Hoof Abcess question...minus the debate!

[Bounty]

Evening all.
Bamboozle went lame with an abcess in her NH the thursday evening before last. It was excavated the following morning and found to be incredibly big and deep. It was hot poulticed for 8 days, and since then has been dry poulticed wih no disharge whatsoever.
Tonight I was planning to pack it with cotton wool soaked with iodine. It's a fairly impressive cavity

.
I'm wondering how long to expect to be packing it for? Should I carry on poulticing it (minus the animalintex obviously!) while it is packed, or will she be alright with just the poultice boot (EasyBoot type) on to keep debris out?

The drainage channel was very close to her white line, and some of her hoof wall has now disintegrated so it could be a while before we can get a shoe back on anyway

 

[Tiggy1]

You have asked the same question I wanted to know about!!

 

[ExRacers]

If it were mine I would pack it with the iodine soaked cotton wool, cover with nappy, vet wrap and duct tape and turn out if on a dry field.

If there is nothing discharging and she comes in at night to a clean bed I would leave it uncovered to let it dry out & harden.

You could then get farrier to put a pad on under the shoe and hopefully off you go!

Just done all the above in the last 2 weeks with one of mine!!!

Good luck!

 

[Happytohack]

I'm at the same stage with one of mine! He is prone to abscesses. I clean out the hole with water and a syringe and then pack with iodine soaked cotton wool, then vet wrap and a "boot" made out of duct tape (his feet are too large for boots), but the nappy idea is a good one. He comes in at night and I remove the cotton wool and leave the hole open. Then do the whole thing again before he goes out in the morning. I'd keep doing this until your farrier comes again and see what he suggests doing - my farrier usually packs the hole really tightly and leaves it.

 

[Bounty]

Thanks guys! Had to double check I was heading in the right direction. In 14years of ownership I've never had to contend with such a deep seated and frankly MASSIVE abcess, guess I've been more than a little bit lucky!

I packed it and left it overnight (in the stable) minus any covering which seemed to do the job ok. I think she felt a bit naked going to bed without being all poulticed up though, LOL!
Syringed out this morning and repacked, and turned her out with her easyBoot on, but no cotton wool/vetrap/gaffa tape contraption which she has been wearing inside the boot.
Will resist the urge to pack it tonight and let it dry out.

The farrier is out on monday, so will ring him and see if she's ok to wait till then or whether he wants to see her before that.

 

[Orangehorse]

When my horse had an abscess I was told not to use iodine (can't remember why) - can affect the tissues I think.

I put nappy, sock and lots of duck tape, which lasted quite well when turned out in the field.

There is a reason why an abscess heals up OK when the infection is out, and doesn't get contaminated by mud, but sorry can't remember where I read that information!