Bruised heels on horses

How does a horse suffer a bruised heel?

A bruised heel can occur if the horse steps on itself, a rock, or another hard object. The injury mainly affects the soft, pillow-like back part of the hoof, called the ball. If a spike is used, the risk of these injuries increases, especially a toe spike in a hind hoof can easily hit and damage the front of the hoof's ball area.

 

Symptoms 

• Wound injury: visible wound, ranging from scrapes to deeper cuts with pockets.
• Pain: the horse may react with pain when pressed against the ball area.
• Swelling: the ball area may become swollen and hot to the touch.
• Lameness: The horse can start lame or show unwillingness to move.

 

Treatment 

The treatment varies depending on the severity of the injury.
A physical veterinarian should always be called immediately in case of heavy bleeding and in case of larger, deeper injuries that may need stitches. If there is heavy bleeding, apply a pressure bandage and call a veterinarian immediately.

In the case of minor injuries, you can often treat the wound yourself at home in the stable

It is important to treat even small wounds because if the wound does not heal properly, the hoof can suffer a future injury.

• Wash the wound clean with copious amounts of saline, try to remove gravel and mud without pushing it deeper into the wound
• Use a so-called sorbact compress (available without a prescription at the pharmacy), it is antibacterial and can speed up healing, place it against the wound and wrap it with a round of soft ban (thin cotton) so you cover the buttocks and crown rim. Wrap, then with inelastic gauze, make a turn at each turn with the gauze between and below the balls to give extra stability, finishing with a knot. All pressure applied should be applied to the hard surface of the hoof, not to the crown stripe or the balls
• Cover the gauze 
• Change every day to every other day depending on how wet the bandage gets and how it fits. Bandage until the wound is healed and the horse does not show soreness when pressed against the area
• If the wound becomes infected, does not stop the sore and does not want to heal, a deeper clean up by a veterinarian is needed

 

Preventive measures

To minimize the risk of bruised heels,it is good to be extra careful with:

Hoof care: Regular hoof care and shoeing by an approved farrier. A balanced action/shoeing works preventively in that the horse will move in a correct way for the horse and the risk of trampling itself or taking wrong steps will be reduced

Environment: check the horse's pasture and remove sharp objects

Keep an eye on the horse's hooves

Protection: use boots as ball protection when riding and driving, especially at higher speeds and/or when jumping