Abscess - help wanted

[Birker2020]

On my request my usual farrier visited last Friday to remove and replace my horses shoe as a nail was protruding through the side.

After shoe removal it was found that the shoe had slightly sprung by about quarter of an inch which is why the clench was showing through the side as it had been forced through when he'd stepped on the back of it.

During the shoe removal the farrier said the horse shot back in the stable after he applied pressure to the inside of the foot and so he suspected an abscess was brewing. My friends that were there at the time kindly applied a poultice for me as I was at work - one was about to ride him for me and he'd not shown any lameness leading up to this point, (he's starting back to work being ridden by the rider 3 times a week after 3 months off).

On Saturday afternoon I removed the poultice and smelt infection, a little bit of yellow stuff on the poultice. I applied a new hot poultice. On Sunday afternoon I removed the poultice and found no sign of infection/pus but applied another hot poultice just in case.

I removed the poultice after work last night and no signs of infection - a visiting farrier smelt the poultice for me (I know he's a Saint!) and said no infection smell, I showed him the photo of his foot and he said it looked like a bruise to him so to dress it with iodine and sugar mixture.

I redressed my horses foot with the iodine and eucaplyptus oil (that's all I had) mixed with white sugar to make a porridge like consistency as a lot of farriers and my own vet swear by this for drying up the foot whilst keeping out any infection.

That night I sent a photo to my farrier (who is a brilliant farrier) saying I'd found no signs of infection since Saturday afternoon but I thought I'd found a bruise and I'd applied iodine and sugar on a dry poultice and could he please come out mid week to put the shoe back on. He looked at the photo and said "where's the bruise?" and when i said up by my thumb he said that that was a mark left my the hot shoe being placed onto the horn.

Now I'm totally confused as my horse is still ouchy in that area but not as much as he was, is not visibly that lame just a little foot sore without a shoe, turns on a six pence without any indication of pain and there is no infection present since Saturday afternoon. When he gets impatient he bangs the foot against the stable door/side of the stable which makes me think it can't hurt him that much, if it did he wouldn't do that.

What would you do now? Keep on trying to dry up the foot or go back to hot poulticing in case the abscess hasn't been eradicated? Or do you think I should just bite the bullet and get the vet involved to start trying to find an abscess if there is one?

Really want to get the horse out of the stable and into the paddock and being ridden again but just stumped as to what to do next.

 

[jnb]

Get a dry poultice on, nappy over the top then duck tape boot & get him out!
Get farrier back ASAP (not world shattering urgent unless hopping lame) to have another dig just in case / put shoe back on?
Red Horse hoof stuff is good at plugging old abscess holes.

 

[Birker2020]

Get a dry poultice on, nappy over the top then duck tape boot & get him out!
Get farrier back ASAP (not world shattering urgent unless hopping lame) to have another dig just in case / put shoe back on?
Red Horse hoof stuff is good at plugging old abscess holes.

Thanks. I think I will ask my friend if I can borrow one of her hoof boots as I borrowed it for my last horse but it will probably be too big for him.

 

[AandK]

Get a dry poultice on, nappy over the top then duck tape boot & get him out!
Get farrier back ASAP (not world shattering urgent unless hopping lame) to have another dig just in case / put shoe back on?
Red Horse hoof stuff is good at plugging old abscess holes.

Agree, I don't keep mine in with an abscess. Bruising would show up as red, not black. Sometimes there may only be a small amount of puss. I would wrap it up and get him back out.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Agree, I don't keep mine in with an abscess. Bruising would show up as red, not black. Sometimes there may only be a small amount of puss. I would wrap it up and get him back out.

My thoughts too.

 

[jnb]

You won't need a hoof boot unless you've got rocks to walk over in the field.
Poultice, square of gamgee over hoof secured by VetWrap.
Then a nappy secured by the tabs (for padding mostly) then make a square with duck tape, I lay the strips overlapping slightly to make a square, then go over the other way on top to reinforce
Cut slits in the corners and hoof in the middle, wrap around hoof by means of the slits then secure with horizontal strips around the top, I check for tightness around the coronet band & make slits if needed and turn out. Mine goes out 24/7 with it on.

 

[meleeka]

Mines got an abscess. It’s been on and off for over a week now. If it’s any help I’m just dry covering it at the moment and turning out, with a warm tubbing if the dressing hasn’t held up in the field. Too many wet poultices can soften the sole too much and cause soreness so then it just confuses the issue.

 

[Birker2020]

I'm sorry I'm not trying to be argumentative.

For him to go out into his paddock he probably has to walk 500 yards on concrete, then up a track of dirt with concrete slabs and stone sticking through, then through a muddy gateway, across a 50m grass/mud track into his paddock which is about 2 inches deep with mud at the gateway given the rain we've had over the last 12 hours. Then he will spend a few minutes cartwheeling around his paddock because he's been in since Friday morning.

