'Case Study' needed for uni project - Hoof abscess

Leanne_20

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For an assignment at uni I have been given the topic 'Hoof abscess'. I would ideally like to include a sort of Case study section on first hand experiences within my fact file, so I would really appreciate anyone who can share their experiences.

The sort of info I am after is; How did you find out your horse had a hoof abscess, did you call your farrier or your vet out, how long your horse was lame for, how you treated the infection e.g how long you poulticed the foot for.
Sorry its a long post and any experiences regarding this topic will be really appreciated. Thank you
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he went very lame for about a week (boxrest), got the vet out immediately and he dug a hole to relieve any pressure, hot poulticed it with epsom salts to draw out infection and keep it clean. Dry poulticed it for a few days after it pussed too.
 
Connifer I'd love to help you but I don't like talking to people whose name I don't know. (Mine is my logon.) If you PM me with your email address then I will email you with my information, which will be VERY different from what most people will tell you about abscesses
 
Hi,
I currently have a gelding just recovering from an abcess.
He started by going suddenley very lame on his right fore. No swelling present and no raised pulse. I removed his shoe (on farriers advice) and began hot poulticing every 12 hours for 3 days and he went sound again but nothing had appeared to burst out anywhere, thought I had got the diagnoses wrong!
Another day later and he was badly lame again on the same foot. Began poulticing again every 12 hours. Farrier came out after 6 days in total and initially couldn't find anything but then found a very small hole and realised the abcess had under run his sole.
Now 3 weeks down the line he is finally sound, I still dry wrap his hoof until he can have his shoe refitted (hopefully tomorrow) and some 'magic stuff - (forgot the name!!) to support his sole when it is all cut away. He will be fitted with bar shoes temporarily too.
 
Mine is convalescing from an operation for septic pedal osteitis caused by an abscess - I've posted info about it in the vet section so have a look at that (under 'septic pedal osteitis') and if you want to know more let me know!
 
My first experience of an abscess I had the vet as horse was being box rested for lameness anyway. Hoof was dug, abscess released and end of trouble really. Had to poultice and keep bandaged for about a week or so.

Same horse then got another abscess in the other foot, co-incided with when she was at a rather large teaching hospital for a week for investigation for the existing lameness. She got worse and worse and they were convinced she had done her DDFT, was referred for MRI a week later, and then she came home. A couple of days later she was terribly lame, my vet came out and foudn an abscess. She stil had the MRI and all they could find in that foot was abscess! So if you want some pretty pictures of a deep abscess, I have some I'd be more than happy to share!!
 
My farrier found it when he came to do Fella. He wasn't lame at all. I kept him in about 23 hours a day (as this was early Jan - lots of mud!)
The farrier got rid of all the infected hoof, it was cleaned out several times a day with a hoof pick, and then covered with iodine and hoof disinfectant.
 
Erm..far too many to give one case study, do have one recovering right now.
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My mare was living out 24/7 went down to she her in the morning and she was fine, went to feed her in the evening and she was hoping lame, couldn't put any weight on her near hind at all.
Called vet and she thought it was a tendon injury, couldn't put her in a stable as the yard had strangles and she had a foal at foot.
Rang the farrier the next day as i wanted him to have a look at her foot, my mum was sure it wasn't a tendon problem.
He said he thought it was also in the foot so i poulticed for 3 days. after a day she wasn't as lame. Farrier out again to have a poke round and the abscess burst by itself right at the coronet band.
 
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