Abscesses - how quickly CAN they heal?

[RachelFerd]

Just interested in how quickly an abscess could potentially heal?

Mare came up unlevel (not terribly though) on sunday, crippled on monday morning - fortunately the farrier was already on the way, took shoe off and revealed abscess - cut a little hole and it drained some pus right there and then.

So I prepare myself for weeks of poulticing with thousands of nappies and vetwraps... but after the first poultice (which came off with a little bit of pus) the subsequent 2 have not shown any discharge, and the horse seems 100% happier (can't tell if she is entirely sound, as she has sensitive soles anyway and wouldn't come up sound with one shoe off...)

I have never had one clear up so quickly

how long would you wait before ringing the farrier to put the shoe back on?

 

[Donkeymad]

Can be that quick. I would want three days of clear poultice then be ready to get re-shod.

 

[Saf]

Saf had one just before Gatcombe, not weight bearing one moment, shoe off, burst from heel next day, shoe on and sound all in one week.

Used epsom salts as a flush, poulticed twice a day and used canvus boot and put her on walker to keep the foot pumping it out, worked a treat, was lucky tho
Gave her 3 days of clear poultice just to be safe

Good luck

 

[AmyMay]

Thump is absolutely hopping at the moment with one brewing in a back foot. It's been a week now, and nothing - despite farrier and vet.

He's currently in being hot poulticed for a couple of days - before cold poultice. This has been going on a week.

However, last time he had an infection, the minute the pus was released he was almost immediately better.

 

[Bug]

My boy is still lame 2 weeks after the abscess was first 'emptied'.

I put a shoe on after 4 clear days of poulticing as he has really soft sensitive feet and he is still not right with a bit of heat in that foot still.

Hopefully you will be luckier than that though - as it sounds like mine has gone on longer than the average.

 

[kick_On]

I've had abscess found, sorted by farrier, gg when sound with 1/2days and back to riding within week (cos needed shoe back on). I was hunting within two weeks.
I would ring farrier and describe your gg and i bet you he'll be out v soon.

 

[lastresort]

god I wish I had this luck my horse had an abscsess which went up to the pedal bone still hot tubbing his foot for 4 more days then hopefully dry poultice but cant have his shoe on till its completley healed so could be 6 weeks!! also to add insult to injury he has to stay in as the grounds so wet and the boot I bought comes off.

One very stressed 5YO!