Vet or Farrier- who would you prefer....

[AJHorsey]

After a recent discussion with some friends, I was wondering what the popular vote would be.

If you had an abscess, corn, or like hoof problem, would you prefer the vet care for it, or your farrier? I am very comfortable with what decision I made, as is my BO- who is a Pony Club Leader. However, I recieved quite a startling reaction from a woman I generally respect as well. So, what's your preference? If you could do a brief explaination why as well. I will do so as well on a later post.

[saultgirl]

I would prefer my farrier deal with an abcess; I have heard that my vet digs out too much hoof.

[stryder]

My vet. He doesn't dig around. Puts them on antibiotics plus 48 hours in a soaking boot (actually a rubber inner tube) with a liquid treatment. Resolves quickly.

ETA: I can get vet a lot quicker than I can get farrier. Both are exceptional, but farrier's normal route is much bigger than vet's. Always, always, same day for vet.

[aspenlucas]

My vet tells me to call my farrier. That being said, if he happens to dig too much vet says "what the hell was he doing?" Normally though. I will let an abscess come to a head on it's own and soak as need be.

[Dramapony_misty]

Farrier, but only if he/she is a really great farrier with lots of knowledge and experience and not "just the guy down the road who trims my horse's feet". I've had both of those kind of people work on my horses. The "guy down the road" did a good job on my horses who didn't have problem feet, but I tried a new guy when I got my pony mare who had minor problematic feet. I've had the "new" guy for 5 years now and no issues. A few abcesses due to some barefoot horses on a rocky pasture and the icky rainy conditions of the last few years, but he's been great.

Think about it. A good farrier is like an orthopedic specialist, whereas a vet is a sort of a general practitioner. Who do you think would have more knowledge specifically about the hoof? Just saying.

[Ibex]

Farrier.

But then, I have an awesome farrier who is a true farrier, not just a shoer or trimmer. I know a few of each who I wouldn't trust to do this!

[Dramapony_misty]

Farrier.

But then, I have an awesome farrier who is a true farrier, not just a shoer or trimmer. I know a few of each who I wouldn't trust to do this!
:yes:

[LMH]

not just a shoer or trimmer.

:rolleyes:

[GallopHer]

I have to go with my vet. While my farrier is very good at what he does, he does not have medical training. I prefer to see my vet first, get antibiotics if needed and follow up with my farrier if the vet feels it is warranted.

What I think might be an abscess could be something entirely different. My vet can use xrays, my farrier cannot.

[broughton_sporthorses]

My Farrier. He is really knowledgable, and I trust his judgement. He would tell me if I should call the vet.

[Diamondindykin]

Vet. Recently when we thought that my horse going through laminitis was abcessing my farrier told me to call the vet. His logic is that the vet is better prepared if something happens......like bleeding. He has the medication and equipment if something goes wrong. I respect my farrier for that.........instead of worrying about what I would think about him not wanting to do it, he was thinking of my horses safety....IMO.

[jump4me]

My vet is nearby, so I usually have him take a look first, since he can usually be here within an hour, and the farrier can take days... and if he wants my farrier to deal with it, then I call him. Otherwise the vet will take care of it.

[SkipChange]

Well it's funny...

Vet says "Why on earth did you let that foolish farrier touch his feet? He's crazy."

Farrier says "What were you thinking letting that dumb vet mess with his feet! He's not a farrier!

[yellowbritches]

Oh my....hmm, if I'm having a hard time narrowing it down (I'm good enough with hoof testers and while I don't like to use a hoof knife I CAN, AND the boss was a farrier, so he's good at finding them), I'll have the farrier give it a go if he's around. If it is going on too long and we're getting worried, they see the vet for x-rays.

[kookicat]

Vet first, then farrier to work under the vet's guidance. It's how my farrier likes it too- his butt is covered if something goes wrong.

[Janet]

ALWAYS the vet.