Since he's been on box rest and I leave him at 7.30am to go to work and I get there at 4pm and he's toe has managed to come through all the duct tape and nappy and his vet wrap is showing underneath and he's in his stable on a thick bed with rubber matting I can't imagine how he will even get down to his paddock without the whole thing opening up/coming through.

I take it all back. I'm not particuarly bothered the box rest.

 

[AandK]

Not enough layers My field is much further away from my stable.

I have a tried and tested foot wrap, that withstands the 7-8 min walk to my field as well as turnout. Poultice on foot, 3 nappies, half a vetwrap, then cover in ductape. Then half a plastic feed sack with the final layer of ductape (use plenty), this boot keeps the foot dry and clean for 24hrs even in the worst of winter with the horse out 24/7.

 

[SEL]

I do tend to chuck out and then see what happens (although you'd probably need a snorkel and flippers today)

AandK has great advice but otherwise just more and more and more duct tape. If its all trashed by the end of the day then its done its job.

 

[jnb]

Agreed, I use double square of overlapping duct tape then more on top to secure, you can cut a boot insert or thin piece of rubber mat/carpet as a sole protector if you really need one. Can he go out in the school to let off steam first?

Reading this has reminded me why I left my last yard & it's triggering me remembering being on one! Never again, really appreciating my own yard, shelter 24/7 turnout MudControl mats and all! It hasn't come easy or cheap but my God it's worth every 5.45am start!

 

[Birker2020]

. Can he go out in the school to let off steam first?

!

I have to leave the yard by 7.30am latest as work are being stroppy. He doesn't get turned out till 8.30/9am by staff and anyway letting him loose in the school is the very last thing I'd want to do with him, I've spent three plus months rehabbing him from his injury, I really don't want him galloping around like a loony in the school (our school is massive!) although I appreciate what you are saying, its better than galloping about in the paddock and slipping.

I've just spoken to my lovely farrier who has said for me to give his foot by his heel a good firm push tonight and if he's still very sore he won't put the shoe back on tomorrow but may be able to do on Thursday. If he's okay to text him tonight and he will come and put shoe back on tomorrow. He says he's surprised that no more pus came out than I've said.

I'd be happy for him to stay in and turn him out on Saturday morning when I can dope him prior to turnout.

 

[w1bbler]

If you need a turnout boot I thoroughly recommend a woof wear medical hoof boot, only about £30
Just been dealing with an abcess for one that lives out 24/7. Used it for a week & it's stayed on all that time. ( obviously removed twice a day to check / re poultice.
Once past the poultice stage red horse products 'hoof stuff' has stayed in the hole between daily hoof checks.

 

[Birker2020]

If you need a turnout boot I thoroughly recommend a woof wear medical hoof boot, only about £30
Just been dealing with an abcess for one that lives out 24/7. Used it for a week & it's stayed on all that time. ( obviously removed twice a day to check / re poultice.
Once past the poultice stage red horse products 'hoof stuff' has stayed in the hole between daily hoof checks.

Thank you I may buy one when I have some money. At the moment I have so little money as the vets bills have been knocking me for six I am struggling to buy my lunches for work/diesel in car.

Anyway by the time it came I'm hoping he'll be out again.

 

[meleeka]

If you need a turnout boot I thoroughly recommend a woof wear medical hoof boot, only about £30
Just been dealing with an abcess for one that lives out 24/7. Used it for a week & it's stayed on all that time. ( obviously removed twice a day to check / re poultice.
Once past the poultice stage red horse products 'hoof stuff' has stayed in the hole between daily hoof checks.

I ordered one but was surprised at how small the top is. My friesian has very chunky fetlocks and there’s no way I would have got the zip done up.

 

[Birker2020]

I ordered one but was surprised at how small the top is. My friesian has very chunky fetlocks and there’s no way I would have got the zip done up.

Mines XXL and the farrier said that the boots that were on him - Premier Equine weren't covering his heel. Elephant size I think yet his feet are smaller than my last horses who was in just full size.

 

[w1bbler]

I ordered one but was surprised at how small the top is. My friesian has very chunky fetlocks and there’s no way I would have got the zip done up.

The horse I used one on is a traditional gypsy, the neoprene is very stretchy & I had no problems, although I did have to trim his magnificent feathers ?

 

[Birker2020]

I got here and walked Lari and turned him sharply on both reins and no sign of lameness.

I've just spoken to another visiting farrier - we have about 6 or 7 serving the forty odd horses we have here.

He kindly put hoof testers on Lari and he's ouchy all over his foot and clearly can't have a shoe back on atm.

I've rung the vet and the on call vet is giving me a ring back to discuss. I think I'm going to have to get a vet out and go from there.

Will update you as and when. Thank you for your advice.

 

[Birker2020]

Ok vet thinks its a bruise so i need to cold poultice with iodine and sugar mixture and if no better in 3 days to get foot xrayed to see what's going on.

She said if it was an abscess I'd not be able to turn him sharply as he'd be very sore and certainly lame by now.

