Clinical signs of an abcess - horse v lame - HELP???

Fiona

Fiona

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My OH hunted Flo yesterday, and she went really well. He says she didn't stand on any sharp stone etc, and trotting back along the road to the meet she was sound.

Pulled her out of the box this morning and seemed OK, though had a couple of little tiny boot rubs on her off fore.

Tacked her up to go out for a hack, and she was walking OK, but when I trotted she was lame on her near fore.

Coming back, I nearly thought she was a little lame in walk as well, and v sore walking up the slope into the yard.

As she stood to be untacked she was nearly resting the near fore, not wanting to put it down at all, though I washed her foot out I couldn't find any sore area on her sole.

Her hoof feels very warm though in comparison to the other front foot, and there is a digital pulse.

Does this sound like an abcess?? She is certainky lame enough for it to be one, I am assuming that if it was a hunting injury she would have been lame last night coming home, or would have gone lame during the hunt. It definitely got worse this morning.

Thankfully it is sunday, and I can get the vet/farrier in the morning.

I tubbed it in salty water this evening, and she could hardly walk down to her stable afterwards. Still nothing to see on her sole though.

Have posted in CR as well, but wanted to put it in vets as well. Very worried obviously!

Any thoughts guys??

Fiona
 
hi is she pointing her toe this is a sign, also stand her on the concrete for 10 minutes then check for heat, little tip get the farrier he is cheaper than the vet and better qualified in my experience as more of a foot specialist, good luck
 
Probably only underlining what you already know but, assuming you found no heat or anything else to worry about in the leg, then I would get the farrier asap. It sounds as though it could be an abscess but you probably won't know until you get the shoe off and hoof-testers on.

If it is an abscess and it's blown up this quickly, it should all be over and done with quickly too - good luck!
 
She is putting her toe down v gingerly with her foot out in front (bit like when they rest a back leg), so I think that is what you mean??

There is definitely heat in her foot, and a digital pulse.

I know what you mean about the farrier, will think about it this evening and decide who to ring in the morning.

Thanks

Fiona
 
No heat elsewhere in leg, and no swelling around tendons/fetlock etc thankfully.

Really really hoping it is an abcess, and vet can find something tomorrow.

Its just making me worry that she hunted yesterday, but I think if she had injured herself while hunting (ie a fractured pedal bone etc) it would have shown up immediately, and not the next day.

FIona
 
i know this isnt very helpful but my horse has the exact same signs to your neddie for just under a week now had the vet out and he reckons its a build up off pus or laminitis !?! had his feet hoof tested (on his fore legs)and was more tender on one side of each foot plus also has a digital pulse but one leg is more lame than the other so at the mo i am hot poulticing it hoping to draw what ever out and box rest !!
would be very interesting to hear what is wrong with your horse.

good luck hope its nothing bad
smile.gif
 
Took her to the vets on Monday, and he noticed that the digital pulse and the heat in foot were more to the outside of the foot, so he had a good look, and found a tiny slit on her sole near her heel which when he pared it there was a gush of blood. It was nice, clean blood, so no infection or foreign bodies. He didn't have to take her shoe off fortunately as just inside the shoe, so that gives her a bit of extra protection. I have a fab hoofeeze poultice boot so she can be turned out for a few hours.

Cleaning with hyd peroxide every day, and she is much better. Still slightly lame to be fair, but nothing compared to how she was on Monday, and no heat or digital pulse that I can detect. Fingers crossed in another few days she will be 100% again.

Fiona
 
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