1 - My vet is VERY good at finding and opening up an abscess, with minimum hoof removal .
2- It might not be an abscess- vet is best to determine, and provide other treatment.
3-Vet can be there that day. Farrier won't get there for a week- IF I'm lucky.
4- My vet and farrier respect each other, even if they don't completely agree on everythiing

[Tamara in TN]

So, what's your preference? If you could do a brief explanation why as well. I will do so as well on a later post.


my farrier trains the vets :):) so I would vote for the farrier

Tamara in TN

[Rick Burten]

If, in the course of performing my normal work, an abscess vents, then I will open it just enough to ensure drainage. It is beyond the purview of the farrier to go looking for sub-solar abscesses. Unless of course said farrier is concurrently a licensed veterinarian.

Corns, suppurating or otherwise are 'fair game' for me as they are present and visible and sometimes, leaking, during the performance of my normal/regular duties and thus fall into the same category as abscesses discovered by me during routine hoof care.

By the way, If a farrier uses hoof testers and based on the results obtained, goes on an archeological dig, s/he is guilty of practicing veterinary medicine without a license. The only exception that might apply is if the horse in question belongs to said farrier.

[imaginique]

I prefer the farrier because the vet usually takes out too much hoof. However, my farrier is an hour and a half away and the vet is ten minutes so it usually ends up being the vet on the rare occasion I have an abscess to deal with.

[Sister7]

My vet says to call the farrier first. Plus the farrier doesn't change a farm call fee.

[LauraKY]

Before I found my current vet, the farrier. Now with my wonderful vet, the vet.

[lorilu]

Well, a few years ago a vet misdiagnosed founder as an absess, dug around, thought he opened something.... and before we knew it, she had rotated badly. As soon as the farrier saw it, he recognized it, and said she showed signs of founder in the past .... hadn't I (or the vet) noticed that???
In my defense, she was a mare on lease, so I had no idea about her past, and she was sound, and not overweight....)

So now, if a hose is lame, first call to vet, but I certainly would not mind a farrier digging around.
L

[RSW]

Always my Vet as he lives with me:-) The farrier would work under his guidance if needed! While my farrier is good he is not a licensed Veterinarian.

[jaimebaker]

My vet can use xrays, my farrier cannot.

There's a farrier in my area (some say he's the best in this area, I've never used him) that has his own X-ray machine and does his own rads. I don't use him because you have to trailer the horse to him. He's that good that people go to him and he stays booked solid.

For me that question depends entirely on the vet. I have 4-5 vets I use, a couple I would trust to dig an abscess out, the rest, nope. I'd trust my farrier. I keep antibiotics on hand so that wouldn't be an issue.

[atr]

I'd allow either of mine to open an obvious subsolar abscess, depending on who could get there first. However, anything that made me go "hmmm..." would warrant the vet with his digital xray machine.

I don't screw around with abscesses. I lost my best ever horse to a supposedly simple abscess.

[Cherry]

My horse went lame one time, had vet out and he took an x-ray. Vet came back a second time and pronounced the horse had an abscess so he proceeded to dig a hole to China in my horse's foot! :eek: There was no sign whatsoever of any abscess during (or after) "the big dig"....

I truly believe that no farrier I have ever used in forty years of horse owning would have put a crater that size in my horse's foot.... I have to say that it really bothered me that the vet just dug at the foot with seemingly reckless abandon. After months my horse came sound again but it was a long, long time.

[bugsynskeeter]

If I could get my farrier out, he would be my choice. If not, I'd have one of the area podiatrists out.

[saje]

Both. I want my vet and my farrier to be on good terms, trust each other's judgment, and between THEM decide who's best to do the procedure.

