Abscess- recovery time?

hnmisty

hnmisty

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So, just as I think I have decided to sell Barry, he gets an abscess. A VERY lovely vet (wish seeing vets didn't always mean having to pay a bill :p) came out and drained it yesterday, and he was immediately much happier :) He's on box rest for 3-4 days with a poultice, then can go back out with his chums with some attempt to keep the hole clean... It was caused by a very small crack in his hoof.

Is there a kind of guide of how long you should leave it before riding again, or is it a case of when they are completely sound again you are good to go? I've never had to deal with one before, so advice appreciated! Thanks :)
 
This is what I do for a normal abscess (ie not burst out the coronet):

get farrier to dig out, he then leaves shoe off if shod

hot tub (properly hot water without scalding horse + epsom salts) for 20 mins. at least once a day (pref. more but sometimes that's not possible)

right after hot tubbing, apply poultice of disposable nappy+duck tape, leave on til next tubbing

turn horse out to walk about in dry/clean field if possible, at least during the day for a bit, this helps the abscess to drain

wait til horse has been sound for a few days/week and get shoe back on

keep foot as clean as possible for another couple of weeks ie no standing in muddy field for hours on end

cross fingers I have actually got it properly cleared;)
 
hnmisty said:
So, just as I think I have decided to sell Barry, he gets an abscess. A VERY lovely vet (wish seeing vets didn't always mean having to pay a bill :p) came out and drained it yesterday, and he was immediately much happier :) He's on box rest for 3-4 days with a poultice, then can go back out with his chums with some attempt to keep the hole clean... It was caused by a very small crack in his hoof.

Is there a kind of guide of how long you should leave it before riding again, or is it a case of when they are completely sound again you are good to go? I've never had to deal with one before, so advice appreciated! Thanks :)
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Mine was sound in the school on straight lines, but not on concrete, so after a week i started some walking in the school.. and she went sound a few days later.
 
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