How long does the pus keep coming out?

[asmp]

This may be a how long is a piece of string question. Vet diagnosed abscess last Monday and after a couple of days pus started leaking from one of the holes that the vet dug at the front of his hoof. Horse is now on dry poultices and it is still coming out. Should I get the farrier to have more of a dig around or just keep poulticing? Horse is a lot happier and is now only a little lame compared to the hobbling at walk we had at first (he even cantered down the field today which probably wasn’t ideal). It’s the first one he’s had in the 16 years I’ve had him.

 

[Barton Bounty]

My old boy was 16 days and another was 12 .. just depends

 

[asmp]

My old boy was 16 days and another was 12 .. just depends

That long - groans……………

 

[Barton Bounty]

That long - groans……………

I know… as soon as the pus stop, just stop draining so as not to drain actual fluid from the leg

 

[ycbm]

I know… as soon as the pus stop, just stop draining so as not to drain actual fluid from the leg

Because of your emoji I'm not sure if you're joking or not. If it was a serious comment, it's not one I've ever heard before and I'm pretty sure it can't happen with a foot abscess.
.

 

[ycbm]

This may be a how long is a piece of string question. Vet diagnosed abscess last Monday and after a couple of days pus started leaking from one of the holes that the vet dug at the front of his hoof. Horse is now on dry poultices and it is still coming out. Should I get the farrier to have more of a dig around or just keep poulticing? Horse is a lot happier and is now only a little lame compared to the hobbling at walk we had at first (he even cantered down the field today which probably wasn’t ideal). It’s the first one he’s had in the 16 years I’ve had him.

I would want an x ray on an abscess that is still draining pus after a week, to check that it isn't either tracking to or originating from the pedal bone, because if it is you have a limited time to operate and save the horse. It's not common, don't panic, but it is a risk.
.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Because of your emoji I'm not sure if you're joking or not. If it was a serious comment, it's not one I've ever heard before and I'm pretty sure it can't happen with a foot abscess.

My friend had lost a mare and a youngster in the last year due to this very thing!

One at home where the vet caused the issue. Next at an equine hospital

 

[ycbm]

My friend had lost a mare and a youngster in the last year due to this very thing!

One at home where the vet caused the issue. Next at an equine hospital

A vet told them they lost horses because the fluid ran out of their leg due to poulticing an abscess?

Never heard of it, and I don't believe it's possible. Happy to be corrected if you can point me to any veterinary site that mentions that poulticing a foot abscess after pus has stopped will drain fluid out of the leg in sufficient quantity to kill a horse.
.

 

[Orangehorse]

I think I would be a bit concerned if puss was still coming out. Usually the advice is to wet poultice for 3 days, with maybe some hot tubbing as well. After 3 days put on a dry poultice.

It could be that there is a foreign body or something else going on. I would contact the vet and discuss it, you may need to get an x ray.

 

[mini-eventer]

I've had pus that cleared up quite quickly, but then was a bit weepy, more clear fluid for a fair few days after. Because it was fairly clear it could easily have been missed, but i managed to keep the foot and poultice extremely clean and dry. It was a huge abscess and I'm not surprised there was a bit of fluid discharge after. Wounds can weep a bit of plasma type fluid.

I don't belive I was draining the fluid from his leg. I'm with ybcm I don't think thats a thing.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

The longest I have had one rumble on and off was about ten days. But I always turn out 24/7 with an extremely well applied dry poultice after last signs of seepage with wet poultice and hot tubbing with Epsom salts, as I and my vet are great believers in movement helping any last residual nasties to drain out naturally.

Never had a leg full of fluid drain out yet, odd that.

 

[Hollylee1989]

After losing our mare in April from an abcess, I'd get xrays asap.

 

[mini-eventer]

I turn out all the way through unless the field is an absolute Bog. Movement is really helpful. It takes a bit of practice, but I am proud of how my poultice can be clean and dry after a day in the field. I wouldn't panic just yet if its moving in the right direction, but if lameness increases or the puss is still gunky, or not slowing down I would get the vet back and xray

 

[Dexter]

I would want an x ray on an abscess that is still draining pus after a week, to check that it isn't either tracking to or originating from the pedal bone, because if it is you have a limited time to operate and save the horse. It's not common, don't panic, but it is a risk.
.

And a cushings test. If you've had him 16yrs I assume he's at least that old, and getting an abcess can be a warning sign. I wouldn't panic, but I would want it doing sooner rather than later.

 

[Dexter]

A vet told them they lost horses because the fluid ran out of their leg due to poulticing an abscess?

Never heard of it, and I don't believe it's possible. Happy to be corrected if you can point me to any veterinary site that mentions that poulticing a foot abscess after pus has stopped will drain fluid out of the leg in sufficient quantity to kill a horse.
.

Greyhounds get corns and one of the treatments is long-term and repeated applications of wet animalintex, often inside a boot. It can go on for weeks and weeks. No greyhound has ever died from fluid being drained from their leg.

 

[asmp]

And a cushings test. If you've had him 16yrs I assume he's at least that old, and getting an abcess can be a warning sign. I wouldn't panic, but I would want it doing sooner rather than later.

He‘s just gone on Prascend (30 days in). Was wondering if that had anything to do with it.

 

[asmp]

Interesting everyone’s comments about movement as my vet advised against it so he was penned into a small area for a few days. He’s now back in the big field (and looking a lot sounder)

 

[ycbm]

Interesting everyone’s comments about movement as my vet advised against it so he was penned into a small area for a few days. He’s now back in the big field (and looking a lot sounder)

I suspect your vet might have been concerned that the abscess was as a result of laminitis and wanted that ruled out first. Movement seems to be standard advice for foot abscesses otherwise.
.

 

[Orangehorse]

I turn out all the way through unless the field is an absolute Bog. Movement is really helpful. It takes a bit of practice, but I am proud of how my poultice can be clean and dry after a day in the field. I wouldn't panic just yet if its moving in the right direction, but if lameness increases or the puss is still gunky, or not slowing down I would get the vet back and xray

Crickey, I need some lessons from you. How many layers of duck tape?

 

[mini-eventer]

Crickey, I need some lessons from you. How many layers of duck tape?

I pre make like a hoof boot, out of a feed sack and A LOT of layers of duct tape, I try to find something similarly sized to my horses hoof to use as a template. My hoof moist container suited my pony. I used the tub to make the shape of the toe and leave the back open. You can slip it on over the poultice and then quickly secure with more tape