How to Wrap a Hoof Injury

It's hard to keep an injured horse hoof clean and bandaged. Hoofs are irregularly shaped, under constant pressure and always in the dirt. Even if you get a hoof wrapped, keeping the bandage on the presents another challenge.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vet wrap
• Duct tape
• Diapers
• Clean cloth
• Warm water

1. Soak the hoof in warm water to remove any debris from the wound. Soaking a hoof in warm water and Epson salts also cleans the hoof and draws out any abscesses. Make sure the hoof is dry before applying a bandage. Gently pat the hoof and the area around the injury dry with a clean towel.

2. Apply a nonstick dressing over the wound. Diapers or sanitary napkins make excellent wound dressings because they are designed to pull moisture away from the skin. They also add extra padding.

3. Cover your bandage with vet tape. Start at the top of the hoof, just below the coronary band, and wrap the tape 3 or more times. Then wind the tape around the bottom hoof in a figure-8 pattern, wrapping down over the toe, around the bottom of the hoof and then over the opposite heel. This will leave a small gap at the toe of the hoof where the bandage doesn't reach. Leave this open for ventilation and so moisture can drain out.

4. Add 1 to 3 layers of duct tape around the bottom edges of the hoof, the weight-bearing surface, to make the wrap more durable.

Tips & Warnings

• Place a hoof boot over your wrap. Good quality hoof boots are a worthwhile investment if you're dealing with an injury that you must rewrap daily.

Resources

• A photo essay on how to wrap a hoof injury from the publishers of EQQUS.
• Country Supply carries a wide variety of horse medications and first aid supplies.

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