Hoof abscess in cows

PonyParty87 · 08-01-2025 05:06PM #1

Folks, we are at the end of the road with our gorgeous purebred Angus girl. She has hoof abscesses one after the other that just won't heal up. She's had the hoof man coming for a year now to release and dress her right hoof. It sorts for a few weeks, then comes back. Now she's got one in her look left hoof. Vet thinks it's a systematic illness that has compromised her healing ability, possibly cancer. We can't bare to see her in pain, so we think we'll have to let her go. Just wondering has anyone been through anything similar and they've had one recover fully? It's going on for over a year now.

older by the day · 08-01-2025 06:35PM

Sorry for your troubles, those hoof repair guys would have seen a lot of tough cases. I'm afraid the advice you were given may be correct.

I am thankful to bathing any troublesome lame case with bluestone. If she is a pet it might not be a big deal to Bath her daily. It does harden the hoof. A drum with the side cut off, stand her leg in, it gives great relief and hardens the hoof .

We used to have a vet who always gave a lame animal a phosphorus injection after paring ?

148multi · 08-01-2025 07:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058387105/hoof-abscess-in-cows

Have had half the claw removed on a few cows over the years, but none recently. Very hard to treat an infection in the hoof and surrounding joints, as blood circulation isn't great there. Have never had one with a infection on both sides. Maybe your aa has done her best at trying to keep going. No matter what outsiders think of us farmers, it can be difficult to let go of an animal.

PonyParty87 · 08-01-2025 08:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123034287#Comment_123034287

Yup, we've been doing the bluestone poultice as often as we can, hoof just won't harden. Now with the second hoof in trouble we feel we have just hit the end of the rood.

I've not heard about the phosphorus injection before. Sadly, I think it's a bit late for this lovely lady, but something to think about if it happens to another one.

PonyParty87 · 08-01-2025 08:06PM

It's absolutely heartbreaking for us, she's a cracking cow, typical AA, hard as nails and kind and gentle as they come. Never caused a days trouble.

It's the fact that second hoof has gone that makes us think we have to let her go. She's so hardy she doesn't let on she's in pain, but she has to be. Don't want her suffering in any way. We've tried hard for a while year, with no real progress at all.

older by the day · 08-01-2025 08:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123034627#Comment_123034627

I think you know the answer so. Nothing worse than looking at a sick animal. Pull the pin and drive on. A year is too long

Hoof abscess in cows

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