Abcess/thrush

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Neburu

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Looking for some general advice.

I've just bought a 6 month old unhandled colt. He was living in muddy conditions so has come to me been in a stable for a week and 2 days ago he went hopping lame on the right hind. There was no slight lameness before, one day he was sound, the next day he doesn't want to put any weight on the leg unless he absolutely has too.

Today I managed to get him to let me pick his hoof up and feel down his hind legs, there is no heat or swelling in the leg and from what I managed to pick out, feel inside the hoof there was nothing major stuck in it.

He has got really bad thrush though and I'm wondering if it the thrush can make him that lame or if he has got an abcess that is about to burst.

Your thoughts? I don't want to get a vet out yet as he is very stressed out still and not settled and if something changes handling wise he gets the runs really bad.

Not sure how much more stress he can put up with. He has improved amazingly with a week of being around me, so hoping to get him to the point that he will just about tolerate a vet within the next 10 days.

Do you think its worth leaving him a few more days to see if anything changes with the lameness? Before rushing to get the vet out? Going to keep trying to pick that hoof out and then move on to the others once the lame hoof is clean.
 
if you can check there is nothing in the hoof and there is no heat or swelling then the risk of an infection is low, if it is an abcess then it should erupt sooner rather than later. difficult one I am on the fence as to wether a vet now is needed but my gut instinct say no heat no swelling then keep him rested and it is likely to be thrush or abcess, if you can pick out feet and keep them clean and dry he should improve sooner rather than later-do his feet smell?
 
twiggy2 said:
if you can check there is nothing in the hoof and there is no heat or swelling then the risk of an infection is low, if it is an abcess then it should erupt sooner rather than later. difficult one I am on the fence as to wether a vet now is needed but my gut instinct say no heat no swelling then keep him rested and it is likely to be thrush or abcess, if you can pick out feet and keep them clean and dry he should improve sooner rather than later-do his feet smell?
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That's the trouble I'm having, I can't find heat or swelling anywhere in the leg, so thinking to give him a few more days to see if he improves.

Yes his feet smell nasty :)
 
the thing is if his feet are really struggling then maybe he will need atibiotics and some thing pretty strong to get them on the right road to recovery. at least if the vet see's him if they feel it is needed then they can sedate him to have a good look at what is going on.

like I say I am on the fence with this one-I would probably phone and speak to my vet for advice but i have known him for over 20yrs and he is happy to give things time if that is what is needed so I trust his advice
 
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I've had one hopping lame with thrush, it can go quite deep and affect sensitive structures. But it could also be an abscess.

Rather than making foot handling an issue at this early stage, I wonder could you try a foot bath approach? Farmers use something called Goldenhoof (zinc sulphate I think) as a foot bath for sheep and it's quite effective on thrush too. They use a sort of large shallow tray full of it. Is there any way he could be coaxed to stand in a shallow hoof bath of this? It would most likely help bring an abscess out too if that's what it is.

Otherwise, maybe you could consider getting a vet and sedating? Poor wee lad, what a worry for you :(
 
He was still really lame this morning but has come sound this afternoon. No limps at all and weight bearing as normal.

Will keep a close eye over the next few days, but whatever it is seems to have sorted itself out for now. :)

Thanks for all the advice, I was going to ring the vet tomorrow. Glad I hadn't already booked him in!
 
This happened to my boy last week. Had a lesson on Wednesday with no problems, then went to have a lesson on Thursday and he was hopping lame on his front right foot but no heat or swellings on his leg or hoof. I stood that foot in a bucket of Epsom salts and warm water for 10 minutes, then poulticed it. The following morning the poultice was yucky! So did the sane the following day and it was clear. Luckily had the farrier too and he couldn't find anything other than potentially some thrush. My boy now sound after a week x
 
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