Further treatment for hoof abscess

[scrat]

I've been treating an abscess in mares hoof for almost 3 weeks now. I just wanted to know at what stage the hole ( that the farrier made) should be plugged? A small amount of pus is still on the poultice that I have put over the coronet band but there isn't any from the hole anymore. I have continued wet poulticing the coronet band and put a dry one on the sole for the last couple of days. Obviously I need to make sure that I dont seal in any remaining infection so would it be better to wait until nothing at all is showing on iether poultice? Also once the hole is plugged ( the farrier said to use cotton wool and stockholm tar) do I continue to bandage over this too? Thanks if you've got this far but any help would be appreciated.

 

[MagicMelon]

Yeah, Id keep poulticing until all puss is out (and for a few days after to be sure). You dont have to plug it, I have in the past just put on one of those plastic boots which keep the sole clean and dry. Although they can get sweaty inside so I have usually wrapped some vetwrap round the hoof.

Otherwise I found trying to plug it didnt work that well as it just kept falling out! We used Keratex clay stuff on a nasty hole - its like hard playdough which you have to soften a bit then spread it into the hole where it hardens up a bit again. Quite good stuff.