Orangehorse
Well-Known Member
I feels as though I have been living in the stable since Monday, well not quite but nearly.
The words "simple, abscess" do not apply to my horse. He has had 3 or 4 abscesses over the years and every one has its own story.
The last one came out through the coronet and the bottom of his hoof at the same time, so that was interesting and painful for him. He can kick when he wants.
A previous one would get better, then lame again and the vet took X rays in case there was a bone fracture. Luckily not but the infection tracked round the hoof. It got better - eventually - and then a few weeks later the bottom of his hoof fell out as I was picking out his foot. I did a sort of horrified leap backwards as my first reaction was his hoof had fallen off - but it was OK really it was where the infection had separated the layers.
So on Monday night came in very lame from the field. Had been quite OK on the previous day when taken out for a ride, in fact he was quite lively and trotted more than normal. He was very miserable and looking extremely sorry for himself, so out comes the first aid kit. What! No Animalintex. I managed to rumage around and found something, a free sample from somewhere. Quick trip out to buy supplies first thing in the morning. So poulticing, soaking, shoe removed Tuesday evening by the farrier. More soaking, poulticing, not forgetting all the cleaning out of stable, grooming and trying to make him feel better. More soaking and poulticing and frankly, little improvement and no real evidence of infection. I decided this morning that there was hardly any improvement since Monday and called the farrier again, who didn't get back to me until afternoon. So quite late this afternoon I called the vet, other wise it would have been weekend call-out. Vet came in the dark, had a bit more of a dig and - yes - found pus at last. It was a bit of a struggle and my horse is big and strong and he was tossing her around without difficulty. I did a sort of hand twitch in the end, which worked enough so she could persevere.
So more poulticing, but hopefully she has got to the problem now. I feel like buying shares in Duck tape, Animalintex, bandages, it is simply amazing just how much stuff a horse with an abscess will get through.
The words "simple, abscess" do not apply to my horse. He has had 3 or 4 abscesses over the years and every one has its own story.
The last one came out through the coronet and the bottom of his hoof at the same time, so that was interesting and painful for him. He can kick when he wants.
A previous one would get better, then lame again and the vet took X rays in case there was a bone fracture. Luckily not but the infection tracked round the hoof. It got better - eventually - and then a few weeks later the bottom of his hoof fell out as I was picking out his foot. I did a sort of horrified leap backwards as my first reaction was his hoof had fallen off - but it was OK really it was where the infection had separated the layers.
So on Monday night came in very lame from the field. Had been quite OK on the previous day when taken out for a ride, in fact he was quite lively and trotted more than normal. He was very miserable and looking extremely sorry for himself, so out comes the first aid kit. What! No Animalintex. I managed to rumage around and found something, a free sample from somewhere. Quick trip out to buy supplies first thing in the morning. So poulticing, soaking, shoe removed Tuesday evening by the farrier. More soaking, poulticing, not forgetting all the cleaning out of stable, grooming and trying to make him feel better. More soaking and poulticing and frankly, little improvement and no real evidence of infection. I decided this morning that there was hardly any improvement since Monday and called the farrier again, who didn't get back to me until afternoon. So quite late this afternoon I called the vet, other wise it would have been weekend call-out. Vet came in the dark, had a bit more of a dig and - yes - found pus at last. It was a bit of a struggle and my horse is big and strong and he was tossing her around without difficulty. I did a sort of hand twitch in the end, which worked enough so she could persevere.
So more poulticing, but hopefully she has got to the problem now. I feel like buying shares in Duck tape, Animalintex, bandages, it is simply amazing just how much stuff a horse with an abscess will get through.
Soak in salt water. And the green duct-tape from Lidl is by far the best and most cost effective outdoor tape. I buy a couple of rolls everry time they have it in!