Abcess trouble

[Pinkvboots]

I noticed a few weeks back one of my horses was lame in the field, got him in and his shoe was a bit loose, got farrier out and he took it off there was a tiny bit of blood on the inside near the nail holes, so he hoof tested and it was sore in this area after a bit of digging he found an abcess so I hot poulticed this for about 4 days then dry poulticed for 3, on Tuesday this week he came back and put the shoe back on I rode him yesterday and he feels slightly off on that leg, I only did a bit of trot but he did feel slightly off, felt worse on the harder ground.

When we found the abcess he did have heat down the inside of his foot and that seems normal now, so I am wondering if maybe the shoe being loose has bruised his foot, as in the past once the abcess has cleared up they return back to being sound again, or I am now wondering if not all the pus has come out.

So should I just leave it a while and see what happens and give it a while, ?

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

It can be difficult to diagnose which hind leg is lame, I don't think it will resolve itself, I would ask the farrier to come back and see what he suggests, also in future insist horse is trotted up after shoeing.
Also it may be that you need a pair of shoes behind after all this time has passed.
Check for heat, and thrush.
Personally I would consider having both hinds removed for maybe two weeks, if horse will be ok without.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Sorry should have said the abcess was in front, his shod in front but not behind, none of his feet have thrush, I just thought as it was so slight it might have been a bruise from the loose shoe.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

I don't know why I assumed it was hind legs, sry, but any bruising would have been seen when foot was prepared for shoeing, and would probably have worked out by now, I would ring farrier see what he suggests.

 

[McCauley]

In the meantime,..i'd probably go with hot tubbing the foot in Epsom salts if you can.. it will go some way to healing if there is still bruising present and keep the area good and clean too.

How big is the hole the farrier left? I'd also be incllined to plug the hole with some Keratex Hoof Putty,..it's an antiseptic pine tar and smells lovely and will not inhibit growth while her foot repairs itself, but help to keep the area from getting full of dirt again and possibly re-infected, with it now being a weakness in her hoof at the moment.

I've used this regime in the past when my boy suffered from 3 abcesses in 1 year (one of them being a double sub solar one too!) and the hoof putty was a godsend as he was living out at the time. I hot tubbed, poulticed with Epsom salts, wrapped his hoof in a nappy, duct taped it up and popped a Davis hoof boot on it and turned him out. Worked well and kept him moving, aiding the abcess to drain and clear itself. I only put the hoof putty in when i was certain there was no more pus to come out.

Hope that helps a little as i can appreciate abcess are a pain in the butt at time,..but,...infection wise: rather out than in as they say!!

Edited to add: the shoe will obviously need removing if you do suspect there is anything still going on abcess wise!,..but you'll know that anyhow! LOL

 

[Pinkvboots]

I don't know why I assumed it was hind legs, sry, but any bruising would have been seen when foot was prepared for shoeing, and would probably have worked out by now, I would ring farrier see what he suggests.

He did say he couldnt see any visable bruising but he said the shoe could have been baning on the sole as it had moved slightly, I will ring him later although he is probably sick of me seen me quite a bit in the last week.

 

[Pinkvboots]

In the meantime,..i'd probably go with hot tubbing the foot in Epsom salts if you can.. it will go some way to healing if there is still bruising present and keep the area good and clean too.

How big is the hole the farrier left? I'd also be incllined to plug the hole with some Keratex Hoof Putty,..it's an antiseptic pine tar and smells lovely and will not inhibit growth while her foot repairs itself, but help to keep the area from getting full of dirt again and possibly re-infected, with it now being a weakness in her hoof at the moment.

I've used this regime in the past when my boy suffered from 3 abcesses in 1 year (one of them being a double sub solar one too!) and the hoof putty was a godsend as he was living out at the time. I hot tubbed, poulticed with Epsom salts, wrapped his hoof in a nappy, duct taped it up and popped a Davis hoof boot on it and turned him out. Worked well and kept him moving, aiding the abcess to drain and clear itself. I only put the hoof putty in when i was certain there was no more pus to come out.

Hope that helps a little as i can appreciate abcess are a pain in the butt at time,..but,...infection wise: rather out than in as they say!!

Edited to add: the shoe will obviously need removing if you do suspect there is anything still going on abcess wise!,..but you'll know that anyhow! LOL

He hardly made a hole as he found the sore spot with hoof testers and just scraped near the nail hole and the pus came out, so I have been poulticing putting nappy on and covering it so he can go out for the last week, on the last few days I was putting surgical spirit on the area, farrier said it looked fine hence putting shoe on, he just felt not quite right yesterday not nodding lame.

I will tub it again for a few days and see how I go and give the farrier a call, the heat has all gone from the foot now so am sure abcess has gone thanks for your advice.