I'm very upset. This is exactly how Bailey went and the same vet as the one i spoke to tonight xrayed last time to find crumbling navicular. It feels like de ja vu.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I don't know though. My horse had an abscess that came out of his sole, and was never lame. It was only evident by the small hole/indent it left behind. I noticed it and trimmer confirmed. Thought that quite odd.

But yes, generally they are quite lame. Could also be a combination of things; bruising and an abscess.

 

[dixie]

Don’t panic yet. Bruises and abscesses can be awful to deal with and alarming but rarely do they have long term consequences.
if it’sa bruise is usually better to get a shoe on to get the foot off the floor and turn out but I appreciate the shoe is now off and maybe not possible to get it back on.
I also find farriers are much better at dealing with these than the vets.

 

[AdorableAlice]

William Hunter Equestrian Horsecrocz - Reuseable hardwearing protection for hoof dressing - Comes with 10 Horsecrocz zip ties - Easy & quick to apply - Sold individually : Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

These are very useful. I always have a couple in my medicine cupboard. They even go big enough for the heavy hunter types. You do need to put a wedge of gamgee/padding behind above the heel and into the pastern to stop rubbing and you also need strong scissors to cut the cable ties to get the boot off.

 

[mini-eventer]

My horse took 6 weeks to come sound from a bruise, he was never lame in walk intermittently in trot. They can go on a bit, don't panic yet.

If he has crap feet he could easily have a nasty bruise

 

[Tiddlypom]

^^^ I was just going to suggest the horse crocz/vet strider too, AA . This is the IDx, who has large feet. Good for up to 12 hours a day turn out, but take the boot part off for the other 12 hours.

 

[AdorableAlice]

^^^ I was just going to suggest the horse crocz/vet strider too, AA .

View attachment 87569

Whoever invented them was very clever and I hope made a good business out of them. They are a very useful bit of kit in my view and certainly protect the gaffer tape at the toe from splitting open.

 

[Birker2020]

Thank you, all of you for your help. Will see how he is in the morning.

He doesn't look like he's in the least bit bothered about it all. He was described in his advert as acting like an overgrown puppy and that's exactly how he is! Goofy is the word bless him.

I think I've fallen for him

 

[nutjob]

My horse was intermittently lame last year for a few weeks, sometimes just a few steps which he would work through. He went for 2 vet work ups where he was sound and at the second had xrays of both front feet, nothing to be seen. Eventually on trimming a large bruise appeared in the toe but it took weeks to grow down to where you could see it. Mine also has a habit of kicking the stable door, he paws the ground a lot and will even kick the wall of the stable if the door is open and he could just walk out through it. Hopefully it will not be something serious but I understand the frustration when it drags on and you don't have a definitive diagnosis.

 

[Hallo2012]

having just dealt with an abscess, mine was 3 legged broken legged toe pointing lame(we thought it was a bruise and didn't poultice straight away) and then 1/10 lame next day after it burst so if you burst it straight away he might not have been as sore as they normally are.

the woof boots are brill, size 3 is snug on my welsh c, i have to pull the zip together to fasten it but a size 4 would probably come off in his cartwheels!

 

[Birker2020]

having just dealt with an abscess, mine was 3 legged broken legged toe pointing lame(we thought it was a bruise and didn't poultice straight away) and then 1/10 lame next day after it burst so if you burst it straight away he might not have been as sore as they normally are.

the woof boots are brill, size 3 is snug on my welsh c, i have to pull the zip together to fasten it but a size 4 would probably come off in his cartwheels!

Thank you. It's really weird as he didn't seem lame even on the first day before any pus came out. Just sensitive on his sole. That's why I'm convinced its not an abscess and is a bruise. Farrier says they all react differently, he's known some in hospital plates with a bruised sole, other not lame at all.

I'm so hoping the farrier has managed to put the shoe on today, I texted him last night as he'd said he was going to have a look today as he was passing. I said he's still sore so if you have any doubts leave it because if he's too sore he might quite rightly cause an issue with future shoeings, so he said he would have a squeeze with the hoof testers first.

Trouble is one minute he reacts to you squeezing the sole, the next he doesn't. I am starting to wonder if he's just being over cautious as it obviously hurt him last week when the shoe was taken off and it might be remembered pain rather than actual. The farrier is very good and will be very sympathetic towards him - if he's sore he will leave it.

I will find out when I get up the yard in a bit if he managed to get a shoe on, if so he can go out Saturday afternoon when we've doped him and altered his fence line to restrict his grass.

 

[Birker2020]

UPDATE: Farrier managed to get the shoe back on yesterday without too much of an issue.

He's walking fine on it too, put him on the walker for a ten minute leg stretch last night and he was sound on it this morning, if I'm being really fussy I'd say he was slightly sore on turning but hardly noticeable to be honest.

So very happy. So going to leave in today (most of ours are) and then turn out Saturday afternoon with a bit of sedalin once I've managed to make the paddock a bit smaller with the electric fencing.