Help me please- abscess

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googol

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Hi everyone
I did a quick search earlier but it didn't answer my questions ....
Sisters mare has an abscess. This would be bad news to many but given her historical issues I was sooo relieved that it is "something" (she is retired at the mo due to ligament damage and I was worried something got v serious)
She is v v sore
Vet dug it out, unfortunately I wasn't there but he said it was small and not much came out. It's near her toe. Do "small" abscesses cause major lameness?
How long til she feels better?
He said to leave the poultice he fitted for 2 days
Thanks to anyone who replies :)
 
Yes, any abscess can be extremely painful. Personally, I prefer to ask the farrier to deal with an abscess. When you take the poultice off, you will probably need to soak the foot in salt/epsom salts water (as hot as you can bear to put your hand in) and re-poultice. Disposable nappies make a good pultice with epsom salts sprinkled on the foot side and held on with duct tape. Try not to worry, they usually clear up well
 
Hi - yes abscesses come across most of the time as broken leg - they can look so bad and painful. A bit like if you imagine a huge blister on the ball of your foot and was then made to walk on it constantly.

In my experience, I always get the farrier over the vet for an abscess (or suspected abscess).

There's probably loads to come out. Sometimes, some can drain but it may be theres still more to come out - my mare was so lame it was awful to watch her limp around - a hole was found and the gunk came out but was still lame. Not long after it popped in another place and loads came out and straight away she was no longer limping around!

If I were you, keep hot poulticing (changing at least once a day) until the poultice is clear. Then I'd dry poultice for a few more days. if there's a huge hole fill it with something like Keratex putty and turn back out.

I'd personally turn out with the poultice on if you can for a few hours (or at least whilst you can keep it on her) as the circulation in her foot will help push the gunk out! Put something like animalintex over the area, cover with a babies pull up nappy, cover with self stick bandages and then gaffer tape the whole thing!
 
Thanks everyone I am beyond happy to report that she is soooooo much better tonight!!!!!!!! I was so so worried an felt so sorry for her as she's had a rough summer! Was worried it was something more sinister cos she has other issues but she is happy tonight alright! How long could it have been brewing for?
 
Days or weeks ?? depends where it came out etc ... just try to keep that white line free from any little tiny stones - my arab doesn't have shoes on and sometimes they do work their way in!
 
It was near her toe. I noticed a stone in her other foot last night but managed to get it out. It was tiny. There hasn't been much come out of it since vet first found it which is a bit odd I thought. She's a lot happier tho so I suppose I should be happy with that. She prob lands toe first at the moment because of her other issues so I'm thinking that could have made it worse for her
 
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