Abscess newbie!

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dexnem

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My pony has had a weird lameness since July. I've been through physio, vets, farrier and now on to mctimoney. When the mctimoney came, she noticed a bruise on the bulb of the heel and when I checked it this morning, it has cracked and sunk in, approx the size on a 1p piece and forms a V shape. Is this the start of an abscess? It is on his off hind so not an over reach injury. I've never dealt with an abscess before so I'm not sure what the progression is. On the upside, the vet is coming for his jabs tomorrow so can ask then but don't want to leave it open to infection!

Thanks - apologies for the lack of picture.
 
doesn't sound like a classic abscess to me as usually nothing to be seen on the surface could be a bruise I would poultice the area and see what if anything comes better still tub in warm water and epsom salts which would draw it before poulticing.
 
Yes could well be. A lot of abscesses burst out the heel bulb. Does it smell? It should smell really rotten! If so i would give it a good tub in some warm epson salts water and wouldn't bother poulticing as it looks like its already burst, just make sure it's kept clean and dry so no more infection gets in
 
If it is a burst abscess in that position it is difficult to get the last bit of puss out as it is often shaped like a saucer and natural drainage does not go uphill! I would poultice to draw out the last puss then cover with a dry dressing.Tubbing in warm and espom salts while massaging the area to move any remaining puss out.If it heals with puss still in you will be back to square one very quickly.
 
My favorite poultice recipe: Get dry epsom salts, cotton balls or makeup pads or cut a maxi pad in half, duct tape, and a bottle of water.

Make a duct tape square (double layers last longer, cross hatch them) - http://www.thehorse.com/images/content/ducttapeboot3.jpg
Cut the corners diagonally, then stick to your pants for easy access; photo is to show concept - https://www.americanfarriers.com/ext/resources/images/2012plus/2012/04/Wrapping/6.jpg

Clean the foot with pick and brush, maybe give it a rinse if it's that dirty. While holding the foot, fill 'er up with epsom salt. Use the bottle to drip water into it until it's a paste consistency. (You can also just make the paste separately if you think your horse won't stand for this, and pack it in the same)

lay a thin layer of cotton in - either smashed cotton balls, makeup pads or your maxi pad cut in half (makes an obvious hoof shape)

put the tape square on with two corner slits situated at the heel bulbs like the picture.

Ring of duct tape around the bottom edge of the foot to reinforce the parts they walk on.

Leave overnight!


This method has resolved some serious bruising in one of my old horses- it draws the bad stuff out as well as providing some pain relief.
 
Hi - sorry for no reply! The hoof hasn't changed at all however if now warm to the touch. I'm going to speak to a farrier today and if he thinks it is anything, I'll poultice. Nothing is coming out and it looks more like a cut - however I have no experience with these so I'll just do my best. No smell coming from it or any liquid but it also hasn't healed at all so it's worth a try I suppose. Thanks ever so much!
 
Maxi pads for abscesses. Pure genius. Can't wait to tell the lads on the yard that I'm adding those into the first aid cupboard.

Dexnem - my YO regularly poultices as a precaution and more often than not for the kind of lameness you're describing something will come out. Often there is a tiny thorn or other irritant in the hoof which is just not shifting of its own accord and needs a little help.
 
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