Sore Feet Protocol
After watching many peoples horses suffer from feet issues I want to take this time to explain our protocol for foot pain in our horses.
This is the protocol we use for our horses. This protocol is not meant to replace proper veterinary care.
The process to help your horses get back to their normal, functioning self can be a long road.
Most of the time this has been developing for a while internally prior to symptoms showing up so it is not going to take a while to improve.
This is not an "instant" fix... It may take a couple months to get the horse back to "normal".
This is the protocol we use for our horses. This protocol is not meant to replace proper veterinary care.
The process to help your horses get back to their normal, functioning self can be a long road.
Most of the time this has been developing for a while internally prior to symptoms showing up so it is not going to take a while to improve.
This is not an "instant" fix... It may take a couple months to get the horse back to "normal".
If you are not going to do all the steps to this protocol... please don't ever start!
You will be just wasting your time and money.
There are reasons we created this protocol the way we did... all steps must be done together!
1. First of all, what is causing the pain?
Did the horse get into grain that they shouldn't have? Is there any injury? Consult a veterinarian.
If the answer is "no" to the above two questions start by considering the following questions: Did the horse start having pain with no explanation? Is it spring or fall? Did the horse get sore feet after being out on a grass pasture? Does the horse have increased urination?
If the horse has any of these problems that is where this protocol will help you.
2. Have your horse evaluated by a farrier to facilitate prompt proper hoof care.
-Things to look for especially are abscesses and laminitis.
If the horse has either... continue on this protocol.
3. It is strongly recommended that you have blood work done to rule out a borderline Cushings/metabolic situation.
Some horses will require being started on Peroglide. It is recommended to have them tested for Cushings even if they don't show external "Cushings/EMS" signs. A case of laminitis or founder can be your first sign of an internal/metabolic problem.
4. Get the horse off of pasture and grass! Now!
This is not optional or up for discussion! I don't care how much your horse wants to be out in the pasture. This may be tough love because you are trying to save your horse from having to be put down. Do not put them in a stall! They need exercise! They need to maintain proper exercise to maintain circulation to their feet! I know that it will hurt for them to walk. Let them choose to move around. Put them in a pen with softer footing... sand, pea size gravel, etc. No grass of any sort. But they need exercise! ...this is not up for option. Give them a well bedded area so they can lay down if needed.
5. Change their diet
-This is not optional either!
-Feed quality grass hay. Some old horses may be handle alfalfa but at this point all alfalfa must be removed from their diet.
-Remove ALL grain from their diet! ALL GRAIN! Even if the manufacture claims it is designed for horses requiring low starch diets. No grain bi-products either! The feed must contain NO molasses! No grain! Not even a little at this stage! One horse in my care condition would worsen with just two cups of low starch pellets per day.
-If the horse is overweight and/or has a crest on their neck or fat pads on their crop it is imperative they you get that weight off of the horse. Limit their feed. The weight has to come off but don't starve them. By managing the amount of feed they get and following the other parts of this protocol the horse will lose weight.
-Consider grass hay pellets (soaking them works well) to use for providing supplements. There are mixed reviews on using beet pulp (because of GMO's, etc) but at this point determine the lesser of two evils. Your horse needs help so beet pulp may be the lesser of two evils. I have used a combination of grass and beet pulp pellets. Soak the pellets! I am aware they can eat them dry but the horses needs to stay as hydrated as possible in this condition.
-Make sure they have plenty water (water water in the winter). It is imperative that this horse stay hydrated to help promote healthy circulation as well as proper lymphatic flow to remove to toxins from the body.
6. Add a good quality Magnesium Supplement.
7. Provide a herbal supplement to provide a proper Liver/Kidney detox. I strongly recommend my System's Detox herbal supplement. We developed and used it for just this situation. We have found a proper detox will help speed the horses recovery. A horses body in this situation is on toxin overload.
8. Start a metabolic balancing supplement. Initiate Peroglide (if your vet determines that is necessary) or can consider our Sore Feet Support product. The Sore Feet supplement will help manage the symptoms. Follow provided with the product. The Sore Feet supplement was developed to help balance metabolic and circulation issues.
Things to consider in the management of this situation:
-Offer free choice minerals. Horses will determine what they need or what minerals they need to increase their intake.
-Feed a kelp supplement. It can be offered free choice by putting out a small amount every day and letting the horse determine if it needs it.
-Offer free choice Diatomaceous earth-some people have used it to help facilitate a detox. One of my mares will readily eat it upon onset of foot issues... it is my cue that I need to make sure she is back on this protocol.
