How long after an abcess do you leave it before you turn out normally?

mightymammoth

mightymammoth

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Hi, how long do you leave it after an abscess before you turn out normally (without any dressing on hoof). The abcess was burst yesterday and he is much sounder although still lame but is miserable whilst in. He had limited turnout for 15 hours with foot poulticed. Once hes sounder Im worried if I turn him out without any protection dirt may get in
The hole and reinfect his sole. ( this is the first abcess I've delt with) thanks
 
Once its clear I keep a dry dressing on for a few days to give it chance to seal up. Depends on size of hole & severity though. Have a word with your farrier though, there is a substance which is similar to polyfilla (but can't remember the correct name) they can put in to seal the hole while it heals.
 
just going thru the same, I would -on farriers advice- not risk the putty or any sealant, as if there is a remote chance of any lurking bit that hasn't come out, you will trap it in..this can happen even if you think its all out. After my mares foot poultice was taken off clean,I've just syringed 3% hydrogen peroxide in to be sure it fizzes any invisible nasties out and applied stockholm tar(thick goopy pine tar) it is like a tar/bitumen made from pine sap that is deconstructively burnt down to form the tar. Pine/stockholm tar has antibacterial properties whilst still allowing anything to come out should it need to, without letting anything in.Excellent stuff, also has many other uses like when disbudding /dehorning cattle/goats/horned sheep and similarly for wounds or when foot trimming sheep/goats if you have a wriggler/kicker that times it badly & you slip & cut a bit too much and it looks like it might bleed.... and for sealing trees when they are cut back & bleeding/lost bark etc. ~Great on hoof cracks too.Do wear gloves and definitely do not expect to re use the brush/rag/sponge..it will have a permanent new use of pine tar forever more!:-) You want the thick gloopy stuff not the fine runny stuff. About £5 a tub
 
Dry poltice for a few more days, and then pack the hole with cotton wool, certainly would'nt pack with anything. If your worried about loosing the cotton wool, put a tiny bit of gaffter tape over to old in place.:)
 
TheCurlyPony said:
Dry poltice for a few more days, and then pack the hole with cotton wool, certainly would'nt pack with anything. If your worried about loosing the cotton wool, put a tiny bit of gaffter tape over to old in place.:)
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We were taught to top the cotton wool with the putty so you get the best of both worlds, it can be removed for drainage and to check but is less likely to fall out in the field. Worked for ours, but he isn't renowned for using a lot of energy hooning around!
 
I would only turn out on farrier's advice. You need to keep poulticing until all the goo is gone and dressing is coming away clean after use. Once the dressing is clean you can either pack the hole with Keretex (sp??) or stockholm tar used to be used. Dry dressing with iodine also helps dry and harden up area after hot wet poulticing.
 
if you're happy to change the poultice twice a day and the weather is dry then turn out with poultice on, thats what i did with the big girl as she was stressing in the stable. i used extra duct tape to make it as strong as possible and she only managed to loose one poultice.
 
Cant you cover with something for a few more days until everything is def out? I went to a car garage and they gave me an old tyre ... i then cut it up and used it on her foot on the base .... I always find normal poultices (no matter how much gaffa tape I used) her foot still went through it and got muddy! After a few days, I keratex then and off they go ... never had any problems! :)
 
Thank you for the replies,I'm still hot poulticing it using the special poultice things (begins with a cant remember the name.something like anilex) I'm soaking them in boiling water and adding Epsom salt. They are coming off a little slimy so hard to see if there's any gunk or not. On top of this I'm putting a bandage a nappy and loads of duct tape then turning out. He's still lame but Monday morning he couldn't even weight bear took two hours to get him out his field.
 
OP, don't use those special poultice things they are really expensive.

Get yourself some disposable nappies instead, work just as well and are only about 3p each if you get a big pack of the cheap ones.
 
My horses abcess appears to have gone had the vet out yesterday, however she still isnt walking/trotting right, vet has said to try riding her for a couple of weeks to see if the stiffness in her leg improves, is this normal?
 
amymay said:
This.

Nappies and gaffa tape are your friend....... :D
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this^^^^^

just make sure that the tape does not make the foot sweat!! My horse had a horrific abcess that took 8 weeks to clear properly. I taped him up with cotton and iodine in the hole and turned out once I was happy took the plunge and turned out without
 
Once it has burst / been cut out, I'd wet poultice 2-3 times, then mag sulphate poutice a couple of times and then just use dry dressings until the hole looks clean/dry and no signs of anything coming out (1-5 days usually).

There is no reason why, if gaffa taped up, this process can't be done turned out 24/7, in fact I think it's better to keep them moving.

I like to keep keratex hoof putty handy for when the dry dressing is removed. Useful stuff.
 
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