The last mega abscess one of my horses had I met the farrier at the vet's so we could get radiographs and discuss the plan of attack. Vet did some of the work on the foot, farrier did some of the work, and I now have a sound horse :)

[AJHorsey]

Everyone made good and valid points. My horse's problem was that he wasn't presenting very well, and we thought it was an old injury agrivating him (he tore a small ligament late this summer, and impaled himself two summers before on the same leg- we're a little accident prone...) so had the vet out. I had done flexion tests and hoof testers, and it took about 20 min of longeing him for the vet to see the lameness. The horse just is a trooper, and apparently doesn't like to show pain...
Long story short, found an abscess and a corn that ran pretty deep. Ended up going deeper than I like, but the spot that was dug out was extreemely conservative, IMO- nothing extra taken, and the vet helped all of us at the barn piece together the yuck of the foot so that we could better envision what was going on. (Pretty cool, actually...)
I personally prefer what happened in my case, where the farrier and vet spoke and worked together, but my vet gets to do the digging. He's pretty conservative, and my farrier works with him.

[equineartworks]

I consider myself very lucky to say either or or. Both communicate with each other about the care of our horses and my vet is very knowledgeable and skilled with all things "feet", something I am grateful for.

In my case it would probably play out that which ever was the first available would most likely handle it if it something that can be handled at the farm. :)

have I mentioned lately that I love my Vet and Farrier :cool:

[Dressage.For.Life.]

I'd have the vet out to rule out something more serious, than say, an abscess, and then also have the farrier out. I love my farrier, but I'd rather have the vet out too in case it was something more serious..

[Gnalli]

There's a farrier in my area (some say he's the best in this area, I've never used him) that has his own X-ray machine and does his own rads. I don't use him because you have to trailer the horse to him. He's that good that people go to him and he stays booked solid.

For me that question depends entirely on the vet. I have 4-5 vets I use, a couple I would trust to dig an abscess out, the rest, nope. I'd trust my farrier. I keep antibiotics on hand so that wouldn't be an issue.

Would that farrier happen to be Lem Couch? AWESOME farrier, does things with foundered horses that you would not believe. I didn't know if he had an xray machine, but I would not doubt it. If it is something that I can't handle, and cutting is one of those, then I call my farrier, then work from there.Like the poster said about the farriers being specialists, I believe that, but I am very picky about my farrier.

[Gnalli]

Everyone made good and valid points. My horse's problem was that he wasn't presenting very well, and we thought it was an old injury agrivating him (he tore a small ligament late this summer, and impaled himself two summers before on the same leg- we're a little accident prone...) so had the vet out. I had done flexion tests and hoof testers, and it took about 20 min of longeing him for the vet to see the lameness. The horse just is a trooper, and apparently doesn't like to show pain...
Long story short, found an abscess and a corn that ran pretty deep. Ended up going deeper than I like, but the spot that was dug out was extreemely conservative, IMO- nothing extra taken, and the vet helped all of us at the barn piece together the yuck of the foot so that we could better envision what was going on. (Pretty cool, actually...)
I personally prefer what happened in my case, where the farrier and vet spoke and worked together, but my vet gets to do the digging. He's pretty conservative, and my farrier works with him.

In this particular case, yes, I would have called the vet first.

[tabula rashah]

Well, being that I do my own farrier work- I will occasionally open
one up if it's right there to be soon. I don't go digging around. I don't fool about with abcesses- I soak and bute for a couple of days and if nothing improves then its a round of SMZ's

[LMH]

What about just not digging?

[Daydream Believer]

Well, I'm with Rick on this one. I don't dig out abscesses either. That is the vet's call and not mine. I also think opening a hole in the sole is not a great idea unless the abscess will not resolve with soaking and poulticing on it's own.

[3horsemom]

if i had a GREAT farrier, maybe. but i do not.....so vet it is.

[Bogie]

My vet always recommends I call my farrier first. If she's not available, someone from the vet practice will come.

My farrier works very closely with my vet so I know they will consult if they have questions.

[ddashaq]

Farrier, but mine is really, really good and I trust him to let me know if I need to get a vet involved. That said, he prefers to let them resolve with soaking and poulticing.

[lolalola]

My farrier is very good, and he's done my horses for the entire time I've had them - 18 years for the mare and 5 years for the gelding, who has some very funky feet. He would tell me if I should call the vet. Now, there are three vets in the practice I use and one is excellent with feet. The other is pretty good but I don't know about the third one, who is just out of vet school. That makes it tricky - is it all right to say "please don't send vet number 3?"

