bleeding

Question

bleeding   QUESTION: hi D! I have attached a photo so you can have a better idea. My horse, a paso fino 7 y/o, I took him for a ride and i noticed that he started bleeding from his hooves shortly after we started. It seems to originate from where the hands end and the hooves begin. It is a small "flow" ..he's not bleeding profusely and it stops when he stops walking. I'm very worried...what can you tell me about this.(he's kept in a dry place) Gabriel

ANSWER: OH MY!!!  Where is the blood coming from?  Hose it off and see if there is any trauma to the area.  Did he run through something like a fence, rocks or cactus that would cause an injury and the bleeding?  This just isn't going to happen out of the blue.  Something happened here and you will have to do some first aide and investigating to find out what.

If you can't find a simple and logical answer to this, and I'm guessing it has to be some sort of trauma, call your vet!

Hose off his legs, look through the hair and look for cuts, cactus, glass.  Your horse is obviously standing, but is he lame when he walks off?

When you clean the wounds, use a good surgical scrub and then wrap using a good standing wrap and practical cotton.  This will keep the area clean until your vet arrives and can give things a more thorough examination.

Good Luck!

Denise



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Denise thanks for your answer and for your help! My horse has not been injured with anything like fences,cactus ,glass etc ect... It started some time ago , I always rode him nicely and at his pace , you know , just having both a nice time, but, one day when we finished I noticed the bleeding from his right hand , I hosed it off , took a look at it but saw no injury or trauma. It seems to originate at the coronary band I think. Now I take him for a short ride and he bleeds from both hands. He doesnt limp nor he seems in any pain. I can touch his hands and hooves and he doesnt mind. Some guy told me that maybe he suffered from laminitis some time ago (when he was not under my care) and now this is happening as a result of it. His hooves are not hot to the touch, but they do have in this area where the bleeding seems to originate , like different layers of 'hoove growth'', I dont know if thats normal. Thanks for all yor help and knowledge.

Answer
Hi Gabriel!

His feet look great.  He doesn't look like a horse with laminitis. I don't see any rings or any of the typical damage to the hoof from a laminitic horse.

This is an issue for a vet on site.  Give your vet a call and have them look at your horse.

Keep me posted and let me know how things work out!

Denise