Abscess and tubbing water shy horse

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Smudgit

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My Vet has recommended me tubbing my horses foot before applying a poultice for an abscess.Unfortunately he's not keen on water and won't stand in a tub. I can hold the bucket up to his foot and let his foot dangle in it (the abscess is in his heel) but can't do this for long, it's killing my back! As I'm trying to do this early morning and late evening because of work commitments, there's usually nobody around to help me, any ideas anyone?
 
Smudgit said:
My Vet has recommended me tubbing my horses foot before applying a poultice for an abscess.Unfortunately he's not keen on water and won't stand in a tub. I can hold the bucket up to his foot and let his foot dangle in it (the abscess is in his heel) but can't do this for long, it's killing my back! As I'm trying to do this early morning and late evening because of work commitments, there's usually nobody around to help me, any ideas anyone?
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Is he likely to be any more accepting if he's eating a bucket at the time? I started mine off standing in a bucket, then gave him his feed, and started gradually trickling warm water/Epsom salts in. This gets about 3 or 4 minutes (he doesn't get a big feed!), but then I can extend tubbing time by having a small bag of high fibre cubes... as he reaches the bottom of the feed bucket, I start to chuck three or four cubes in which he chases around the bucket, then repeat. We've managed 20 minute soaks this way ;)

IME adding the water gradually, not having it too hot, and adding feed as a distraction all help :)

ETA I should add this method is not fool proof - my horse will now stand quite happily with his hoof in a bucket for long periods, but occasionally I make mistakes... for example, slightly too hot water resulted in him making a fountain and me wearing most of the soaking water... It's worth it, though - it seems the most effective way of getting abscesses out and it also seems to relieve the pain somewhat as horse is always happier after a soak.
 
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Brightbay said:
Is he likely to be any more accepting if he's eating a bucket at the time? I started mine off standing in a bucket, then gave him his feed, and started gradually trickling warm water/Epsom salts in. This gets about 3 or 4 minutes (he doesn't get a big feed!), but then I can extend tubbing time by having a small bag of high fibre cubes... as he reaches the bottom of the feed bucket, I start to chuck three or four cubes in which he chases around the bucket, then repeat. We've managed 20 minute soaks this way ;)



IME adding the water gradually, not having it too hot, and adding feed as a distraction all help :)

ETA I should add this method is not fool proof - my horse will now stand quite happily with his hoof in a bucket for long periods, but occasionally I make mistakes... for example, slightly too hot water resulted in him making a fountain and me wearing most of the soaking water...
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I can get him to put his toe in it, but as soon as his heel goes down, he shoots backwards, yes I've been soaked several times too! The abscess seems to be draining a bit now and he's standing better, but I think the tubbing is supposed to soften the foot to allow the abscess to discharge. Haven't managed more than a few minutes so far... :-(
 
If it's draining, you can probably get away without more tubbing :)
I use the tubbing to get the abscess to open, after that I just use poultice for a few days to make sure it's draining. Just congratulate yourself that you won't have to be packing a hole in the sole for the next 3 months!

I suspect the "hoof in a bucket of water" skill is one better trained when there's no actual need to do it!
 
Yes , he's fine with the wet poultice. The hoof in the water training will be another thing to try at a more convenient time, I think..
Someone with a dry sense of humour must have named him "Splash" :D
I'm sure someone must have manufactured a boot for this, but whether he would put his foot in it, would be another matter...
 
I've used both 'hoofskins', which are rubber pull-on boots for single use, and also a hoof soaking boot. Both much less scary than a bucket.
 
My horse HATES foot soaking...(irritatingly he will stand in a food bowl all day long, but try to relieve the pain of a horrific abscess and no way), the few times I tried it ended up with him boxing at me, the bucket flying across the yard and me covered in water. Soaking boot all the way....I'm currently soaking and the boot goes on, he marches around splashing in the boot...and then I take it off...I'm not crying and he's not angry! :-)
 
avthechav said:
My horse HATES foot soaking...(irritatingly he will stand in a food bowl all day long, but try to relieve the pain of a horrific abscess and no way), the few times I tried it ended up with him boxing at me, the bucket flying across the yard and me covered in water. Soaking boot all the way....I'm currently soaking and the boot goes on, he marches around splashing in the boot...and then I take it off...I'm not crying and he's not angry! :-)
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I've used both 'hoofskins', which are rubber pull-on boots for single use, and also a hoof soaking boot. Both much less scary than a bucket.
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Ha ha, that sounds familiar! What sort of soaking boot do you two recommend? :confused:
 
Oooh I do feel your trauma but I can't give any practical advice on how to solve your problem.

My lad is the most easy going dude on the planet but try and get him to put his hoof in a bucket of water and chaos ensued!! Buckets flung everywhere, me soaked and him looking very pleased with himself. I gave up in the end and stuck to poultices and bandages. Very irritating when the mare in the next stable will stand with her foot in a bucket to have her legs washed - she's even trained to put her own feet in lol.

You might want to try a poultice boot???? Loads on internet for a few quid.
 
Perhaps you're doing all this already but I'll post it in case anything helps…

Use a shallow sided, flexible bucket, I find the thick, black rubber feed buckets best - they're less likely to splash water about or cause a dramatic reaction if the horse moves.

Put the horse's foot in the bucket with the bucket empty, have the water in another bucket or container by the side. When the horse is standing happily and weight bearing in the empty bucket, pour the water in slowly just so it comes up to the coronet band. If the horse stays happy, keep adding a bit more. Don't try to lower the horse's dry foot into a bucket with water in, have enough water ready to hand so that if your horse moves and spills water you can start again..

Keep within reach of the horse's head and anticipate and get to it before he acts on any ideas to fidget or walk off.
 
I use soaking boots but if you don't want to buy one, make your own.

Use an empty feed bag. Cut it shorter and put the horse's leg in it. Secure round the top with duct tape and then pour the liquid into the bag through a small opening. Job done.
 
MrsD123 said:
Just put him in to a very wet puoltice
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Having just had the same experience, I'd agree with this, and since tubbing wasn't a good option in my case, I used a wet nappy as a poultice and added magnesium sulphate as a drawing agent, which I believe is another form of Epsom salts (or so I have read) anyway it worked a treat and I could apply it to the affected area and treat topically.
 
Queenbee said:
Having just had the same experience, I'd agree with this, and since tubbing wasn't a good option in my case, I used a wet nappy as a poultice and added magnesium sulphate as a drawing agent, which I believe is another form of Epsom salts (or so I have read) anyway it worked a treat and I could apply it to the affected area and treat topically.
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hmmm.. that's interesting, I've actually got some magnesium sulphate used to draw a splinter out of my finger! Pleased to say the abscess has burst and now we're on dry poultices, hoping to get the go ahead to put shoes back on today! :)
Never realised how much pain they could be in with abscesses, the pain actually brought on a bout of colic..nightmare! :(
 
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