Foot abcess?????

[Erray]

Caspian has been lame for 2 weeks now, only very slightly and no swelling, heat or lumps anywhere so I hoped he had just twisted it and with rest it would get better, though I did suspect it could be in his foot. He was slightly worse yesterday so I phoned farrier but he can't come until friday.
This morning he was hopping on 3 legs. He was shod 7 weeks ago but the farrier said then he had a touch of seedy toe and cut away a small amount under the shoe. I must confess that he told me to keep cleaning it with bleach which I did a couple of times but there was nothing at all to see and he seemed fine so I didn't keep it up.
Anyway I took his shoe off today and the hole is still there so I'm thinking he may have got an abcess up there.
He wouldn't hold his foot in a bucket so I got a syringe and put loads of hot water and epsom salts in the hole and then poulticed it with animalintex and put a boot on.
Have just been to feed him and he is still on 3 legs. I know he probably needs the abcess cutting out but the farrier definately can't come until friday and if I phone the vet he will say that he can't do it and to get the farrier to do it (I know because he has said that before)
What do you think I should do? Will the poultice draw out the puss or should I call out the vet? Does he need antibiotics?
I know it looks bad but I have seen horses this lame before and been fine as soon as the puss is out. Also he is a real wimp and although he says he is in agony he still managed to barge his door open and broke the clips to get to the other horses feeds as I'd cut his right down.
I think I will call out the vet in the morning if he is just as bad. But just wondered if anyone has any advice?
I feel so bad, as I had suspected his foot I know I should have been washing it with epsom salts before it got so bad.
:help::bawling:

Sorry its so long.

 

[kirstiegrogan]

ha i have had 2months of this hun
i would hot tubby it everyday and poutice it till the farrier comes out ! you wont need antibiotcs !
mine has had 4 since shes been in watch out for lami though because he's standing on all fours all day in his stable
is it front or hind?
is he holding it up and out if its his back like he's broke it ?
if he has its defo a abcess
dont panik he'll be fine i have been through 2 sets of x-rays and nearly not being able to ride mine again

 

[kick_On]

right farrier taken shoe off....
your right you need to wet poulticed it with animalintex. Boil kettle and the place a drop boiled water onto animalintex wave around to cool down (test heat on back of your hand and not the side you going to put on pony foot) then only place on site of hole in foot and make poultice boot with nappy and duct tape and make a waterproof padded boot.
Change wet poulticed for maxium of 3 days (twice a day) and make the animalintex pad just big enough to cover hole. This will draw out puss. If you use a nappy aswell this also act a poucltice, after 3 day max with wet poucltice you can do dry poucltice.
If you have found site of puss you pony will recovery very very quickly. Pony not a wimp puss is very very painful, it's like us have a blist under our nail then having to walk on it.
I would defo keep on box rest and by friday farrier will have sound pony to look at if you have found pus.
The key to pus is changing dressing regular, keep it clean and don't over WET poultice.
Farriers is you man, vet can't do any more than farrier and in the case of puss in foot i always use farrier

 

[jayvee]

Echo kick-on. Farrier is the man and cheaper!

 

[TGM]

If the farrier definitely can't come out tomorrow then ring the vet and tell him it is a welfare issue and that the horse is on three legs and is in pain. He is duty bound to come out and do something about it. Make sure he knows you suspect an abscess so he brings the right tools with him!

It is not fair on the horse to wait in pain until Friday.

 

[kirstiegrogan]

yep i agree get the farrier they know the insides and out of the foot they know then vets about them

 

[Dougie]

soryy foot abcesses are crippling for horses. he cannot wait until friday! get the vet, he SHOULD be able to dig out an abcess.

 

[Erray]

Thanks everyone I decided to call vet and he's coming in the morning even if just to give him antibiotics. It is his front and he is holding it exactly as you described Kirstiebaybee although just been to check and he is stood on it now.
Thanks for the tips on poulticing kick-on I have done it too wet and poulticed the whole foot so I'll change it. Just off down to the co op to get some nappies, that will start the rumours off round here.
Thanks everyone!

 

[Salcey]

When the hole is clear of pus my farrier has told me to syringe peroxide up the hole is cleans it out really well - seems to work brilliantly. My boy is just recovering his hole is plugged with purple spray on cotton wool which stays in well even when turned out in the wet field.

 

[TGM]

Glad to hear the vet is coming - hope pony is feeling better soon!

 

[brighteyes]

Perhaps 'support bandage' good leg as it's supporting more weight - you don't want lami to add to your woes! Poor boy. Abscesses HURT! You have my sympathy and your vet will sort him out.