Foot Abscess - when to turn out???

bexybeach17

New User
Joined
25 February 2013
Messages
4
Visit site
Hi all,

My TB seemed to finally be getting over his abscess on his hind foot, right on his toe. It was a pretty nasty one, and the vet has been out a number of times.

First few days, was very lame so vet out and cut away the nastiness. Then withing 4 days still very lame, so vet out again to cut more away. Poulticing everyday then once pus was gone, told to use an iodine poultice to harden up his sole.

Worked really well. Was given the OK to have shoe put back on, this Monday by vet. Farrier came and put shoe on Wednesday but packed the gap with iodine soaked cotton wool and suggested I keep soaking with iodine everyday, so have been doing that before turning him out then cleaning of an eve.

He was turned out and was well behaved which was great as half expected another injury judging by how crazy he had been going when stabled!

He has only been out for a few hours today due to wet weather. However, on bringing him in tonight and cleaning foot off, I felt a bit of heat in the same foot/heel again. :-( no pulse yet and no lameness.

Field is quite muddy and I am now really worried it is infected again.

Can anyone help/suggest hat I should do? Do I keep poulticing? Do I keep him in when wet?

Thank you
 
Leave them out and hope that it pops at the coronet within a couple of days. If it doesn't pop after three days I call my farrier to have a look. If the leg gets very swollen, I call the Vet. Normally the abscess will pop after a day and the horse is instantly sound. It's quite dramatic when a horse goes from almost on three legs to sound within a couple of hours.

100_2232-1.jpg
 
Top