Pad problem on sow

Hello,

I am new to to permies and forums. I raise pigs on pasture and noticed that one of my sows has a bad limp on her left foot. I looked at it today and it looked like she had a rock stuck in her pad, but on further inspection it is part of her hoof that has grown into her pad. I have never seen this before. It is not her toe, but the mass is definitely part of the hoof. She doesn't want to get up or put weight on it. I tried to cut part of it off, but it is fused with the pad and it looks like I would have to tear the pad off to get the mass off of her. I was wondering if anyone has come across this before or has any suggestions? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much

Meagan

Sounds like an ingrown nail (hooves are made of keratin just like our nails), the best tool to snip that offending piece of hoof off is end nips (hoof trimming pliers) available at most farm stores in the area for either horses and or Ferrier supplies.
Be ready, she will not appreciate you messing with that piece of hoof since it will be inflamed under it.
Try to slip one side of the end nips under the hoof and snip it off, this is going to take some time to get it all because to rush it means risking cutting the pad and that isn't good, too easy for infection to set in then.
A hoof knife could probably be used but then you run a risk of cutting yourself and or the hog.

I had to do one of our hogs and it took me a good hour to snip it all away. It was two days before the sow was moving well again after the surgery.

Redhawk