Abscess most likely?

[spookypony]

Brought pony in from muddy paddock this morning to put him in corral on drier grass. Did a bit of groundwork and didn't notice anything amiss. He spent the whole day grazing in the corral.

Tonight, noticed that he was really not stepping under himself with the left hind. Was too dark to really see, but palpated the sole, and found left heel bulb sensitive. To me, this suggests an abscess. Though he hasn't had one before, it's been so wet! But what else could it really be? He's been on holidays.

Current plan is to poultice during the day while he's in the corral (don't have a stable yet), wait for a few days to see if it blows, and if no improvement, call vet.

Trouble is, don't know how I'm going to poultice with one hand (my left hand is in a splint). Am going to try to get hold of a poultice boot tomorrow. Are those reasonably easy to apply?

Any suggestions or sympathy welcome!

 

[mightymammoth]

sounds like an abscess bl%%dy awful things I think most of us have been hit recently, 4 times for us last year

Never tried a poultice boot as such I use mine as a turnout boot when I need to, with the nappy on it doesn't shift

 

[cptrayes]

It could be a bruise. I don't poultice abscesses and if the heel bulb is already mushy it will go very soon by itself.

When it does, if it is one, don't poultice then either, because the exit wound is higher than the infection and it won't drain properly anyway.

Get soem hydrogen peroxide at 3% dilution, fill a syringe and squirt it into the hole as hard as you can. Watch it doesn't shoot back all over you and bleach your jods, and if you show and his leg is black, wash it off if it gets on the leg or it will go orange

Do that twice a day for at least a week. Turn out normally in between.

 

[noodle_]

my pony is sound as a pound - yet noticed a tiny tiny hole in her hoof.... polticed it and boom.........abcess.


ive never treated one before.... nor had a horse with one so was told nappies and duct tape?

been working anyhow as all the gunk is on its way out - we are on day 4 now

 

[spookypony]

Cheers, everyone! cptrayes, I like your advice, because I can do that one-handed! (And pony's trimmer agrees.) Called round re. poultice boots today, and was advised that one-handed application just isn't going to work. He looked a bit sounder this morning, though hard to see with him bumbling along behind me. Have friend coming over to help me roll a bale in the field, and she will take a proper look.

Could I use povidone instead of hydrogen peroxide?

He's too funny-looking to show, so no worries about orange spots. Though they would clash with his competition colours, especially if I do get him red Renegades.

 

[cptrayes]

I wouldn't use povidone because I think it has detergent in it?? The hydrogen peroxide is to deliver oxygen in big quantities (3.5% is called 10 vol because it delivers ten times its own volume in oxygen once it contacts organic matter)

The little devils which cause the infection are shy and they won't breed in the presence of oxygen

You can buy it at 6% from Boots (add same volume of water before use) or 3% as contact lens disinfectant

For people like me who buy in quantity, 100 vol is available from ebay dead cheap and you water that down by ten to get the right strength. I put 30 ml in a 300 ml bottle and top up with water.

 

[Highlands]

Put foot in nappy and plastic bag then boot..... Agree one handed is not going to be easy. You could tub it in warm water and Epsom salt to draw it

 

[Carlosmum]

May I hi-jack your post? Is it safe to use Hydrogen peroxide in an open wound? I have been treating a calf.... yes calf with a badly abcessized knee, we've been polticing but the hole could do with a good sloosh to get rid of the bugs inside. Just wondering if a well directed syringe would do the trick?

Thanks S