Abcsess lameness not improving :(

[Hoof_Prints]

My ISH went progressively lame (suspected bruising) then suddenly very lame on three legs which the vet said was an abscess. He dug out a section of hoof in the top corner below the heel and a spot of black pus came out- but then it started bleeding quite a lot and the vet couldn't dig any further.

He packed it with surgical spirit and cotton wool and said to wait until it burst out the heel- giving him restricted turnout but said that poultice would not do much.

I left him in for a few days but he was going crazy so I then turned him out in a small paddock with his friends which he was much happier with- and bringing him in at night with his friends. The lameness improved after the first hole was dug immediately but since then- it has remained at a constant level of lameness.

I hot poulticed anyway used animalintex and some goo did come out on the poultice for a few days - but not sure if this was abscess as it wasn't the black liquid that the vet had showed me.

So i'm not sure what to do now- as my vet told me to just wait for it to burst through the heel but I can't see this happening very soon and he is in a fair bit of pain! should I call my farrier to take a look?

 

[Nickijem]

You have my sympathy! I have been treating my horse since the beginning of December for an abscess that clears up then re-occurs. He is sound now in walk but I am bagging his hoof and putting a boot on to keep it clean now. I think I was leaving it uncovered too soon so this time I shall keep it covered for at least another month.
I would get the farrier to have a look. My farrier has been great although I have had the vet out twice as well!

 

[Hoof_Prints]

My vet did say that if I needed him to come out another time then he would try to keep digging out the hoof- but I am wary of this as I have heard some horror stories!! Sorry to hear about your horse, I hope yours makes a quick recovery. Mine has been lame for about a month now- but it was so minor at first I just left him to heal as he has had bruising before and showed similar symptoms. He is slightly lame in walk when he is first brought out of his stable but is worse coming in from the field. He had a bit of a buck and gallop about yesterday and then was in so much pain he stood waving his leg in the air- after a very cold hosing it numbed the pain it seemed and he remained fine for the rest of the day..

I am beginning to think it will never burst and just stay in there forever!!

 

[cptrayes]

I think if your horse has been lame for a month that I would be asking for an xray. The corn the vet dug out was not necessarily the source of the pain. A spot of black at that point is quite common. Movement is making him worse, which I would not normally expect from an abscess. A month is a very long time for it to brew, especially if it is already in the heel and does not have far to travel to break out. Lastly, I think it has gone on too long to leave any longer, just in case he has something like a pedal bone fracture, which can normally be mended as long as it gets stabilised in time.

 

[SusieT]

have you had your vet back out for a revisit?

 

[mightymammoth]

agree with the x ray, My horse has previously had hoof x rays and the vet came to the yard, I was surprised how reasonably priced the x rays were.

 

[soloequestrian]

I would always x-ray if an abscess appeared to persist - had one with septic pedal osteitis - the pedal bone became infected via a deep abscess. She needed surgery under a general.

 

[Hoof_Prints]

Ok I will ask the vet to come out and do x rays- any idea how much this would cost ? I've not had experience with abscess before and people have told me it has taken weeks to burst so I thought it was just a waiting game really. Thank you for the replies- although I am very worried now

He is quite sound after being in all night and then after a day out he limps a bit if he's taken it steady (goes out for about 5 hours). he limps more on 'rougher' ground . But as I say, after a hoon around the field he was very lame (non weight bearing) but within about 10 minutes of resting it, returned to his previous level of lameness and was walking around only slightly limping.

He does find it very painful to press his heel and it looks swollen but nothing has burst out of the heel at all...

 

[JennyNZ]

You have my sympathy - abscesses are horrible for horses and torture for owners.

IME, it can take anything up to three or four weeks for an abscess to completely work its way out and be done and dusted. During that time it can come and go, it may come out a couple of places or it may just take the scenic route.

I have never found digging or poulticing to be of much help, but letting the horse move as much as it wants increases circulation and therefore helps speed the abscess on its way to wherever its going.