Hoof abscess

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ariellaII

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Hi,

Have a large hairy ID x Clydesdale who is unshod and very prone to getting abscesses. She came in last week hopping lame (I was away for a few days but she was on full livery) so was poulticed and had made a huge improvement the next day. She was checked by farrier a few days later who couldn't find any heat in her hoof so said no abscess and confirmed she was 100% sound so could go back out.

She came in on Tuesday hopping lame again so got the vet out on Wednesday who did some digging and said they could see the small black head of an abscess deep in her hoof which would more than likely come out of the coronary band (this has happened with her last 3 abscesses) but to hot poultice it until Sunday changing twice a day and then dry poultice it. When I changed the poultice this morning there is no pus and can't see anywhere that it could have burst and she is a lot more sound and feeling better.

Has this happened to anyone else? Just not too sure what to do with her as the fact she is practically sound again but her poultice is clean in the morning indicates it hasn't burst. She is also on box rest and bet said to put her out once it has sealed over.

Any advice on this would be appreciated as not really sure what I'm doing!
 
Are you,poulticing around the coronary band seeing the vet said it would come out there, bearing in mind you need to draw it out, also are you hot tubbing with some epsom salts over the coronary band? it definitely seems to be deep seated and needs to come out.
 
Hi, thank you for your reply! I got my YM to look at it last night as she is getting better but I don't know why. She is still slightly lame in trot but it as a massive improvement from what she was. YM said that no puss has came out of foot and he doubted it was abscess as she as got better.

I have been hot poulticing around coronary band and over the bit the vet cut at where they seen evidence of an abscess and still nothing. YM said to leave poultice off it and see what it was like but I was hesitant as vet said keep hot poulticing so dry poulticed last night and got her to stand (very reluctantly) with her foot in a bucket of hot water to give it a deep clean. Still nothing on poultice today (have gone back to hot poulticing as vet said to do it until tomorrow). Will definitely try the hot tubbing with Epsom salts though in the hope something comes out.
 
Hi, interested to hear how you get along as I've just had a similar problem with one of mine. Yesterday the abscess burst out through the back of her heel although I'd not actually poulticed there. I'm poulticing at the site now but even after a day, the skin and surrounding area is incredibly soft and I'm wondering how long it will take to eventually harden up again? Hope you get to the bottom of it soon - it's very frustrating.
 
Greenbee, this happened to me with her last abscess, had been poulticing elsewhere in the foot and it all came out her coronary band/heel leaving quite a large hole. Hers burst on the second or third day of hot poulticing it, hot poulticed it again that night but as her foot was so soft I had to dry poultice it from then on (farriers instructions) to let it try and harden up again and as she was a lot more sound to walk her on it to push the pus out.

Hope she gets better soon!
 
just to say your not the only one in abscess hell, I'm poulticing twice a day as well :) rubbish isn't it.

I didn't let the one he had last moth heel properly before he was back on 24/7 turnout. Unfortunately it's reinfected so going to do it slowly this time x
 
I am also in the abscess nightmare club!! 5 weeks in for me and dealing with a horse that WONT be tubbed, WONT stand to be poulticed and WONT pick his foot up..... bblleeuuggghhh :(
 
Thanks for the info Ariellall. My gut instinct was to dress it dry today but didn't get that much out so left it uncovered tonight. She's in a big stable with wood pellet bedding so hoping it will harden off quickly and not re-infect. Heard on grapevine that lots of horses suffering with abscesses at the moment. Hope they are all on the mend soon!
 
I hope everyone is out of the abscess club soon!

As she is getting more sound (but still no pus!) I taped and bagged her foot up and off she went out to the field. No different coming in tonight in terms of lameness after being out all day and going crazy so farrier is coming to see her tomorrow so I have my fingers crossed he has good news.
 
avthechav said:
I am also in the abscess nightmare club!! 5 weeks in for me and dealing with a horse that WONT be tubbed, WONT stand to be poulticed and WONT pick his foot up..... bblleeuuggghhh :(
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I am just about to re-enter this nightmare. Young horse had an abscess about 6 wks ago, after 2 wks thought all was ok and sent him for his winter turnaway holiday. However had to fetch him home yesterday as the abscess has flared up again. Farrier coming tomorrow.

But like you, the poulticing was almost impossible. He kicked, hopped, danced, etc, we tried twitching him and got it done, but I hated doing it and the following day he would not let us touch his face, knowing we would try to twitch again. I think because of his unco-operative behaviour is why I didn't poultice long enough. I don't know what I am going to do this time.

I have bought epsom salts, so hoping that once the farrier had dug it out, I might be able to soak it in the salt water.

GOOD LUCK everyone who is dealing with hoof abscesses, they are not funny!
 
Can I join the 'poulticing, tubbing abscess ' club?!
My horse has had an abscess that I have been tubbing in epsom salts and poulticing three times a day. Luckily he has been a model patient standing very still with his foot in a bucket! He is now almost sound and I would like to turn him out as soon as poss cos he hates box rest.
So - how long should i wait for the hole made by the farrier to heal up??!
Any help or experience appreciated - thanks.
 
Nickijem said:
Can I join the 'poulticing, tubbing abscess ' club?!
My horse has had an abscess that I have been tubbing in epsom salts and poulticing three times a day. Luckily he has been a model patient standing very still with his foot in a bucket! He is now almost sound and I would like to turn him out as soon as poss cos he hates box rest.
So - how long should i wait for the hole made by the farrier to heal up??!
Any help or experience appreciated - thanks.
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Not sure how long you should wait, but leave it longer if poss. I think this is the mistake I made and the abscess has come back. I got it cleared up, kept him in for a further 4 days on a good dry bed and then turned him out for his winter turnaway, and now 4 weeks on he is back in the stable and the farrier has been today to dig it out and has out on a poultice for me. Goodness knows how I am going to get it poulticed now as he was a pig about it last time. Lucky you that yours has stood nicely. If only we could tell them we are trying to help, anyone would think I was trying to cut his leg off the fuss he has made. So wish me luck for tomorrow when I have to change the poultice!
 
