Another abscess question

[Fragglerock]

My horse has had mild laminitis since the beginning of July. He has only ever been footy on concrete and was always comfortable until nearly 4 weeks ago he was very lame on one leg, got farrier back who said his soles were very thin under his pads. I could see he reacted to pressure. He improved quite quickly for a couple of weeks then got worse again. During all of this he had a small area of turnout (vet and farrier spoke to each other and agreed this would be best for him). Last Sunday he was very lame then next day so much better, an abscess had burst on his coronet. Up until this point he had been on Danilon as we had assumed laminitis. Over the last week Danilon has been reduced from two a day to nothing (last was half a sachet on Friday morning). Last night he came in from the field absolutely fine, this morning a bit lame again.

I am assuming it is still the abscess and not laminitis so not giving him Danilon and turning him out, however there is always a niggle in the back of my mind.

I have had a bit of a search on here and someone very knowledgeable has said not to poultice the coronet as it makes it messy. He still has pads on and I am concerned if I soak the foot then it will get trapped under the pad and soften his foot. I have seen people suggest medical grade manuka honey - where would I find that in a hurry?

Any other thoughts gratefully received.

 

[JillA]

Manuka honey is good for healing and minimising proud flesh. What you need with an abscess is good drainage to get rid of all the pus, rather than sealing it with healing.
Heat encourages drainage (hence the poultice which retains heat) so you could use dry heat (cloth) to keep it flowing. I'm not keen on abscesses being left to break out of the coronary band, although I realise it wasn't deliberate in this case, because you are having to go against gravity to get the drainage. Maybe bathe in a warm epsom salts solution and then hold a warm cloth in place as long as it retains the heat?
And movement to assist the flow around and to the drainage hole in the coronet if he is sound enough and you are sure the laminae are well healed?

 

[Meowy Catkin]

If this was my horse, I would be discussing if it is possible/sensible to have the pad off with the Vet and Farrier.

 

[Fragglerock]

If this was my horse, I would be discussing if it is possible/sensible to have the pad off with the Vet and Farrier.

I was really happy last night at the way it was going so was happy to leave until the next farrier visit just over a week away, but will be speaking to them tomorrow.

 

[Fragglerock]

Manuka honey is good for healing and minimising proud flesh. What you need with an abscess is good drainage to get rid of all the pus, rather than sealing it with healing.
Heat encourages drainage (hence the poultice which retains heat) so you could use dry heat (cloth) to keep it flowing. I'm not keen on abscesses being left to break out of the coronary band, although I realise it wasn't deliberate in this case, because you are having to go against gravity to get the drainage. Maybe bathe in a warm epsom salts solution and then hold a warm cloth in place as long as it retains the heat?
And movement to assist the flow around and to the drainage hole in the coronet if he is sound enough and you are sure the laminae are well healed?

He has been turned out on a small area and not confined to a stable for the last 6 weeks. He was so good yesterday and I'm sure the half Danilon he had on Friday morning will have worn off by now particularly as he is a big horse.

The fact the abscess has to drain upwards and not downwards does concern me. He has been out for a couple of hours this morning and walks OK in a straight line but is not good on the turn (so a huge improvement on what he was this time last week). I bought him in and he has had his foot in warm salty water for 10 minutes and now has a wet poultice on.

As above a chat with the farrier tomorrow to see about having a look to see if there is anything going on underneath the pad.

 

[ycbm]

I've had a number of abscesses burst at the coronet and never had an issue with any of them. I squirt
3% peroxide in the hole every day until it has moved well down the foot.

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[Fragglerock]

I've had a number of abscesses burst at the coronet and never had an issue with any of them. I squirt
3% peroxide in the hole every day until it has moved well down the foot.

.

There's not much of a hole, more a split of about an inch long. I wouldn't be so worried if it wasn't for the laminitis issue. His other front foot is absolutely fine now and I think it must be the abscess causing the problem but there is always the 'what if'. I have just had a look at him and he is comfortable moving round in the stable and better than he was this morning in there.

 

[ycbm]

I'd still peroxide it, because gravity will carry it down to where the bugs are and stop them breeding.

He sounds like he's doing fine but the thin soles are a worry. Has he had Cushings tested?

.

 

[Fragglerock]

I'd still peroxide it, because gravity will carry it down to where the bugs are and stop them breeding.

He sounds like he's doing fine but the thin soles are a worry. Has he had Cushings tested?

.

His feet were good at the start of this - the vets commented on how good they were on the X-Rays.

Yes and has been regularly tested for the past five years - he is borderline but going to do another test when the laminitis is over.

Looks like I will be shopping tomorrow