Lame horse, suspected abscess. To dig or not to dig

[StoptheCavalry]

I have a very lame horse. Started on Sunday when I initially thought he was bruised from walking on the sharp stones (he is barefoot and has been for at least 2 years) So decision was made once he was back to normal shoes would go on. Anyway it is now most definitely not just a footy issue his is hobbling on his left fore and now believe it is an abscess. I have been poulticing twice daily but can't see any sign of anything emerging. My farrier is booked on Saturday regardless of what happens between then and now but I wanted to get opinions on the best course of action.

What are your opinions on digging out abscesses vs leaving them to come out on their own? Is there anything I can do between now and Saturday that might make a difference?

I absolutely can not stand seeing him so uncomfortable and want to do what ever I can to help him. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly received.

Thank you

 

[L&M]

In terms of digging out, yes, but leave it to the farrier.

You could try hot tubbing and/or poulticing until then as might help the abscess to come to the surface sooner.

When mine had an abscess, he was on 3 legs, so called the vet out that day - once he had dug out the abscess the relief was almost instantaneous.

 

[peaceandquiet1]

Totally in favour of digging out as the pain relief is so immediate. You are right to poultice. Have you found a strong digital pulse? That is caused by congestion within the foot, such as infection. Having owned a horse very prone to abcesses don't worry about digging out as the hoof will repair. It is much kinder imo and a welfare issue also if the abcess is allowed to go on too long.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Hopefully it will pop before the Farrier comes. If it doesn't, as long as the Farrier can pin point where it is, you could ask him to dig it out.

ETA. I have found that it is better when the abscess pops by itself. However - I am specifically talking about abscesses that resolve by themselves very quickly. If it's going on, then the abscess must be located before holes are dug in the hoof. Some abscesses are impossible to locate in their early stages, so digging at this point would be guesswork.

 

[StoptheCavalry]

Thank you for your replies. I have never owned a horse that has had an abscess so I just want to know if I am doing the right thing. I had always known abscesses to be dug out (always on shod horses but mainly because I was the only barefoot one on the yard) I will keep poulticing and buting until Saturday when if nothing has emerged I will see what he can do (I would never attempt this by myself) I feel awful that I hadn't acted sooner but the series of events led me to believe it was just a case of footiness.

 

[kerrieberry2]

leaving it has never been a consideration of mine, but have always got the farrier out to do it! I wouldn't want to start digging without him starting it!

 

[JillA]

Totally in favour of digging out as the pain relief is so immediate. You are right to poultice. Have you found a strong digital pulse? That is caused by congestion within the foot, such as infection. Having owned a horse very prone to abcesses don't worry about digging out as the hoof will repair. It is much kinder imo and a welfare issue also if the abcess is allowed to go on too long.

Ditto this. Make sure you have animalintex, warm water, vetrap and duct tape available to whack on a poultice as soon as the farrier has finished (has to be the farrier, a good one is so much more experienced at finding the tiniest track and following it, not just digging willy nilly). Then after two or three days of poulticing twice a day, a cotton wool with stockholm tar or some other antibacterial grease to plug the hole keep it clean in the field. Good luck.

 

[JustKickOn]

Advice as above. Have you tried tubbing with as hot water as possible, doesn't need to be deep, half way up the hoof maybe and dissolving in some Epsom salts?

I will also add that both the vet and farrier advised against using bute/danilon with abscesses as it stilts the development of it.

Hope you get it sorted soon and your horse becomes more comfortable.

 

[StoptheCavalry]

Ditto this. Make sure you have animalintex, warm water, vetrap and duct tape available to whack on a poultice as soon as the farrier has finished (has to be the farrier, a good one is so much more experienced at finding the tiniest track and following it, not just digging willy nilly). Then after two or three days of poulticing twice a day, a cotton wool with stockholm tar or some other antibacterial grease to plug the hole keep it clean in the field. Good luck.

Thank you for this. I would never dream of trying to dig this out myself. I know what happens when I get let loose on him with scissors for trimming time I have my first aid kit stocked and ready to go.

He was lay down in the field this evening so sat with him for 20 or so minutes with his head in my lap while he looked at me like mum this hurts!! Could have cried for the poor thing.

 

[StoptheCavalry]

Advice as above. Have you tried tubbing with as hot water as possible, doesn't need to be deep, half way up the hoof maybe and dissolving in some Epsom salts?

I will also add that both the vet and farrier advised against using bute/danilon with abscesses as it stilts the development of it.

Hope you get it sorted soon and your horse becomes more comfortable.