I always think this (and other veterinary procedures) is one where all preconceptions of not using food should get chucked out the window.

To poultice, get all your poultice stuff ready, find a helper for 5 minutes and give them lots of whatever your horse likes to eat. Chopped carrots, a small bag of mix, fibre nuts/nuggets, whatever it takes

Start by asking horse for hoof, and when you get hoof tell them to feed. Put hoof down and tell them to stop. Do this two or three times until it's clear that horse knows when hoof is up and being handled, they will be fed. Get the helper to feed away, and put the poultice on. Thank helper very much :)

Works in my experience even for mildly uncomfortable procedures.
 
Really really feel for you all, my girl had two abscesses over last winter, one in a hind & the other in a front. First one in the hind was a nightmare to tub & poultice as she soon got fed up of it & didn't want to cooperate at all but thankfully was sound within a week. The second one took weeks to show fully. She'd be sound for a few days then a bit off then sound, then a bit off etc etc. Finally was hoping lame one morning & vet had to dig very deep but found it saying it had been brewing for weeks. This one took a couple of weeks, twice a day of hot tubbing with epsom salts, hot poulticing then dry poulticing b4 she was finally sound again, she was an angel this time tho, thank goodness! She hates being stabled so made a triple boot of waterproof duct tape so she could still live out with her friends 24/7. Once sound my farrier packed the hole with cotton wool sprayed with terramycin & put shoe on. Really hoping we don't get any this year and hope all your horses are sound again very soon.
 
Thanks Boxers. I really don't want to risk another infection. I shall wait til the farrier comes back to put the shoe on then see what he thinks!
Good luck to those with horses who just can't see that you are trying to help them.
 
Brightbay said:
I always think this (and other veterinary procedures) is one where all preconceptions of not using food should get chucked out the window.

To poultice, get all your poultice stuff ready, find a helper for 5 minutes and give them lots of whatever your horse likes to eat. Chopped carrots, a small bag of mix, fibre nuts/nuggets, whatever it takes

Start by asking horse for hoof, and when you get hoof tell them to feed. Put hoof down and tell them to stop. Do this two or three times until it's clear that horse knows when hoof is up and being handled, they will be fed. Get the helper to feed away, and put the poultice on. Thank helper very much :)

Works in my experience even for mildly uncomfortable procedures.
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I had already decided I would try this. Bowl of food and hopefully he will be distracted enough eating it not to notice his hoof being sorted out.
 
I am back in the abscess club. Farrier said that it was more than likely just a bad bruise as she was 100% sound today whilst still being turned out and he had said just to stop poulticing etc and let her get on with it and he blocked the hole the vet dug with putty stuff to prevent her getting an abscess.

Brought her in this evening and she is hopping lame on her other back leg, foot is very hot and YM thinks it is an abscess! Farrier is back out tomorrow (wouldn't be surprised if he blocked my number as I'm constantly badgering him about her having yet another abscess) and she is poulticed and feeling sorry for herself again. :(:(:(
 
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ariellaII said:
I am back in the abscess club. Farrier said that it was more than likely just a bad bruise as she was 100% sound today whilst still being turned out and he had said just to stop poulticing etc and let her get on with it and he blocked the hole the vet dug with putty stuff to prevent her getting an abscess.

Brought her in this evening and she is hopping lame on her other back leg, foot is very hot and YM thinks it is an abscess! Farrier is back out tomorrow (wouldn't be surprised if he blocked my number as I'm constantly badgering him about her having yet another abscess) and she is poulticed and feeling sorry for herself again. :(:(:(
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this is what happened to me, welcome black to the club. We've got lots of lovely black gunge coming out and it was dug last friday by the vet.:rolleyes:
 
victoria1980x said:
this is what happened to me, welcome black to the club. We've got lots of lovely black gunge coming out and it was dug last friday by the vet.:rolleyes:
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Ahhh it really sucks doesn't it? I was so excited yesterday when the farrier gave her the all clear and less than 8 hours later she has a new abscess! At least you have pus though and should hopefully be on the mend soon :)
 
ariellaII said:
Ahhh it really sucks doesn't it? I was so excited yesterday when the farrier gave her the all clear and less than 8 hours later she has a new abscess! At least you have pus though and should hopefully be on the mend soon :)
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yes I'm grateful for that as it is so frustrating when the poultice is coming off clean all the time, we still have black stuff coming out so still hot poulticing and its been nearly a week since the vet dug it out.
 
I'm going to buy my horse some wellies!

I thought about walking him round the yard for a bit of exercise but am not going to in case he steps on a stone or something with one of his other 3 feet and gets another abscess! He needs 4 wellyboots!
 
Look like I will be joining the abscess club..............my 24/7 foal is hopping lame and vet's has advised 90% certain to be an abscess but need to get her into a stable wash legs off properly and reassess.
My field is so wet and muddy I have decided to put her on livery with my other horse just so she can get out of the horrible ground and of course recover - no idea how she will cope with box rest and poulticing!!
 
Boxers said:
I'm going to buy my horse some wellies!

I thought about walking him round the yard for a bit of exercise but am not going to in case he steps on a stone or something with one of his other 3 feet and gets another abscess! He needs 4 wellyboots!
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I would love to get Minnie wellies as well, she has no luck with abscesses! Her new abscess burst today so I guess that's an improvement, she is just so sick of being in and starting to get agitated now. :(
 
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