-I try to limit the use of Nsaid's and pain relief if possible as it will mask a horse's pain. When you mask the pain there is an increased risk creating more damage to the foot because the horse will do more than it should... because it doesn't hurt for the time being. There is definitely a time and place for pain management but if possible try to limit the use. Do not let your horse suffer though!
We have found that most foot pain in horses can be traced back in part or in whole to a metabolic imbalance. When a horse starts to show external symptoms their health has progressed to the point that they need intervention. Some horses symptoms may be mild where others may be very profound. Prompt interventions are a must! The quicker changes are made the better chance your horse has!
Did the horse get into grain that they shouldn't have? Is there any injury? Consult a veterinarian.
If the answer is "no" to the above two questions start by considering the following questions: Did the horse start having pain with no explanation? Is it spring or fall? Did the horse get sore feet after being out on a grass pasture? Does the horse have increased urination?
If the horse has any of these problems that is where this protocol will help you.
2. Have your horse evaluated by a farrier to facilitate prompt proper hoof care.
-Things to look for especially are abscesses and laminitis.
If the horse has either... continue on this protocol.
3. It is strongly recommended that you have blood work done to rule out a borderline Cushings/metabolic situation.
Some horses will require being started on Peroglide. It is recommended to have them tested for Cushings even if they don't show external "Cushings/EMS" signs. A case of laminitis or founder can be your first sign of an internal/metabolic problem.
4. Get the horse off of pasture and grass! Now!
This is not optional or up for discussion! I don't care how much your horse wants to be out in the pasture. This may be tough love because you are trying to save your horse from having to be put down. Do not put them in a stall! They need exercise! They need to maintain proper exercise to maintain circulation to their feet! I know that it will hurt for them to walk. Let them choose to move around. Put them in a pen with softer footing... sand, pea size gravel, etc. No grass of any sort. But they need exercise! ...this is not up for option. Give them a well bedded area so they can lay down if needed.
5. Change their diet
-This is not optional either!
-Feed quality grass hay. Some old horses may be handle alfalfa but at this point all alfalfa must be removed from their diet.
-Remove ALL grain from their diet! ALL GRAIN! Even if the manufacture claims it is designed for horses requiring low starch diets. No grain bi-products either! The feed must contain NO molasses! No grain! Not even a little at this stage! One horse in my care condition would worsen with just two cups of low starch pellets per day.
-If the horse is overweight and/or has a crest on their neck or fat pads on their crop it is imperative they you get that weight off of the horse. Limit their feed. The weight has to come off but don't starve them. By managing the amount of feed they get and following the other parts of this protocol the horse will lose weight.
-Consider grass hay pellets (soaking them works well) to use for providing supplements. There are mixed reviews on using beet pulp (because of GMO's, etc) but at this point determine the lesser of two evils. Your horse needs help so beet pulp may be the lesser of two evils. I have used a combination of grass and beet pulp pellets. Soak the pellets! I am aware they can eat them dry but the horses needs to stay as hydrated as possible in this condition.
-Make sure they have plenty water (water water in the winter). It is imperative that this horse stay hydrated to help promote healthy circulation as well as proper lymphatic flow to remove to toxins from the body.
6. Add a good quality Magnesium Supplement.
7. Provide a herbal supplement to provide a proper Liver/Kidney detox. I strongly recommend my System's Detox herbal supplement. We developed and used it for just this situation. We have found a proper detox will help speed the horses recovery. A horses body in this situation is on toxin overload.
8. Start a metabolic balancing supplement. Initiate Peroglide (if your vet determines that is necessary) or can consider our Sore Feet Support product. The Sore Feet supplement will help manage the symptoms. Follow provided with the product. The Sore Feet supplement was developed to help balance metabolic and circulation issues.
Things to consider in the management of this situation:
-Offer free choice minerals. Horses will determine what they need or what minerals they need to increase their intake.
-Feed a kelp supplement. It can be offered free choice by putting out a small amount every day and letting the horse determine if it needs it.
-Offer free choice Diatomaceous earth-some people have used it to help facilitate a detox. One of my mares will readily eat it upon onset of foot issues... it is my cue that I need to make sure she is back on this protocol.
-I try to limit the use of Nsaid's and pain relief if possible as it will mask a horse's pain. When you mask the pain there is an increased risk creating more damage to the foot because the horse will do more than it should... because it doesn't hurt for the time being. There is definitely a time and place for pain management but if possible try to limit the use. Do not let your horse suffer though!
We have found that most foot pain in horses can be traced back in part or in whole to a metabolic imbalance. When a horse starts to show external symptoms their health has progressed to the point that they need intervention. Some horses symptoms may be mild where others may be very profound. Prompt interventions are a must! The quicker changes are made the better chance your horse has!