Oh I did not know this re Bute, I was just trying to make him more comfortable and initially I didn't realise it was a potential abscess. He didn't all his dinner this evening so didn't each much of it anyway and will not give him anyway tomorrow. Hope I haven't prolonged it for him. I haven't tubbed it but have been poulticing with epsom salts, I did attempt to tub it but he was more into kicking the bucket over than actually putting his foot in it. Will try tubbing again tomorrow. He's pretty dramatic and keeps waving his foot at me as if to say why are you doing this to me and he clearly holds me personally responsible

 

[L&M]

If you are that worried and he is in obvious pain, why not call your vet out rather than wait another few days for your farrier?

Some would say a farrier is better equipped to do the job, but I have had sucess with my vet and abscesses, and would hopefully mean your horse would be more comfortable sooner.

 

[fusspot]

Is there no way you farrier can get out tomorrow rather than Saturday?

 

[StoptheCavalry]

No he's fully booked and isn't actually working on Saturday but is coming over as a favour. I have bated back and fourth as to whether call the vet out before but in my experience, obviously as a bystander I have always found farriers to do better in this area than a vet. I did also want him to look at his feet in general as I wanted to look at getting front shoes but on him to help him through the summer if he is in fact uncomfortable bare foot. He's, bright alert and eating and has a very well padded foot. I will see how he is in the morning and decide what to do.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

No bute is the correct advice for abscesses.

I wouldn't be happy with an abscess that is going on so long. Is the white line stretched? I have found that there is a direct correlation between the length of an abscess and the tightness of the white line. EG, my grey had one recently (very unusual as she has tight white lines) and I noticed that she was always resting the same hoof one evening. I checked everything out, she trotted up sound, no wound, heat etc... but there was that tell tale smell. The next morning she was fine and there was gunk by her coronet band. It had popped and was done and dusted.

My other mare had a stretched white line due to a previous Farrier altering the balance of her hooves. She ended up having to have a section of hoof wall removed over the abscess (to expose it to the air as the bacteria are anaerobic) as it was moving sideways around the hoof. She was instantly sound once this was done.

STC - I really hope that your horse is sound soon. If you are worried and don't want to wait any longer, call the Vet.

 

[JillA]

It really depends on how good your vet is and how good your farrier is. In my experience many vets don't excise enough to provide the good drainage you need to relieve the pressure, but I know that some can do an excellent job.
Farriers are the hoof professionals, so I would tub, poultice and maybe wrap the foot in some gamgee (or a nappy, some people use them) to provide a soft surface while he is still in pain and see the farrier on Saturday.
If it recurs, then you may have to consider whether they are due to low grade laminitis and manage that by diet etc.
And given that you have decided that intervention rather than wait and let it blow on its own (painful!) I would be giving bute between now and Saturday. It is anti inflammatory, so may reduce the pressure from the pus in the abcess, and more importantly it will dull the pain. I know it isn't the current point of view and I may get shouted at, but the horse is in acute pain while he is waiting for treatment.

 

[TrasaM]

We had a spate of abscesses over the winter in two horses. The farrier came and opened the sole to start the draining process and yes, they were all a lot more comfy once this was done. One closed up before it was fully healed and flared up again. We used nappies under the vet wrap and duct tape and they worked really well.

 

[Alyth]

IME digging out is fine IF the abcess is found easily. But it is more often that farrier/vet digs around, creates a hole and doesn't find anything....often it is better to keep soaking and exercising to encourage the abcess to find its way out asap. But keep an eye out for other symptoms as well!! Such as more heat further away, 'depression' is the best way to describe an overall feeling of feeling rotten!!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

If you give bute, it will subdue the abscess but not fix it. I do understand why people hate seeing their horse in pain and want to help them NOW, but giving bute can make it last a lot longer, so you end dragging the whole process out. To dig it out without randomly making holes, the Vet/Farrier must be able to locate it and locating by finding where it hurts is how they do that.

STC - Fingers crossed that it's popped already.

 

[StoptheCavalry]

No bute is the correct advice for abscesses.

I wouldn't be happy with an abscess that is going on so long. Is the white line stretched? I have found that there is a direct correlation between the length of an abscess and the tightness of the white line. EG, my grey had one recently (very unusual as she has tight white lines) and I noticed that she was always resting the same hoof one evening. I checked everything out, she trotted up sound, no wound, heat etc... but there was that tell tale smell. The next morning she was fine and there was gunk by her coronet band. It had popped and was done and dusted.

