How long for abscess to heal?

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madginger

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Vet came out last Tuesday to dig out an abscess, she said to dry poultice for 10 days changing twice a day or until the pus stopped coming out. (normally I'd wet poultice for the first few days but thought that vets know best)!

We are now 10 days later and there is still the same amount of pus coming out, horse appears sound (cant really tell with a nappy on her foot!!!) so I was wondering how long do you think I will still get pus for or if it is worth a phone call to the vets?

Thanks
 
i would go with what you know - wet and warm pouliticing - it works a lot quicker. 10 days is way to long to still be drawing pus it needs the wet and the heat to pull it out of the hoof. Its best not to ride til there's no pus coming out but she's prob not that sore coz the pressure in her foots been released.
 
I had a horse in for treatment. He'd been suffering with an abcess for approx 6 weeks previous. The owner kept thinking it had cleared up but then the horse would be lame again.

The horse cam in and had 3 sessions in the spa. After the first session we dry poulticed and there was pus on the poultice. After the second session we dry poulticed again and it came up clean. After the 3rd session and clean poultice the owner had the hole filled with tar and the shoe put back on.

The horse is now sound and back competing.

If your horse is not getting better then it might be worth you thinking about using a spa for it.
 
What does the spa do to assist the healing process? Does it help the circulation? I have a HUGE problem with abscesses!
 
The high salt content of the spa (epsom and normal salts) has a two fold effect. Firstly it cleans the wound and secondly it works by osmosis to draw the pus out.

The coldness of the water also means that when the horse comes out the spa the blood rushes to the area to heat it up boosting the circulation and therefore boosting the healing process.

Hope that helps. If you want any more info then let me know.
 
My horse and a horse next door to him have both had abscesses recently - seems to be a lot of them about. Both have now cleared up with the following regime recommended by my vet:

- four days wet poulticing followed by four days dry
- using a tablespoon of epsom salts to a pint of hot water and tubbing for 10 mins for the four days whilst wet poulticing.
- using terramycin spray on the hole when dry poulticing
- when the horse is sound, turn out using a boot
- the boot was made by putting a piece of animalintex over the hole, then using a nappy to cover the whole foot, then using vetwrap to keep the nappy in place, taping up to just below the pastern. Then cut strips of duct tape, stick them all over the foot up to the pastern. Pay special attention to the toe area as this is the bit that gets rubbed out. Put four of five layers of tape on it. This boot takes a while to do but will stay on and keep the foot dry when turned out. Change it daily.

My horse is barefoot so when the gunk stopped coming out I filled the hole with Keratex putty which I changed every couple of days. My friend's horse who is shod had the shoe put on within 4 days as gunk stopped and was sound. Farrier filled the hole with Keratex and put the shoe back on
 
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