Foot abscesses, advice if you would.

[showjump]

My horse is lame, and upon taking him the vets on Friday, the only small reaction was close to the wall of his hoof.
Vet advised that before he did ant lameness work, we should tub foot, and poultice etc too see if an abscess rear its head. Vet had a dig down, and said it was getting wetter.

Now in all the years ive owned horses, one of mine has never had an abscess, so its all abit new too me.

Have been tubbing, and poulticing, and although there is a smell there is no puss?
Also vet did mention, it might come up out of heal? How or when do you know that this is the case?

Sorry for all the questions, just not alot seems to be happening!

 

[Adina]

Contact your farrier - they seem to be best with foot abscesses. You could chat on the phone for his advice first.

 

[Flicker]

Oh, you'll know when it comes out, trust me! Basically, the abscess will track through the area of least resistance in the foot and break out wherever is easiest. It will be a lot of very smelly pus - yellowish and sometimes with a bit of red but that's usually towards the end. The smell will be pretty revolting too.
Has your farrier had a look? I tend to get my farrier to treat abscess problems rather than my vet (mainly because it is cheaper) but also because they know feet and will know your horse's feet.
They can sometimes take a bit of time if they are deep.
Once you've found it, opened it up and drained it out, hydrogen peroxide is great for killing the last of the germs and keeping the whole thing clean. Get a bottle from your pharmacy and also a syringe (without the needle) which you can use to direct the peroxide right into the hole.

 

[Lucy_Nottingham]

The poultice is to draw out the pus and fluid in the hoof, and to ensure when it bursts, that it heels properly etc.

The abscess, as stated by Flicker, will track through the hoof by path of least resistance to burst and release the pressure that it builds up. This can be through the white line, through the sole, through the heel, depends on your horses feet really!

As also stated, when it bursts..... you'll know! it will PONG!!
Dipping the foot, once burst, into a bucket of warm water with iodine or some other sterilising agent in (iodine or hibiscrub are most commonly used) will help remove all the gank and germs from the wound, and you will continue polticing until you and the vet are happy all the nasty stuff is out!!

Farriers are also great at helping with dealing with abscesses so if you trust yours, talk to them about it too!
3 knowledagable minds are better than 2 hey!?

 

[welshied]

My horse had one and it smelt every day but when it bursts the smell is a lot stronger it took about 4 days!

 

[annaverrall]

My mare had one years ago. The relief on her face when the farrier managed to get to the abcess, was amazing
She was chronic lame day before the abcess come to a head, but straight after she was able to put full weight down.
As previusly said. The SMELL it was god dame awlfull, prepare for a face mask.

I am hoping the same thing is happening again, as last week a day after my farrier shoed my mare she was slightly lame. He came back a few days later took the front shoes off and said couldnt find anything, possibly be nail bind,but as she is flat footed he shoes her very carefully.
He wanted me to continue to ride her out on flat road, which i have done so. Things didnt change, so i trotted her down the road seeing if things would get worse. They did the next day she was worse. Farrier came up again. Dug about on her sole. She slightly flinched when he pinched by the wall at her toe. But nothing again. Theres been no improvement. I hope it is a brewing abcess , at least they can be dealt with easily, just dont want it be anything else sinister to be occuring.
Great timming as she is being artifically inseminated next week .