Abscess - split heel/bulb

[hatters]

My tb had a puncture wound to the sole of his foot, resulting in an abscess. Farrier came and released the pressure, I poulticed (wet) for 4 days, then couple of days of dry poulticing and looked much better. Today I noticed a split along the bulb of his foot - he's sound and it isn't hot or very sore (but he is fed up of me poking around his foot now), is this abscess related? Not sure if some of the infection is coming out through the bulb now, or if its down to wet poulticing, which left his heel quite soft and has now cracked? I have cleaned it and purple sprayed it. Anyone had this happen? Would you get the vet out / keep dry and disinfected / poultice again?

 

[todd1074]

It is hard to say without seeing it but abcesses do have a habit of coming out through the heel but then poulticing can be damaging to the heel too.
I have had numerous amount of foot abcesses with my thoroughbred so had lots of experience.
If it was me I would give the foot a good clean and use peroxide to harden up the foot and heel and dry bandage for a few days to give it time to harden up.

 

[hotzonezackattack]

I would just leave it and keep an eye on, just keep putting the purple spray on it,

 

[hatters]

Thanks, I will keep it dry and purple sprayed and hope it dries out and heals up.

 

[brucea]

It is often a much easier place for abscesses to get out - it may well have been tracking in that direction before it was released. Just keep it clean really.