Hoof abscess – how long before antibiotics kick in?

seoirse

seoirse

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My poor horse. He’s been on complete rest for 14 weeks now following his first and only and terrible attack of laminitis. Touch wood he hasn’t had another attack since but the original attack was so severe he’s been in a bit of a state since. He was getting quite good up until last week and was out all day in a pen on just one bute every 48 hours. He looked great in walk and it felt like we were nearly there. Farrier came Weds and uncovered all sorts of mess in his feet and he’s now pretty foot sore and sorry and the vet reckons his foot is infected where the farrier inadvertently opened up a bit of sole where there was an area of old haemorrhage. He is now 3 legged lame and back on complete box rest. The vet has left the hole uncovered as he wants it to dry, though I’m hibiscrubbing it and purple spraying it twice a day, and he’s given my horse antibiotics and I gave him the first dose in his tea last night. He is worse this morning though poor thing. How long before I can expect to see the antibiotics helping? In my experiences of abcesses before I’ve always had the farrier and they drain it, horse feels better. The End. I’ve never had to give antibiotics before and I’m not sure how long before they work. :(
 
That sounds awful. I think they should begin to work 24 to 48 hours. We had a horse recently that had an infection in a hoof, not the usual abscess but from a puncture wound. He was so lame vet at first thought he had broken pedal bone. Farrier found nothing and we poulticed to no effect - antibiotics intravenously were the only thing that helped. Vet came out every day for about a week to inject. Maybe getting the antibiotics this way might be better for your boy?
 
@mle22 I guess this is more of an infection than an abscess really, as he was fine til his foot inadvertantly got opened up on the bottom, then 4 days later he went lame, so despite my best efforts keeping it clean and covered when he went out the dirt still got in, not surprising really. Vet said if no improvement by Thurs to call and he'll come back Fri. I guess his first packet of antibiotics was last night so it needs a couple of doses before it will get going? He's on one a day so next one is tonight.

@MrsD123 yes he's on a big thick bed, and I've been mucking it out twice a day and skipping it out in my lunchbreak to try and keep it clean! My mileage this week is going to be massive with 3 visits a day! I hope you are right and he gets better. We're into week 14 of this now and its getting really tough seeing him so pathetic. He was starting to look so good before this though. :(

Thanks guys.
 
If he's not any better by Thursday maybe talk to your vet about injecting the antibiotics? It's more immediately effective I think. You just hate to see them miserable and in pain don't you! Hope he is feeling better soon.
 
yes I will do. Though vet said if no better by Thurs he will come and X-ray again to be sure there is nothing more sinsiter going on. We x-rayed 7 weeks ago before his heartbars went on and the rotation was quite minor, less than 5 degrees in each front foot, and since then he's just (slowly) got better and better until this, so I'm hoping its infection and the antibiotics will sort it. Though I guess if they don't and the X-rays are good then we'll have to give injections. I'll update tomorrow - please keep everything crossed he improves. I am so broke after all this! I'm getting married in October - my bridesmaids are going to have to wear bin bags!!! :D
 
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He's just as bad if not worse today. I cleaned the wound on his foot and accidently disrupted it and it bled bright red fresh blood, not what I'd expect to get out of an infected wound. I called the vet and left a message for him to call me. Think we need to X-ray and I don't think this is looking good. :(
 
I would consider a dry animalintex on the wound, use vet wrap to keep it on, then there should be no need to clean it, and when you change the dressing [as dictated by the wound] you can see what is happening without interfering, the animalintex is not sterile, but it should be OK.
I know this is contrary to the vet, but I can't see it doing any harm. Also is he on Danolin to ease pain and lower inflammation, is there much heat and where is it.
Take his temperature twice a day as a check for infection.
One newby vet told me feeding antibiotics was pretty useless tbh, I would ask you vet about this, you are paying for his expertise, and he needs to "be more effective"
 
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