Intermittent lameness / recent frog wound

[charlotte79]

My mare went lame 3 weeks ago and found she had a frog abscess due to a puncture wound, the vet came and measured the hole saying it seemed to be only superficial but if she went more lame overnight we would need to get her in. She had it cut and cleaned a course of antibiotics and hot poulticed for 3 days then dry poulticed for 3 days... the following day she was pretty much sound and after a week the vet said to start riding and turnout again. Everything was great and we were getting back to norm the first week then i hacked her out and she hopped (hardly noticable ) for 1 or 2 strides....then seemed a bit choppy for a few strides then she was ok again...the next day she was fine although i was on grass not the road...then the next day in the arena schooling she was fine...then i did 2 dressage tests and she was fine....next day she had off...then i hacked her on the road...again hardly noticable but not quite right for a few strides midway through hack. Today i lunged her and she was choppy again so have called the vet for tomorrow. She has no heat in limbs or hooves...i'm keeping everything crossed her frog is just still a bit sore and it is nothing terrible but was wondering if anyone had any experience like this with frog wounds/intermittent lameness. The concerning thing is that it is hardly noticable especially from the ground. I would like to say i'm 99% sure its in the limb with the frog injury but its hard to tell as it hardly shows

 

[PorkChop]

I'm no expert, but I personally dislike giving antibiotics for abscesses unless absolutely necessary for this very reason.

You have done everything right, I would be tempted to hot/cold tub the hoof tonight and in the morning then see what the Vet says. Unusual that there is no heat in the hoof though - how are her digital pulses?

 

[Tnavas]

I would suspect that the abscess wasn't quite cleared - they do that! Hot poultice again until completely sound then dry poultice. Giving antibiotics tends to allow the abscess to die back but then reappear. A topical antibiotic is best to use, we've always used a 'mastitis antibiotic ointment as it comes in a small tube/syringe with a long nozzle that can be inserted right into the wound.

Once sound, pack the hole with cottonwool soaked in Stockholm Tar - it prevents any gunk getting into the hole and resetting the abscess off.