[starkissed]

Vet for hoof issues. I have seen too many instances where a person calls he farrier and they do whatever, then it ends up being a big deal, like not an abcess but a fractured bone or something.
Having said that, I don't have too many foot issues and don't have too much experience with making a decision

[matryoshka]

Opening an abscess is invasive, which is the vet's territory.

I'm a trimmer, and I don't like to open abscesses. I have done so when the vet requested I do it, but I don't like to.

Here's a difference I noticed between vets and farriers: farriers prefer there not to see blood, because it usually means they screwed up. Vets are drawn to blood, because they want to know what happened.

[pharmgirl]

I think my farrier is wonderful, very educated, and I think also has a good sense of when to say call the vet. He has said on numerous occasions to CALL HIM FIRST! He mentioned that in his experience, most vets do not have the training (or patience, or whatever) to know how to dig in a more educated way, so to speak, in order to get to the problem with minimal hoof damage. My vet has lots of experience, but often defers to the farriers in situations (but he will often work with the farriers if it requires a coordinated effort). That said, I do know of several vets that have more experience and education than your average vet (some who used to be farriers come to mind), so they are clearly more equipped to handle things on their own.

Of course, in a bind I will have whomever is available based on how the issue presents itself.

[merrygoround]

My vet and farrier get along well. My vet is happy to let farrier dig( his knives are always sharper):lol:

Neither is inclined to make big holes. My farrier is fortunately, a smart cookie, who doesn't overstep his boundaries.

Corns, after Dx are the headache of the farrier. It's usually a bad shoeing job. My present guy has never been guilty.

[Gry2Yng]

Farrier.

But then, I have an awesome farrier who is a true farrier, not just a shoer or trimmer. I know a few of each who I wouldn't trust to do this!

This.

ETA, in your situation AJ, I would have called the vet and ended up in the same place. My answer is based on having a known fact. "We have an abscess." I believe in the experience of my farrier and the fact that he looks at more feet than my vet. I also believe in the hands of my massage therapist and the fact that she "touches" more horses than my vet. Having them work together generally gets me a sound horse.

[FineAlready]

Depends on the vet and depends on the farrier. Currently, I'd prefer my vet over my farrier. In the past, I would have strongly preferred my farrier over my vet.

[Betty Shannon]

I prefer the farrier for hooves- even though I have a great Vet.
That being said there is a vet in the area north of Houston that when her treatment fails to heal the horse- be it hoof, hock etc. she will tell the client the horse has EPM without even doing a blood workup. (In Texas most horses will test positive for EPM without having symptoms.) Her treatment to "cure" EPM is to Panacur Power pac the horse for 5 days and then 10 days later Quest plus. She then declares them cured and recommends green clay.

[Chief2]

My situation doesn't exist on the poll. My vet was a farrier before he became a vet. The vet practice also works with a great farrier, so I use him as the horses' regular farrier. The vet comes on board for anything serious and checks all four feet at biannual physicals.

In the past, when the local farriers weren't so great, I went with the vet. I'd say you have to evaluate both professionals for equine foot aptitude, and make the best selection you can for the horse in question. The answer won't always be clear. I have seen vets who would rather refer you to the farrier, and farriers who have mechanically foundered horses in their care and damn near killed them.

[JenRose]

Vet first, then farrier to work under the vet's guidance.

Yep...I like them to work TOGETHER. :cool: Farrier doesn't have access to xray or meds if they are needed.

[Dalemma]

I have to go with my vet. While my farrier is very good at what he does, he does not have medical training. I prefer to see my vet first, get antibiotics if needed and follow up with my farrier if the vet feels it is warranted.

What I think might be an abscess could be something entirely different. My vet can use xrays, my farrier cannot.

I agree.........I have had to have my vet dig out an abcess as it had come back three times........I had my farrier present and he did the original tirm and paring out of most of the sole but it was my vet that went in with sterile equipement right down to sensitive tissue.......wouldn't want my farrier doing that part.

Dalemma