Abscess,Keratoma or something else. HELP!

Loudabell

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Please some one give me some advice as I'm totally clueless with this one and feel like I can't cope with much more!

Loaned my girl in October, knowing she had had an abscess the previous June.
To cut a very long story short she's had 2 abscess in her front feet now since October. Both burst at the toe. One was thought to be a Keratoma and the other hoof just bad luck. I've been poulticing for 6 months and neither have ever healed or run dry. She's had X-rays and 2weeks ago went to the hospital to have the Keratoma removed.

She came home and I was told there was no Keratoma. Her hoofs had been dremelled and after further x rays the vets were convinced that all the abscess pockets had been removed from both hoofs. She's wearing balance shoes now and the vet filled one of the holes in her hoofs last week. the other was left as it needed to dry a bit. Brilliant!!!!! For the first time in 6 months I thought I was rid of the vet wrap and duct tape and perhaps I could actually ride!

No such luck. Vet out again on Friday as horse was crippled again. Filler removed As he thought it was pinching. Well I could smell the puss straight away. Behind the filler it was rank! Vet said perhaps it could be some dirt that was trapped. Not convinced by this at all as he used so much white spirit! Today the other hoof, which wasn't filled is producing puss. There are no tracts or holes that it is seeping through. It just seems to be seeping through the hoof wall. It's the same foam consistency that we used to find in the old abscess hole before the operation.

Does any one know of anything that could be causing this. I think it's highly unlikely to be a secondary abscess in each hoof. We've tested for Cushings and X-rays show no lammy.

I just don't know what to do. Insurance runs out in June so I feel I need to move quickly but the vet just says leave it a week and see if it dries up. She has massive, open holes in her feet that are still pussing. I can't leave it!
 
I'd go back to the hospital or to another hospital if you weren't happy with the one your horse went to last time, if you still have plenty of money left on the insurance. I think your vet should have sorted it by now if it is within their capabilities.

There has to be an under lying problem behind it. I used to look after a pony who I believe got MRSA infection inside a front foot and that just kept being problematic until he was destroyed - I worked that out too late, not that I know it would have been treatable anyway.

I also have a horse with a keratoma after having been assured by a different vet a few months earlier after x-rays that there was no keratoma. :rolleyes: Don't just keep waiting for the vet working with it to sort it, you don't have much time, get someone better.
 
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thankyou for your replies. i shall get pictures up at the weekend.

both feet are still pussing so i've called the vet out again. they are now considereing whether she has infected pedal bones. i'm anoyed about this as xrays showed abnormalities in her pedal bones 6 months ago but as the vet was concentrating on a possible Keratoma and abscess the abnormalities were ignored.

as a result i may have embarked down the wrong route, spending my insurance on dremelling abscesses and not getting to the route of the problem. do i have an argument with the vet regarding this? it's been me calling the shots all along and i feel really let down.

does any one have experience with a horse having 2 infected pedal bones? my mare is 16 and has now been stuck in for 6 months. She's a bit sore to walk but otherwise happy. Insurance runs out in June and i only have £1500 left on the policy any way. no real savings behind me as i've spent them all on buying my girl and bandages, boots etc - bits the insurance never pays out for.

am i going to have to make a heart breaking decision?
i just dont want my poor girl to suffer. i've only had her for 6 months but love her so dearly
 
Get a referral to a hospital. Your vet has no idea what is going on or they would have sorted it by now. 1500 is enough for what needs doing(x-rays and second opinion).
 
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