Abscess help?

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yhearia

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About 2 weeks ago I went to get in my horse, only to notice she was hopping lame (virtually on 3 legs), so obviously got the vet out, the vet said she was nearly 100% sure it was an abscess, so poulticed it, and told me to redo the poultice 2 times a day, and let her know how it went.

After 2 days the horse was still hopping lame, so on reccomendation of a friend I called out the farrier, who almost instantly found the abscess, and put in two drain holes, and told me to continue poulticing until there was no more pus coming out of it.

After following his instructions, once the poultice came out clean I took it off, and left her to recover.

Though worryingly, she still isnt completely sound, I would be interested to hear your opinions and experiences, and if possible any advice as to what I should do?
 
My old loan pony (the grey in my sig) had something similar happen .. came in hopping lame and discovered he had an abcess in his foot .. it was drained and poulticed but he was still lame .. turned out he had a tumor in his foot which he had to have removed and had 5 months box rest. He recovered well though. Your horse may not be as bad as Alfie was, but ask the vet to check anyway just incase .. I know lots of horses that have just had abcesses and have been fine after a few days off ... im no expert but i thought id just mention it .. hope i havent worried you :S
 
Okay thanks, will get the vet back out after holiday period methinks, she isnt in any bad pain, as she certainly is fine in herself!
 
It can take over a week for a horse with a finsihed abscess to come sound, you have no idea what damage it caused in the foot before it was opened up and all that needs to heal. I wouldn't worry too much for another few days. It also depends how big the holes were! She has to grow a new sole under the holes and that takes time.
 
We had a livery that had a very deep seated abscess that took 6 weeks to heal, the vet and blacksmith thought they had sorted it but the abscess was in fact 2 abscesses one near the surface and one a lot further back. It took 8 weeks for the abscess and sole to heal.
 
Surprised your vet didn't cut out a drain hole when they came out.

Certainly sounds like everything is going in the right direction. Although most abscesses clear up pretty quickly you do get the odd one, especially if it is deep seated that can take quite a while. There can also be more than one track that hasn't been drained with some pus in it causing pressure.

I find that the blacksmith is usually the best bet at opening up a drainage channel
 
My horses are barefoot and live out, with access to a field shelter and hardstanding.

Ive been dealing with abcesses for 30 years and usually they are pretty streight forward to treat. but it all depends on the site of the abcess .
If mine get the odd one I let them walk it out, giving bute and letting them have the same freedom. Usually its enough for the abcess to work its way out through the coronet band.

There is no way id let a vet near one of mine nor a farrier digging holes. Why make an entrance hole for more infection to get in, you need to keep it out.
If it wasn't just a pretty streight forward sort of abcess then id call in my E.P

Hoof boots like the G'2 are wonderful for poulticing. [ poultice boots are a waste of money, only last a few hours, when a proper hoof boot lasts years!]
my method for a stabled horse or a deep seated abcess is to slip on a rubble sack and tape it lightly round the leg with gaffa tape up to the knee. Put on the hoof boot Then pour in a 'warm' solution of clean trax topping up as necessary.
After clean traxing the foot I apply a nappy and another rubble sack taping it on with gaffa tape. Or id put on a thinner dressing and rubble sack and slip it back into the hoof boot.
 
I've had to deal with a lot of these, and it can sometimes take a week or so to become completely sound. Unless still lame in two weeks, I wouldn't worry about it. Obviosuly, if the lameness becomes worse, get your vet out again.
 
My veteran has had 2 abscesses in the past year, one in his near fore, the other in his off hind and it is a very scary experience. (I think the older they get, the more susceptible they are to abscesses due to circulation not being as good?) He went from being a mad 27 year old, galloping round his field, to hopping lame in about 24 hours. The last time he was in a lot of pain, bless him, and couldn't even walk. I called my farrier out who came, couldn't find anything initially, then dug deeper and found a huge abscess, which he burst and drained. The pus fizzed out (it was disgusting!) and the relief on my pony's face was immediate and obvious. He was a bit lame for a day or so, then he was completely sound again. The best bit was trying to keep the hole in his hoof clean - he and his field companion are native breeds who live out 24/7 and love getting filthy...so I cleaned the wound twice a day, and packed it with cotton wool soaked in iodine to drain out any infection remaining, then bandaged it and put on a poultice boot, which he then proceeded to think of increasingly ingenious ways to remove and hide in mud...! He has since been fine again. At least I know now exactly what to do when he gets another one and can act quickly.
 
Abscesses can rumble on for ages so don't be alarmed. I'm surprised your vet dug around for it now - the latest veterinary thinking is to let them erupt on their own and not to dig around in the hoof and I have to say I agree with this totally. I wouldn't let a vet or a farrier dig any holes in my horses feet - why create new access routes for more infection to get in? The best solution for abscesses is to poultice, movement (never box rest a horse with an abcsess as movement is essential to get the abscess to erupt) and allow nature to take it's course. The abscess will find it's own route out - preferably out through the coronary band.
 
We have a horse that is prone to abscesses and I am more than happy for the vet/farrier to release the pressure and allow it to drain out. The horse is almost fracture lame and cannot be left like that. Plus you run the risk of it tracking elsewhere in the foot before it escapes.

As long as you dry poultice once the gunk is out to allow the foot to heal it isn't a problem. We turn ours out during the day in Boa boots with a dry poultice. This way they generally come sound within a day of the abscess being dug out and less bute is required.
 
Exact same thing happened to me with my thoroughbred! Has your farrier put a pad underneath the hoof? If not you might want to do this, especially if he's out in the field a lot. Otherwise, get your farrier to check the hoof again to ensure there's been no re-entry of the infection.
Best of luck
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