Absess for 4 weeks

[Maureen Davies]

Hi my horse went suddenly lame on 7th June, vet and farrier found no symptoms of an absess. Polticed just incase and a lot of dark grey, smelly infection came out. Showed a whole new white sole. When showing no more liquid took poultice off. After this he appeared sound. Had a week off but first time ridden he was lame again. Shaved off his very thick feather and found a swelling, hard and going around his leg - (size and thickness of a sluge) not downwards like a tendon. Its on lower part of cannon bone above the pasten. I'm going to try to find out how to post an image. Vet came out and said there is a vein usually there and she thought she felt a pulse in it. Taken to vets for scan, but vet who scanned said didn't think it was a vein from scan image. Nerve blocked the foot but still lame on lunge. She said it was therefore not the foot that was the issue. On waiting list but 4 1/2 weeks for equine hospital. Polticed 2 days again and some grey gunk came out and starting to smell. Any ideas, or anyone had an infection up the leg that far from an absess? Could the swelling be up the leg due to infection of the absess, and then this infection causing lameness up the leg?

 

[Ellietotz]

Literally having the same issue. Farrier came out on 22nd, small hole and some puss on the coronet found. Poulticed and soaked for 5 days until it stopped draining, sound again for a week and went lame again. Wet poulticed for 3 days, wouldn't stop draining and pastern was very puffy. Vet came out and has given us antibiotics for 2 weeks. If it comes back straight after the two weeks is up then she will need xrays to see if the infection has spread to the cartilage and will need surgery.

ETA: Just seen your picture, that looks quite high up so I am not sure but presumably if it spreads then possibly. Can your vet xray on site?

 

[Maureen Davies]

She didn't as she said because she nerve blocked the foot and still lame, that showed her that it is not the foot! But I'm thinking if that swelling/lump is infection then that could be causing the lameness, as it all started with the absess. Also there was more gunk on the poltice today. We all think that lump appeared recently, as vet had been out twice feeling the leg etc and so had 2 of us and no-one felt a lump until the second bought of lameness. No one has seen a lump going around the leg like that. 5 days and it hasn't gone down or changed shape. Pity scan hadn't helped to show what it is.

 

[Maureen Davies]

What antibiotics were you given. A girl at yard gave me some Trymed, but only about 4 days worth. Vet said give it to him but I'm concerned now as I think that isn't enough. I thought she said it was a full course, but it can't be if you had been using antibiotics for 2 weeks. Might try to get some more Trymed to keep going til Monday when vet open again! Nightmare, trying to know what to do. 4 vet visits and I still don't know what is best to do!

 

[Carrottom]

It might be an idea to tub the foot in warm Epsom salts solution in case there is another site of infection.

 

[Ellietotz]

What antibiotics were you given. A girl at yard gave me some Trymed, but only about 4 days worth. Vet said give it to him but I'm concerned now as I think that isn't enough. I thought she said it was a full course, but it can't be if you had been using antibiotics for 2 weeks. Might try to get some more Trymed to keep going til Monday when vet open again! Nightmare, trying to know what to do. 4 vet visits and I still don't know what is best to do!

I will have a look when I'm at the yard later. I'm giving 20mls twice a day for two weeks as per their instructions so it may be a different type! Is the lump sore to touch? Could it be a separate issue to the abscess?

 

[Maureen Davies]

It really could be a separate issue! It's so annoying as we didn't notice the lump until the second bout of lameness. His legs were checked so many times too and by the vet twice! That's why we think it's just come up. He had very thick feather, so it's possible that we just missed it. Not sore to touch, no heat in it at all, can move it about a little. Feels quite solid. Strange they couldn't comment on it on the scan.

 

[Maureen Davies]

It might be an idea to tub the foot in warm Epsom salts solution in case there is another site of infection.

Yes. Will keep this poultice on for 2 days and can then try Epsom salts. Thanks

 

[Carrottom]

I think it is best to change the poultice every day.

 

[Maureen Davies]

Thanks. I will maybe change it again today. I think the vet said leave it on 2 days to help it to draw though. Really worried. Just don't understand why the nerve blockbto the foot didn't change the lameness. So it's an absess and something else happening in the leg. That circular raised vein or tissue is a real worry to!

 

[Maureen Davies]

Changed poltuce to a dry one. No pus or smell today. Think the absess must be out i hope. Just now have to wait for the Equine hospital appointment to assess lameness. Will leave him to rest for 4 weeks and then lunge him. Earliest appointment they can give me is 4 1/2 weeks.

 

[Ellietotz]

Sorry for the delay! The antibiotics are called Doxivet. It's a liquid x