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Veteran
Posts: 118
| My 7 year old gelding has come up with soft, shelly, crumbling hooves due to all the rain we have been getting. My farrier suggested yesterday to start putting Keratex hoof hardener on his hooves. When I took my horses off processed feed and went more "natural" I also started going more "natural" with the products I used on them...not only for their health but for mine too. Sooo...it gives me the heebie jeebies to think about putting formaldehyde on his hooves. Before I click submit to order some tonight I am wondering if there are any alternatives to the Keratex that may be a little "healthier"??? His diet consist of alfalfa pellets, rice bran and 8 oz of whole flax, an MSM/Aloe Vera combo, I just started him on Bio-Mos prebiotic and THE Muscle Mass. He gets an alfalfa/timothy mixture hay and decent pasture. TIA!! |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
  
Location: The best kept secret in TX | Can you start feeding him straight Biotin? I put my boy on it for 90 days and took him off once his feet were long enough to correct his under run heels.
I've used Mustad Tough Stuff before and liked it on the only paint I've ever owned. He had very soft feet.
I really like the Barehoofin Hoof Hardener as well. It doesn't seal the hoof. It lets the hoof breath.
Depending on if your horses are in a dry lot or are still in a wet lot there are two options for you that are formaldehyde free. I would still buy the straight biotin and keep him on it until you feel you need to pull him off. Makes them really shiney too. 
Tough Stuff: https://www.statelinetack.com/Search.aspx?query=%20SLT180269
Barehoofin: https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?PGGUID=7EB2C966-75B7-432F-98F7-4786747B02A6&gas=42273
Biotin: https://www.amazon.com/AniMed-Biotin-100-5-lbs/dp/B004PYG52Y |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 898
Location: Mountains of VA | Keratex has worked wonders for one of mine. I have tried biotin, jello and expensive hoof supplements but nothing has worked as well as Keratex plus make sure your horse a good salt/vitamin/mineral loose mixture. IMO I would quit using all the other supplements and make sure your horse has good hay/forage, good feed and a good mineral mixture. Start using Keratex everyday. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 538
Location: Central Texas | I didn't use Keratex, but used a "hoof paint" made by my vet that included iodine and formadahyde. It worked wonders! My boy has a thinner sole, and he's barefoot. A few years ago he had some problems because of all the rain we had too. He would be fine on soft grass or arena dirt, but gimpy on firm ground. I used the hoof paint and fed Vita-Biotin. His hooves firmed up and he has done well. I keep some on hand most of the time in case he starts having trouble again. It's worth it to make your horse comfortable again. |
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Keratex hoof hardener