My horse's back feet are hot, resting, and lame after workouts. Why?

You need to have a vet out there to check Phoenix. The vet needs to localize the lameness and take x-rays. If he is not putting weight on the leg it is usually either a hoof abscess or fracture of the coffin bone.

Your horse could have an infection. Sometimes they can get an infection in the hoof that can cause some swelling in fetlock area. It may be a good idea to have your vet examine her and possibly give her some antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds. I hope this has helped. Thank you for using pet coach.

Poor Gigi! If she is non-weightbearing on the affected leg, I would recommend calling out an equine vet right away for an emergency visit, as this is often a sign of a serious injury such as a fracture. If she is bearing weight and acting normal otherwise, you could try stall rest for the next few days with lots of soft bedding to see if the lameness resolves. You can certainly try icing or cold-hosing the hoof, but it's hard to say if this will be helpful or not without knowing what is causing the lameness. If there is no improvement in the next 3-5 days, or if she isn't eating or having any other symptoms, she needs to be seen by a vet right away to find out what's wrong. Your vet can take x-rays or do other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem and see what can be done to treat it.

I would still be very suspicious of a hoof abscess. I would recommend having her checked out by a vet to see what is going on. Some abscesses can be tricky to diagnose and they may not even react with hoof testers, but a good equine vet should be able to tell what is going on after a lameness exam.

Based on your description it sounds like Colin may have suffered a puncture wound with something in his rear end. The lump you are seeing could either be some purulent fluid building up inside, or it could be a foreign object that is still inside (whatever it was that caused the puncture). If you are feeling significant amounts of heat emanating from the affected area, it is likely there is an infection brewing. The area may have to be lanced, drained, and then the horse treated with systemic antibiotics. The dragging of the left toe is hopefully not related to an ascending infection to a joint, but instead I hope it is just from a generalized pain from whatever Colin is feeling. If you have some bute or banamine around the house, I would consider using some until you can get a vet out to come and check things out. Hope this helps!

That looks like an abscess may have ruptured in that location or it's a puncture wound/injury. Both can make a horse lame. A hoof abscess doesn't always smell. I strongly suggest you get your vet out there to check him. If the vet doesn't think it's an abscess then he may need to have x-rays taken to make sure there is not something stuck up inside the hoof or that there are no fractures present (like a fracture of the coffin bone). While you are waiting to have the vet out I would confine him to a box stall or at least a very small paddock and I would soak the foot in warm Epsom Salt water to see if that will help draw out any infection that might be present. Soak for 10-15 minutes twice a day. Also, if you can, I would put a boot on his foot to protect it and keep it clean. Do they sell Easy Boots in Ireland? Either an Easy Boot or something similar. https://www.easycareinc.com/our_boots/easyboots/Easyboots.aspx I hope this helps. Best wishes. If you have more questions please post again.

With all four feet involved at some point laminitis is likely. Quarter horses tend to get heavy and are prone to laminitis. I would reduce or eliminate grain from Harley's diet and you can feed soaked plain beet pulp with a small amount of low carbohydrate pellets if you need to supplement him. Keeping him off lush pasture or only having him turned out for a short time will help also. Many horses get mild laminitis without long term problems. Weight loss is crucial as well as changing from rich feeds. Your farrier will be able to give you an opinion about the lameness also particularly about the feet. If the lameness persists I recommend a veterinary exam and X-rays if indicated. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to get answers to your veterinary questions.