Hoof abcess prognosis

dwi

dwi

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Daisy is lame, YO thinks with a hoof abcess because there is heat just in one part of the hoof and she has got worse over the weekend. She suggests that I arrange for the farrier to come first thing on Monday to see what he can do about it.

Has anyone else had one? How long might it take to heal? What's involved with the treatment?

I know this should be in vets but I just need abit of moral support and someone to tell me its not the end of the world.

confused.gif
 
It wouldn't do any harm for you to poultice the hoof until Monday and then get the farrier to take a look. It depends on how high up the hoof it is as to how long it takes to come out through the sole. Also, are you sure it isn't a bruised sole as the result of this extremely hard ground? I don't know about where you are, but here the ground is like concrete at the moment and a lot of horses at my yard are presenting with tendon/foot sore issues.

If it is an abcess though it isn't the end of the world at all and once it has drained into a poultice soundness returns and life's back to normal.
 
The heat is from about halfway up towards the coronet band. I've never poulticed before, hopefully I can get YO to show me tonight

I must admit I assumed it was a bruised sole at first because the ground is like concrete but she's been on box rest for two days now on nice rubber mats but still seems to be getting worse, not better
 
Most abscesses are not a huge deal. The site of the abscess is found, a drainage hole made, a few days poulticing and then usually the shoe can be put back on and work resumed. Sometimes you will get one in a difficult spot which doesn't drain easily which causes problems, but the majority are sorted very easily.
 
If the heat is as high up as the coronet band it could be mud fever. I only mention it because a horse at my yard had exactly the same - heat in this region - on both her front feet very recently. I thought no way, not in this weather, but it was definitely mud fever (scabs were there) and caused by the dew on the grass in the mornings. Have a feel around the top of the coronet band when you are next down the yard, worth ruling it out anyway. Good luck!
 
Should I gather together some stuff for poulticing then? I've never bought any in the past because I don't know how to do it and I don't want to get things wrong but presumably I'll need some for hand for tomorrow when the farrier comes?

What do I need to buy?
 
If you go into a tack shop and explain that you need to poultice a hoof they will sort you out with what you need but it is basically Animal Lintex poultice and a vet wrap to secure it in place. Sorry, I've never done it myself either, but presumably your YO could do it for you?
 
don't buy from tack costs the earth ...
pop into local super market cheapest nappies, carpet/duct tape, salt and animal lintnix (sp) (buy from vets or good tack shop) also need kettle for hot water and large bowl
While farrier is there if you have never done poultice get him to show you or YO. Only wet poultice for two day max as will soften sole up if hot poutlice to long.
What you want to see on poultice is black smelly stuff, good sign, the quickier this happens then quickier you'll have it sorted.
If goes well gg will be sound very very quickly and you'll be riding very soon afterward, just a tip just keep foot very very clean
 
Just to be sure can I check?

I buy the animalintex from the tack shop and make up according to instructions, I then attach this to the foot with the nappy. Presumably I then need to use the duct tape to wrap around a plastic bag to hold the whole let together and keep it clean?

where does the salt come in? Do I put that on the nappy? on the dressing? How much?

YO is very experienced so I'm sure she can show me but it'd be good to have an idea in my head before I start practising on a horse that is grouchy because she's in pain

thanks everyone, I do feel reassured. I had visions of losing a whole summer of competitions when we've never done anything together up to now.
 
Everyone has slightly different methods - this is mine:

Poultice soaked in warm water as per instructions on bag. Cut piece of Alfa A sack big enough to wrap round foot. Remove excess water from poultice, apply to foot. Place plastic over poultice and foot, then use lots of tape to secure.

I think that is it - it is quite hard to write something down that you do instinctively!

Get someone to demonstrate first - there is a fine art in securing the poultice, plastic and tape without dropping the poultice on the ground!
 
as TGM says can't really describe you need to be shown....
but salt is for tubbing sole to make sure it's clean before you place you poutlice on
My tip is to have every ready and handy
my way goes :
place on hot poultice (cut to size and not to hot) over hole then put foot into nappy and fold back to make pad for sole and on hole role back and use sticky tape to stick to sole - ie this makes a little nappy boot. The with carpet tape wrap around making a water tight boot........
so difficult to explain get YO to show you'll pick it easy as you should do it twice a day!!!
 
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