Nudibranch
Well-Known Member
The mare has PPID and probably as one of the consequences, is on abscess number 4 since last October. 3 out of 4 feet have been involved. The latest one blew about 3 weeks ago - she was a little lame at trot, I poulticed and it blew after a couple of days. Then she went back out. There was a small crack on the heel bulb which was where it was draining I presumed, although there was no visible pus and she was sound again.
Two days ago she started resting the hoof, and on inspection I found the crack had widened. I can now get almost my whole finger into it, which is quite a wierd sensation. It feels like it's running between the frog and the sole. There's an abscessy smell again, clearly it hadn't resolved so I've been hot tubbing, swabbing with iodine inside and poulticing. She's turned out in her poultice to hopefully help it drain and won't stay in alone anyway.
I'm going to ring my vet tomorrow as I think with all these abscesses she may be reaching the end of the line. She's not in great pain but I can't see how she can keep on getting them like this without complications. She's on Prascend and restricted grazing but even last winter she was getting them so I can't see it's entirely sugar related. Our grazing is fell pasture anyway and pretty rough. I allways have them on Pro Balance and use a high-mag Rockies lick. We can't blood test due to her major needle phobia so her Prascend dose is by trial. Maybe we should up it but I just can't help thinking she's never going to be in work and never going to be problem-free for managing. Oh and she has mild arthritis!
So short term, how do I deal with this "pocket" in the heel? And longer term, is there any point in keeping her going? This has turned out to be a completely cr*p year what with the youngster also being a dud... at this rate I'll have no horses at all!
Two days ago she started resting the hoof, and on inspection I found the crack had widened. I can now get almost my whole finger into it, which is quite a wierd sensation. It feels like it's running between the frog and the sole. There's an abscessy smell again, clearly it hadn't resolved so I've been hot tubbing, swabbing with iodine inside and poulticing. She's turned out in her poultice to hopefully help it drain and won't stay in alone anyway.
I'm going to ring my vet tomorrow as I think with all these abscesses she may be reaching the end of the line. She's not in great pain but I can't see how she can keep on getting them like this without complications. She's on Prascend and restricted grazing but even last winter she was getting them so I can't see it's entirely sugar related. Our grazing is fell pasture anyway and pretty rough. I allways have them on Pro Balance and use a high-mag Rockies lick. We can't blood test due to her major needle phobia so her Prascend dose is by trial. Maybe we should up it but I just can't help thinking she's never going to be in work and never going to be problem-free for managing. Oh and she has mild arthritis!
So short term, how do I deal with this "pocket" in the heel? And longer term, is there any point in keeping her going? This has turned out to be a completely cr*p year what with the youngster also being a dud... at this rate I'll have no horses at all!
