Hoof abscess of doom

Joeyjojo

Joeyjojo

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My horse has had an abscess on and off for a couple of months now. Until now I've been hot poulticing for a few days, then dry poulticing for a week or so. She's been turned out and it feels like we've got through every hoof boot imaginable. Its now round 3 of it looking like its cleared up and then flaring up again a couple of weeks later. I am on extreme measures - she is in (so she can't remove her poultice) and its on the dry poultice stage, I think all the gunk is out! Ideally I'd like to get her back out in the field, but there is still a huge hole in her foot! I really don't want to go through this again so can anyone suggest what my next steps should be?

I have tried her in the following with not much luck:

Poultice with duct tape + heavy duty plastic bag (lasts maybe 10 mins)
Poultice with horse crocz - thought this was good until it rubbed a massive hole in the back of her fetlock!
She seems to be the wrong size for those shires poultice boots - I have one and it was either too small or massive, I can't turn her out in that.
There was another boot in there somewhere as well - no idea what make, but it didn't last more than a day or so.

Would hoof putty work to fill the hole? Should I buy a hoof boot to protect it? I was thinking the cavello entry level boot. Or shall I get that woofwear one? It just doesn't look like it'll last long on my mare who removes or trashes everything! Help!!
 
Try a pair of Cavallo Simples (if the shape suits), they are really easy to put on/take off, and if you get a size bigger (or if the feet are on the lower end of the scale) you can easily fit a layer of padding/bandage etc in the bottom.
 
Just out of interest, can I ask whether the horse was treated with antibiotics or bute when it first went lame?
 
if its goingn on for months you need to go back to your vet and investigate an underlying cause
 
I'd turn her out, wouldn't bother with boots. Pack the hole with Red Horse Hoof Stuff. Or Keratex Hoof Putty (if you can actually get it out of the tin). Good old Sudocrem and cotton wool works well too. Check/clean hole/change packing daily.
 
My horse had constant reoccurring abscess and it turned out to be a chipped pedal bone; if there is any sign of infection left then you need x-rays to see what's happening in the foot.
I have used horse crocz but bandaged to protect the fetlock, cavallos are ok but unless they fit really well then they are prone to fly off if the horse has a canter in the field. They also can rub the heel bulbs.
 
If you have really got the abscess clean and fully drained you could do what all the old farriers did.

Plug the hole with cotton wool dipped in Stockholm Tar, Buy a piece of leather big enough to cover the whole of th esole. Get the farrier to pack the sole with Stockholm Tar and Cotton Wool, cover with leather and then put shoe on.

If you can do this - keep wet poulticing until the farrier arrives, ensure the area is spotless, take the horse to where the farrier works, sweep the floor spotless and only then remove the poultice, and place the horses foot on a clean sack. If you can keep everything clean you should be able to prevent the abscess flaring up again.
 
is your horse on an iron supplement or could it's iron levels be too high?. There have been cases near up where grazing was too rich in certain minerals and it was causing higher persistent abcess rates in peoples horses.
 
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