Horse standing with back leg under since abscess

[Charlie31]

My horse had an abscess in a back foot a few weeks ago. It came out of his heel bulb but there is a hole underneath where the infection went in, which I've been packing with hoof stuff. It's not too deep but it does go a reasonable way back beyond the obvious entry point.

He was only ever mildly lame on it and seemed better after a day or two. He looks comfortable in walk and trot and on the lunge. Vet and farrier have both seen it and say it's fine.

The only thing is that ever since it happened I've noticed him standing with that leg under him a lot more. Not all the time but enough for me to be a bit uncomfortable about it. As I say he's very comfortable moving around but I'm just wondering about this a bit.

Is it possible that his heel is feeling a bit sore and/or week where the hole is and once it grows out it will be comfortable or could there be more to this?

I should add that the horse has some other issues which he's due to see the vet for anyway so I will ask about this as well, but it's another thing I'm worried about as well now!

 

[ycbm]

I wouldn't be packing the hole, the bugs that cause the issues don't like oxygen and won't multiply in an oxygen rich environment, so the last thing I would do is exclude air. When I have had abscesses come out of the heel bulb (often!) I squirt 3% hydrogen peroxide in hard with a syringe twice a day. The peroxide shoves in oxygen.

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[dorsetladette]

I wouldn't be packing the hole, the bugs that cause the issues don't like oxygen and won't multiply in an oxygen rich environment, so the last thing I would do is exclude air. When I have had abscesses come out of the heel bulb (often!) I squirt 3% hydrogen peroxide in hard with a syringe twice a day. The peroxide shoves in oxygen.

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Agree with this /\

I would be syringing into both holes to kill anything that was still lingering.

 

[Charlie31]

Thanks both. I thought I should pack the hole after the abscess was clear to stop more nasties getting in there? I should clarify that the actual event was a few weeks ago now and I poulticed until clear and then hot tubbed twice a day for a while after and then packed the hole. So I guess I thought it was clear now and it was only when I thought it was done that I started putting hoof stuff in.