crumbly and grooved hooves- what is it?

[xoxoGOATSxoxo]

My milking doe has something wrong with her hooves. She's about 2 - 3 weeks overdue for a trimming because I've been sick, so I haven't had energy to fight with her about it.

Yesterday I started to do it, but stopped because her hooves were pretty weird. I trim her hooves every month and a half, and last time there was nothing wrong. Well, besides from being kind of overgrown, they had crumbly little white patches that were slightly juicy, and the outsides were grooved about halfway down the side of the hoove wall, until where the hoof meets the ground. If I wanted to, I think I could have wedged the trimmers in there and actually pried a layer of hoof off, but of course I didn't. I cut a lot, trying to get all the white stuff, but as I got deeper the line between the sole and the wall became brown and juicy. I didn't do too much, I stopped when it looked like blood was near.

There was no smell, but could it still be foot rot? She has no limp, and the other goats hooves are normal .

[TexCountryWoman]

It sounds like thrush, a yeast type infection. Did the smell remind you of yeast or an athlete's foot type smell? I had an old goat that used to get that during rainy spells. I dipped her feet in betadine twice a day for several days and it cleared up. Keep the hooves trimmed to keep that area aired out...moisture is the enemy.

[TexCountryWoman]

Here's a link that may be useful:

www.tennesseemeatgoats.com

click on "health and management articles" and then on "hoof rot"

I tried to post just that article but it wouldn't link

[moonspinner]

White patches could indicate hoof scald.

[Teacupliz]

white patches could be nothing- is she limping? just trim them up-Liz in NY

[mygoat]

It is the beginning of hoof rot. Trim and scrape/scoop away the damaged tissue and clean the hoof really well, trimming it close... Then spray with 7% iodine. It should cause them to dry up.

[xoxoGOATSxoxo]

She doesn't limp, and it just smelled like a goat foot. Nothing special.

I don't know how I can keep her feet dry, its been wet for weeks. Quite unusal weather for early fall, it usually is wet in late fall and all spring only. Sighhh.

[xoxoGOATSxoxo]

Wow! what a website! its quite informative.

[Milk n' Honey]

When we were treating our goats for hoof scald, that is exactly what they looked like after treating them for several days so my guess would also be that it is the beginning of hoof scald. Don't delay treating her or you'll have a mess on your hands and more will possibly get it since it is bacterial. Kopertoxx worked great for us. You paint it on with a small art paint brush. You'll want to do that b/c at best it is around $15 for the bottle. It kicks it in the butt though. Once they get it full blown, it is a few weeks of treating and trimming and not much fun so make haste!! Good luck!!