Hoof abscesses

rising_promise

rising_promise

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How long would you expect a horse to be lame with an abscess in the foot?
My mare was really lame at first, we poulticed, and gunk came out for a couple of days (shoe was taken off). We saw an improvement in the lameness and shoe was put back on but she's still not sound after a week so I'm starting to think an abscess was not the only problem.

She had an abscess this time last year and as soon as the shoe was put back on after 5/6 days, she was sound again but not this time so I'm worried.

She is really wimpy when it comes to pain but I'm starting to think there may be a problem with the deep digital flexor tendon as there is (very, very!!) slight heat just above her heel.

Has anyone had the same problem with an abscess?
 
a week!! MY GOSH give it time!!!!

for a horse to come completely sound after a week you are bless.. it could take up to a month for her to come sound!

I wouldnt be particularly concerned about the DDFT as to be honest.. the heat above her heal is more than likly from the infection fromt the abcess..

You need to be more patient, give it time.. If she is still quiet lame it may also be an idea to give her some bute.

i think your worrying too much and looking into it too much.. Sounds like a simple abcess hun..

Good luck
Lou x
 
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a week!! MY GOSH give it time!!!!

for a horse to come completely sound after a week you are bless.. it could take up to a month for her to come sound!

I wouldnt be particularly concerned about the DDFT as to be honest.. the heat above her heal is more than likly from the infection fromt the abcess..

You need to be more patient, give it time.. If she is still quiet lame it may also be an idea to give her some bute.

i think your worrying too much and looking into it too much.. Sounds like a simple abcess hun..

Good luck
Lou x

[/ QUOTE ]


You may be my new best friend
wink.gif


I think I'm worrying because it was all so easy last time she had it, shoe went back on and hey presto!

Thank you, I'll try and be patient. Doesnt help that we have a big competition in 3 weeks.....
crazy.gif
 
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Are you still getting gunk on the poultice, or is it clear when you change it?

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Gunk had stopped coming out so the shoe went back on. The problem was that the farrier could never find anything in the foot though there must have been a problem if gunk came out of the poultice?! I think though that if she's still not right that there might be stuff left in there still and I think I'll poultice again, cant do any harm....
 
Months. I was groom for a horse who had an abscess and he was lame for months. Tubbed him and he had antibiotics and bute and syringed ABs injected into the hole in the sole.

Eventually, the infection came out through the coronary band and he was suddenly sound. I think it is called a quittor when it does this. Was lovely and pusy!
 
Depends how far in the abscess is and whether the blood supply is good. Henry has an asbcess on his tail, which is taking weeks to resolve. It only started draining after two weeks, when it spurt forth in all its glory! Sometimes the drain hole heals up and you have to go through all the rigmarole again.

I'd continue to poultice/hot tub, as it sounds like this has happened in your case.
 
i would get your vet out to scrap the hoof away to see if there is something going on it needs to have drain and antibiotics for it catch all the infection if you have the shoe on again and covering the hole it will have no where to drain and just brew up even more!
 
Had a pony earlier this year that had an abscess. It burst, drained, pony was sound - until he was taken onto hard ground. vet and farrier eventually declared it drained and pony was sound. Two months later he suddenly went lame again. A different farrier saw him and found he had developed a false sole, and it was filled with the most evil gunk. This was due to the infection never clearing properly.
I'd guess that yours does still have some pus in there, and would recommend hot-tubbing/poulticing again.
 
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