Abscess?

[lcharles]

I hunted my horse on Wednesday but yesterday morning he was very reluctant to walk. He was clearly uncomfortable on his front left leg so I called the vet out as I was concerned he could of done a tendon as he wouldnt walk and his leg was quivering everytime he put his foot down, although he was ok after hunting. The vet came at 10am and said she couldn't feel any heat or swelling in his leg and hoof tested his hoof, he reacted on the inside soul so she had a dig around and a bit of blood came through and she stopped. He was clearly uncomfortable with this. She poulticed his foot and when i went back to see him last night he was walking around better but still not 100% so I changed his poultice with was clean apart from the bit of blood and it smelt like a sweaty foot!

This morning, he was the same as last night but I haven't taken his poultice off yet, i will change it tonight - obviously hoping for pus!!

Does this sound like a typical abscess? Had horses 22 years and never had an abscess before!! x

 

[whisp&willow]

Some abscesses can be very deeply rooted, with no puss ever being drawn out.

I have seen some horses who you would have sworn had broken a leg, but were in fact suffering from an abscess.

My mare was slightly lame for a few weeks- put it down to hi-jinks in the field, rested and monitored. long story short, she remained lame, and had a full work up from the vet- cost a fortune, on box rest for a long time (which she hated) and went from being lame to having three legs. this was gut wrenching for me to see.

She was diagnosed with Navicular and shod in eggbars... a few months down the line, she lost an eggbar, and when re-shod we saw why- a big black area od dead hoof due to an abscess! This was never picked up by the vet inc X rays, or any of the farriery she recieved- and i do not blame anyone for that btw!

she came out of eggbars and went to being shod with nb shoes. hasnt had a day lame since, definitely does NOT have navicular!

so much for long story short...! Basically- it could easily be an abscess... even if your poultice produces nothing, ever!

good luck!