Feel like crying

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showjumperdiva

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My horse has had an abcess for over a week now the vet came out and dug it out which gave her great relieve but it hasn't cleared up so the vet came out again today and she said its very bad its spread from the toe to the heel and is full of puss,so she advised YM to poultice twice a day and if no better in two weeks she may need x-rays incase it has spread to the pedal bone
shocked.gif

I'm not sure where to go with her she is 15.

upset.
 
Hot tub it in very salty water for about 10-15 mins twice a day and poultice it. We also sprayed a lot of blue/purple AB spray into my pony's abscess he got last year after stepping on glass.

My horse has also had numerous abscesses - he went through a period a year or so ago getting them a lot. 2 years back it took over 5 weeks for us to clear it up after farrier had tried, vet had tried, we'd poulticed over and over. Vet gave him some ABs eventually and that seemed to knock it on the head.

So, a week is nothing in my opinion but hot tubbing seemed to help my pony - we could get him to take any AB's although vet had given him a penicillin jab. Consequently we then found out pony was allergic tp penicillin and reacted v badly, but that's by the by (he won't be having that again!!).
 
Yes the farrier came out yesterday and scrapped a bit back and he said it was still bubbling with pus no the vet didn't gvie her antibiotics said to poltice twice a day and keep her in they have been turning her out in just a vet wrap!she has very thin soles

I wasn't there the YM spoke to her and she just rang to tell me she said i can't stress how bad this foot is.

They are going to keep her in and poltice twice a day as YM stopped doing it as she thought it had cleared up.
 
If she has thin soles she may get worse before she gets better with the polticing as it softens the sole...

If the abcess is as bad as you say then she needs antibiotics.. simple as.

Lou x
 
Please don't get to upset, hugs to you. Its sounds like the horse needs antibiotics and a farrier to make a bigger hole for the pus to drain out. Pus normally drains downwards but if it has no where to go it will move in which ever direction it can channel through tissue and could end up going upwards through the coronary band which is called Quittor. This is better than it spreading to the pedal bone. I would keep on with the poulticing (as hot water as possible without burning yourself or the mare) in an effort to draw it out quickly but you can't get a round peg through a square hole so do ask your farrier if he can possibly make a larger hole (or maybe even another hole whcih would be covered by one poultice) in order to expedite the pus. Good luck - I hope she's better soon. x
 
Some time it is better not to give antibiotics as they kind of fight back the infection. I think the Vet in this case is trying to get it 'out'.

Keep tubbing & pouliticing for all you are worth. You will clear it up but sometimes they have to cut a fair bit of hoof away which is a lengthy business.

Good luck
 
Joss, if the whole hoof capsulae.. as insinuated is filled with puss, and the possibility of it getting into the pedal bone or joints is possible.. the horse should have antibiotics.. and possibly even steriods..

If more foot needs cutting i would recommend your farrier.. vets are butchers with feet!

Lou x
 
Thankyou all i have rang the vets and asked the vet to give me a ring so i can speak to her myself and find out whats going on,she has been like this for almost three weeks sorry not one i ment the vet was out a week ago,so shall i ask her why she hasn't put on on AB's what elses should i ask? my daughter is at work and will be devestated when she gets home,we have such a journey with this horse.
Bless her
 
Please don't give up on her. If she is a kind and loving animal and you have had lots of pleasure from her before today and you intend to have lots of pleasure from her in the future then 15 years of age is no age for a horse these days. I am sure she there is every hope that she will come right and sometimes vets can display a poor prognosis in order not to get your hopes up (my friend was told she would never ride her horse again and he went on for another five years as a quiet hack and I was told my horse would never jump again by the same vet and 6 months later he was doing a two day event for which we had to trot up for this very same vet and the horse was as sound as a pound but the vets face was a picture)! So please don't be too discouraged, speak to the vet and ask why no AB. Good luck.
 
Puss in the foot is very annoying but is by no a life-ending matter and certainly not after just a week!

Get antibiotics from your vet - even the most rubbish of vets tend to prescribe Norrodine for Pussy foot! (mine say's to double the recomended dosage as it doesn't really work otherwise!)

hot tub as sugested and hot poultice until it stops draining... go to boots and get yourself some tea tree oil as well and drop a few drops into the hole and onto the poultice - its a fantastic natural anticeptic.

big hugs! I'm sure she will be fine xx
 
Well thats interesting i have just spoken to the vet and have been given a whole different story
shocked.gif
she said shes no where at the stage of infection of the pedal bone the vet said i am so glad you rang me i in no way said she was at the end of anything!

So me thinks a little chat is in order.

I feel so much better.will keep you updated.
 
phew! what a relief! I was gonna say it sounded like a mountain was being made out of a molehill (by Y/O) but i do appreciate that some cases can be worse than others.

The horse I used to share was off work for about 3 months cos of puss in the foot... he had one lot, came sound then went 'off' for a few days, sound again, and then crippled lame... he had another 'pocket' of puss in the same foot... we too were dreading the worst but it just goes to show that sometimes xrays are the best course of action to pinpoint the exact source!

good luck with her recovery! (and talking to Y/O!!) xx
 
[ QUOTE ]
Well thats interesting i have just spoken to the vet and have been given a whole different story
shocked.gif
she said shes no where at the stage of infection of the pedal bone the vet said i am so glad you rang me i in no way said she was at the end of anything!

So me thinks a little chat is in order.

I feel so much better.will keep you updated.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am so pleased that this is not as serious as your YO said, and agree with you, you need to have words with her.
 
my vet has always said soak there hoof in apple cider vinger coz the acid draws the abcess out and it sounds horrible i know but if you take your horse for a little work that will help new blood come to the area because she is working the circulation will be better!
 
If it persists and you are still having problems you could try hydrotherapy. We have had success with several horses with abcesses. One had been ongoing for 6 weeks with both vet and farrier trying to sort. After 3 sessions in the spa with a dry poultice on straight after the poultice was clean. The farrier was then booked to plug the hole and put the shoe back on immediately after the last spa session to ensure the hole was totally clean.
 
I thought antibx given for an abscess encourages the body to seal the abscess off in a capsule, whilst still leaving it there, as it were? The risk then is that the abscess can start to cause problems all over again at a later date.
 
No, antibiotics are rarely given for abcesses in the foot if they have not been drained. But in this case.. its obviously been blown out of proportions.. If it was the case that the pedal bone and joints were at risk then antib are necessary.

Correct they are best avoided, but when the hoof gets past the point of just another abcess and into the region on joint damage they are necessary..

Glad its not as bad as you thought.. YO was to sort her self out by sounds of it!

Lou x
 
As others have said a week is not that long. Have been through the whole x raying for pedal bone/coffin joint infection from a foot problem last year. I don't think they put horse on any antibiotics originally as vet said do not really get down into foot - the pus and infection has to be drawn out. Hope he is better soon.
 
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