Help abscess on Xmas day, vet or not?!

T

toulouse1

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 March 2013
Messages
131
Visit site
So my gelding came in with suspected absess on Tuesday, the farrier was there and had a dig, thought he got to it, it's had a hot poultice since, bit of guck came out but not a lot and this morning his heel is looking inflamed and bit of puss, either it's just where the boot has rubbed or it's the absess about to burst, should I call the vet as it's in the heel and should I move the police there?!
Also heel area swollen and got this morn :(
Help!
 
It's up to you but I would just keep poulticing, hopefully it will come out of the heel and he'll start getting better.
 
Hot tub and poultice - I would only be calling the vet if the horse was non weight bearing.

If you do need to get someone in, I would pay for a vet rather than bother my farrier on Xmas Day, or boxing day, as the vets practice will at least have a designated person on call, whereas most farriers will be enjoying the day off with their families.

Hope it resolves x
 
Hot tub, poultice and it should burst out in due course - may take days. Personally I would only call my vet on Christmas Day for a really sick horse or major cut needing stitching etc.ie life threatening situation. Yes vets are on call but it is Christmas for them too so we should keep it to real emergencies only.
 
I've never needed to have a hole dug in the foot. I always just poultice. Yes, move the poultice to over the inflamed area. I suspect it will burst by tomorrow. My youngster had one in her heel a few days ago. It took three days to burst and I had started to wonder if it was something more sinister. But it burst out of the heel and she's been sound ever since.
 
Tub and poultice. Personally I prefer farrier to vet for abscess but tubbing and poultice will do till they can come out. The only exception being if the horse has one each front feet, then it needs an emergency call out.
 
i am in exactly the same situation. Horse presented lame on Tuesday and very pointy stone was found stuck in the hoof near the toe. I have hot tubbed yesterday and today and popped a poultice on tonight, will wait and see what, if anything, comes out. We have a farrier on the yard so will ask him tomorrow to take a look.
 
I wouldn't have the vet unless the limb starts to swell, in my experience they tend to make huge holes digging which take forever to harden up and do not like giving antibiotics until the source of the infection is found and drained. Poultice really well with a soaked nappy and plenty of padding, and give bute so they can at least weight bare. If you can get a farrier to find the track and open it up so it can drain that would be good. When it stops draining I clean with hydrogen peroxide solution, plug the whole with cotton wool soaked in Stockholm tar to stop dirt getting back in and pad up with a dry nappy and tape.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top