Abcess / pus in foot. ADVICE PLEASE

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Muddywellies

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My horse has pus in his foot. Vet came out 2 wks ago, gave him and antibiotic jab, and told me to poultice, explained exactly what to do etc etc. He also had a weeks course of antibiotics.
About a week ago, the abcess erupted at the coronary band, and the poultice is encouraging out all the gunk. He is also being poultice under his foot, to encourage it all out from every possible angle.
Anyway, my question is, how long can this take to clear up ? He has been being poulticed now for three weeks (alternating wet and dry) yet STILL, gunk is coming out and he is uncomfortable on it. Not hopping lame, and still able to be a hooligan in the field, but clearly he isn't sound. How much gunk can there be in there ?? There is still heat up as far as his hock too, so clearly still infection there. I am very surprised at how long it is taking, as i thought a few days after it burst, it would start drying up. Very frustrating, and quite worrying. The vet said that even after the infection has gone, he can still be lame because of the inflammation. (he is on a sachet of bute a day)
How long can it take for these things to clear up ?
 
get your farrier to have a look. might need a drainage hole. try tubbing in hot salt water twice a day. the abcess may have re brewed since he had antibiotics. i think if you give antibiotics too early it shuts it up then it rebrews!
 
Alot of vets dont bother with anti-b's because they dont do much for the foot. I agree wih ocyc, tub the foot and get the farrier to have a look. If no joy then get the vet again.
 
Second the getting the farrier out.

If you are going to continue with the pouliticing it should be dry only - three weeks is a huge amount of time to continue with wet poulticing.
 
currently dealing with a similar case to yours!

Abscess has erupted from the coronary band and the soul of the foot!! Its a nasty thing

Poultice (dry) still, and just accept its a nasty abscess and treat as such, so continuing poulticing and just general care and stuff
this horse has had drainage holes cut both in the soul and coronet band
 
definitely ask your farrier for advice
In my opinion they are often better informed than vets after all its what they specialise in FEET.

my horse trod on a nail (shoe twisted) the vet left me very very worried saying he may need x rays etc as it was in the region of the pedal bone i worried all night that i may loose him Only to speak to my farrier who came and checked him out the next day to say it was no where near.
Phew big sigh of relief !!!!.
 
'Yes def call farrier anything to do with hooves call them first, drainage hole needed then hot poultice for few days, then onto dry.

My mare had this loads of times, so know what to do, shame a hole wasn't cut into hoof earlier as it would have stopped it bursting out coronary band. Easy said now but you'll know if it happens again.

Good luck x
 
STOP the poulticing. Poulticing for too long can actually start drawing out healthy tissue and do even more harm.
 
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