Could it be an hoof abcess brewing?.

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rema

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Since thursday my lad has been slightly lame but not very noticable,yesterday a bit more so starting to lift up foot and put it down again and put the foot more forward when on the ground.I have picked out,scrubbed the foot out and cannot see anything obvious (he is shod).Today abit more lame and sore on the foot with some heat in the first quarter of his hoof from the coronet down,more lifting up and down and placing further forwards when on the ground.I cannot feel a raging digital pulse.The farrier is coming out and the vets on standby if needed.I have given him a bute a day to try and make him more comfy untill tommorow when the farrier said not to bute him as he needs to see him lame.I have only ever dealt with abcesses on the hind feet before so it's abit new to me..so do you think he might be brewing an abcess?.
 
Very possibly. Keep giving the Bute, it is not a pain killer, it is an anti-inflammatory.It will not mask pain from an abscess, the farrier will be able to find where to dig.
 
Thanks guys for your help.Much appreciated.
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Sounds like a possible abscess, don't give him bute as it is a painkiller (works by reducing inflammation which in simple terms is what causes pain) and it can mask the signs of an abcess or other cause of lameness and will make it harder for the farrier or vet to a) assess how lame he is and b) if it is an abscess, to work out exactly where the abscess is located and thus where to dig to open it up and let it drain.
 
For goodness sake NO, it will NOT mask the pain of an abscess. Give the bute.
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Just found this post. My old boy went hopping lame a 10 days ago, removed shoe and hot poulticed for 7 days - nothing on dressings but was a lot more comfortable within a couple of days ! Had a small area that was tender but nothing to see. Turned him out for a day but still no change
My Farrier has just been and suggested putting his shoe back on and protecting his sole incase it was just bruised and massive abcess found! It has tracked under his front foot :-((

Back to poulticing then :-(( and yes I have been giving him bute. It helps and hasn't affected his treatment at all.
 
A quick update for you.Thank you for your advice everyone.The farrier came out and asked me to walk him up and trot back,well he went hopping lame in trot.Farrier had a dig around and bingo he got an eyefull of the stuff
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.The abcess had started in the bulb of the heel and worked it's way down to the sole.I have hot poulticed for three days and then left covered (the whole hoof to keep it clean) but have not poulticed.Today i will salt water soak it and recovered (so he can be turned out).So phew and thanks again.
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