs the penicillin for at least 5-7 days, Biomycin topically works well, trim all rot off. Garlic, vitamin c, and 25mg human zinc pill. How old is he?

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Aasiya

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 28, 2021

Thank you everyone. He's just a year old...he's a wether. Tonight I brought him in to check on it again...and guess what. Half of the hoof literally fell off! The rot was much deeper than I thought...the vet thinks it probably started from deep within, so went unnoticed. There's some bone exposed, along with a raw looking stump. I cleaned it with iodine, removed more gunk and put more biomycin in the area and wrapped it with gauze. I gave him injectable meloxicam this morning...not wanting to give Dex as he got alot of that recently with the polio.He's getting 500mg vitamin C twice a day, b complex , and as many cloves of garlic he will eat. Also turmeric and cinnamon. I'll start him on zinc tomorrow morning...hoping it will heal up soon. By any chance, will the hoof grow back?

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happybleats

· #5 · Apr 28, 2021

Good job on getting him what he needs. Check the hoof often to make sure it is drying up. He might do better unwrapped if he has a clean pen with lots of clean bedding. Keep him on antibiotics until it's to the point of healing at least. You want to avoid the infection going septis.
Best wishes

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toth boer goats

· #6 · Apr 28, 2021

I agree and hope the goat gets better soon. Good luck.

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MadHouse

· #7 · Apr 28, 2021

Oh no, poor Rigel! I hope he will heal fast!

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Aasiya

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 29, 2021

Thank you all....his pen is clean, I changed his bandage once at night and now again. I'll take it off today before feeding time

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Danielle Stormes

· #9 · Apr 29, 2021

Ive always used LA-200 as a topical for hoof rot 3 days in a row works great for me!!

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Aasiya

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 29, 2021

Ok..so I went to check on him and give his pills...and noticed the other half of the hoof is gone too. However, this ones raw part was bright pink, with some blood present, unlike the other one which is pale and has bone showing. I'll try to upload a picture later.
Anyhow, he seems intent on driving me crazy, because he constantly poos and pees, removes the clean bedding in that area, and paws at it WITH THE WOUNDED PART! Within two hours of opening the bandage, the wound was filthy! I just cleaned and wrapped it up again... would really appreciate some advice about wether or not to keep it open in his case, and how to keep it clean. Thank you...

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Goats Rock

· #11 · Apr 30, 2021

If he is going to keep pawing (probably hurts or itches and he is trying to assuage the pain), keep wrapped and change daily or more often if seeping.
Poor him and you. If you are in a warm season- watch for fly strike and maggots. Best wishes to you.

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Aasiya

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 30, 2021

3

Thank you...it's seeping alot, so I'm changing it atleast twice daily ..more if it's too wet. Here's how it looks this morning after cleaning, before putting medication on;
The red part is where the hoof came off last night...the whitish one the night before. The white powdery stuff is wound drying powder(neomycin sulfate+bacitracin zinc) I put on in the previous dressing
(Warning: Graphic image)

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MadHouse

· #13 · Apr 30, 2021

Poor Rigel! You are doing such a great job with him!

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ksalvagno

· #14 · Apr 30, 2021

Poor guy. I hope it clears up for you.

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FizzyGoats

· #15 · Apr 30, 2021

Oh man, that looks painful. Keep up the good work you’re doing with him. I hope he recovers quickly.

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Goats Rock

· #16 · Apr 30, 2021

At least it isn't a pus pocket! (like an internal abscess) There is good blood supply. It will heal, but will take time. Poor goatie!
Since it hurts so much, he may not move around and may not drink alot. (always something, huh)

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toth boer goats

· #17 · Apr 30, 2021

Oh my poor baby.

Hope it gets better soon.

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Aasiya

Discussion Starter · #18 · Apr 30, 2021

Thanks everyone ❤
He's eating and drinking ok..iv kept the water and hay right beside him...and limps around alot. Atleast he's trying 🙂
The fever is much lower now...103.5 . I've asked around with people who dealt with large weeping wounds...and was told to crush metronidazole tablets and sprinkle on the dressing. I washed my steel pounder with soap and did that tonight, in hopes of managing with the large amount of drainage and odor. Had good results with metronidazole on sores during the goat plague outbreak

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NigerianDwarfOwner707

· #19 · Apr 30, 2021

Can you get those hoof boots for sheep/goats? Valley vet has them. I’m all for open air but if you put his antibiotics and topical meds in the boot it will keep it clean!

Reactions: 2

Aasiya

Discussion Starter · #20 · Apr 30, 2021

I don't think I can find them here...when the feed and animal medicine stores were open, I had asked if they had some sort of waterproof sock for my buck who had an injury that time, but they had no idea what I was talking about. Now the shops are closed too....
But thank you for the idea...is there any way it can be fashioned at home?

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