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.

Things You'll Need

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

    • 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.