Abscess :-(

As someone who hasn't posted and is not part of the 'we' I genuinely didn't read it as rude. I am scientifically educated and one of the things you are frequently warned about is personal bias.

I read it as the poster is also scientifically educated and flagging up that while she could summarise the paper for readers here in doing so she would be interpreting it and thus unintentionally but unavoidably be subjecting it to her bias. Therefore it would no longer be reliable as source material. Not that you were unsuitable or unworthy to receive a summary.
 
This is a job for the vet.These things can quickly escalate.My friend was in similar situation wait and see and before she knew it the horse was in so much pain it couldnt walk and the vet had to come over to it in the field and burst an abcess.It could have saved the horse standing during overnight in pain if action had been taken sooner.
 
This is a job for the vet.These things can quickly escalate.My friend was in similar situation wait and see and before she knew it the horse was in so much pain it couldnt walk and the vet had to come over to it in the field and burst an abcess.It could have saved the horse standing during overnight in pain if action had been taken sooner.



I would be very reluctant to let a vet near my horse's foot! If you need an abscess burst, the farrier is the best person to ask, imo
 
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This is a job for the vet.These things can quickly escalate.My friend was in similar situation wait and see and before she knew it the horse was in so much pain it couldnt walk and the vet had to come over to it in the field and burst an abcess.It could have saved the horse standing during overnight in pain if action had been taken sooner.


Farrier is less than half the price (if they charge at all) and more than twice as effective, in my experience.
 
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Farrier is less than half the price (if they charge at all) and more than twice as effective, in my experience.
Probably both needed. I have found a farrier will often not touch an abcess.But he will be needed to balance the foot again
 
Probably both needed. I have found a farrier will often not touch an abcess.But he will be needed to balance the foot again


Then you must be speaking to some very unusual farriers! I remember well the day I had a farrier and a vet on my yard, vet sedated the Clydesdale mare and inspected her back foot but couldn't find the abscess. Farrier found one in each hind and drained them, to the mare's great relief.
 
Then you must be speaking to some very unusual farriers! I remember well the day I had a farrier and a vet on my yard, vet sedated the Clydesdale mare and inspected her back foot but couldn't find the abscess. Farrier found one in each hind and drained them, to the mare's great relief.
I agree the farrier is more likely to be more knowledgeable than the vet in this case, but as I say he wouldnt treat the horse.It had an ongoing foot problem and prefered the vet to see it..didnt want sued he said as it was a valuable horse if something went wrong.
 
Did you mean to quite this rude? If you could look at the papers and give a second interpretation of them that would be great. If you just want to imply that I am not a welcome member of the group that have answered this post ('we') and that I need to be firmly put in my place ('necessary') rather than attempt to discuss points of disagreement then please just don't post! Surely part of the point of the forum is discussion rather than back-turning and although I still don't agree with lack of pain relief this whole thread has definitely made me think about it in more depth than I would have done.

Jesus Christ I was trying to help...sorry :rolleyes: I'll let you pay for the articles instead.
 
You asked a question and I took the time to respond. I didn’t say I wouldn’t I implied personal bias and the need for you to read it for yourself so that you could form your own opinion on the matter rather than me tell you how I interpreted it. Apologies, I’ll put my mind reading goggles on next time so I know exactly what you’d prefer to read :D
 
Soloequestrian you sound rather ungrateful to somebody who offered you perfectly reasonable help and advise imho. I saw nothing rude about Sasanaskyex’s message and actually think they raised a valid point. You have your own personal opinion on feeding bute in this case and (s)he has theirs so it’s unwise to accept their summarisation or that of anybody else who isn’t impartial. I too thought bute and antibiotics was a no-go for abscesses because it was useless so a waste of time and money, not because I realised it hindered healing that is new to me so I would be interested for a summary of those papers if you get a chance!
 
FWIW farriers are only legally allowed to dig so far into the foot... not sure the exact parameters but if they go past a certain point it is classed as surgery and a vet needs to at least supervise. Farriers that dig deeper probably know perfectly well what they are doing but I wouldn't question a farrier that was reluctant. My previous farrier was a lecturer on farriery at one at the colleges. He told me this information and was quite conservative in attempting to find an abscess in my TB. He was definitely properly qualified and insured etc! But also very aware of his legal limit regards cutting away foot and often worked closely with the vet on cases. Turned out, on my TB, to be a massive blood blister under the sole that the vet found after nerve blocking the foot and getting stuck in.

If I'm wrong I'm either misinformed or have misinterpreted what I was told. Most likely the latter.
 
I think you're absolutely right PF. I'm pretty sure that they shouldn't draw blood, and most abscess can be opened without doing that. I've never heard of a farrier refusing to even try to find be one, though, and certainly not using the value of the horse as the reason.


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it is one of those grey edges things I think and I do think farriers should be able to say no if they don't think it appropriate or if they think it might be more complicated than it seems.
 
I agree the farrier is more likely to be more knowledgeable than the vet in this case, but as I say he wouldnt treat the horse.It had an ongoing foot problem and prefered the vet to see it..didnt want sued he said as it was a valuable horse if something went wrong.
This is key. It’s one thing asking a farrier to search for an abscess in an otherwise healthy horse, but if it has other foot issues which the vet is dealing with, then the farrier is absolutely correct to decline to get involved unless under strict vet direction

I also agree that a farrier should stop short of drawing blood. Mine told me that after my mare had had a major hoof resection performed by the vet. Farrier said that would have well above his pay grade! Though he was always first call for what I believed to be ‘simple’ abscesses.
 
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