My other mare had a stretched white line due to a previous Farrier altering the balance of her hooves. She ended up having to have a section of hoof wall removed over the abscess (to expose it to the air as the bacteria are anaerobic) as it was moving sideways around the hoof. She was instantly sound once this was done.

STC - I really hope that your horse is sound soon. If you are worried and don't want to wait any longer, call the Vet.

This is really interesting - I had posted a few weeks ago regarding grit in the white line and had noticed a definite difference in how tight it was since turning out for summer. This seemed to settle down but certainly seemed to flare up again last week hence my decision to get front shoes put on. He is on a good barefoot diet so not sure what else I could do through feed although I have been given some pointers which have been introduced this week. In all honesty he is the only barefoot horse I have had and has always been so simple to deal with I don't have much experience of what to do when it goes wrong

IME digging out is fine IF the abcess is found easily. But it is more often that farrier/vet digs around, creates a hole and doesn't find anything....often it is better to keep soaking and exercising to encourage the abcess to find its way out asap. But keep an eye out for other symptoms as well!! Such as more heat further away, 'depression' is the best way to describe an overall feeling of feeling rotten!!

I have checked his hoof over a hundred times (I don't have hoof testers) but there is nothing, no heat, no difference in feel to other feet. The only thing that has emerged over night is slightly more swelling in the fetlock.

If you give bute, it will subdue the abscess but not fix it. I do understand why people hate seeing their horse in pain and want to help them NOW, but giving bute can make it last a lot longer, so you end dragging the whole process out. To dig it out without randomly making holes, the Vet/Farrier must be able to locate it and locating by finding where it hurts is how they do that.

STC - Fingers crossed that it's popped already.

Unfortunately no movement this morning. He is no worse but no better either. I unfortunately work an hour away so can only check him once at either end of the day. I haven't given him any more bute, in all honesty I couldn't see a difference bute or no bute so would rather not slow the process down and make it harder to find tomorrow. He is up and grazing so again will reassess this evening. It seems like it has been going on forever, I first noticed he "wasn't right" on Sunday I think, but wouldn't exactly say he was lame but I could just tell the difference. The lameness has really come on in the last few days hopefully it's on the move.

Also what would be the best thing to pack the hole with after being drained and poulticed? I will make sure I have everything ready in the hope my farrier does find something.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I had posted a few weeks ago regarding grit in the white line and had noticed a definite difference in how tight it was since turning out for summer.

That's very interesting.

If the fetlock is swelling, it might be about to pop. Is the coronet tender in a particular spot?

If the swelling goes up the leg, contact your vet as he might need antibiotics to prevent infection in the leg (they wont fix the abscess though ).

If it pops at the coronet (so you have a hole at the top and bottom) get a syringe and flush the hole out with diluted iodine (some people use diluted peroxide) every day for a week. I also do this if it's dug out, but I would flush the hole twice a day.

 

[Tnavas]

Keep poulticing as it will help the abscess to work it's way out.

I always call my farrier as he is the foot expert and is far better at tracking the abscess than the vet. Used to get the vet but gave up as he was never able to find the abscess yet once the farrier was let lose on it the abscess was found with little damage.

My filly is terrible for getting abscesses - at one time in all four feet at the same time. Fortunately she's almost grown out of the problem - only one so far this winter.

Disposable nappies make great bandage pads and will last a couple of days if well covered with vet wrap - make sure that you fit the nappy snuggly - otherwise - this is a great cheap poultice boot

 

[StoptheCavalry]

That's very interesting.

If the fetlock is swelling, it might be about to pop. Is the coronet tender in a particular spot?

If the swelling goes up the leg, contact your vet as he might need antibiotics to prevent infection in the leg (they wont fix the abscess though ).

If it pops at the coronet (so you have a hole at the top and bottom) get a syringe and flush the hole out with diluted iodine (some people use diluted peroxide) every day for a week. I also do this if it's dug out, but I would flush the hole twice a day.

No no tenderness at all in any particular spot but will look again this evening. There is definitely more swelling than yesterday evening so fingers crossed it is on the move. I will keep an eye out for anymore swelling and certainly contact the vet if necessary. I am not anti vet and if necessary I will make sure he gets all the attention he needs however for an abscess if possible I would like to try and use the farrier of my first point of call. Will get the bits ready to flush it out when it finally emerges

 

[StoptheCavalry]

Keep poulticing as it will help the abscess to work it's way out.

I always call my farrier as he is the foot expert and is far better at tracking the abscess than the vet. Used to get the vet but gave up as he was never able to find the abscess yet once the farrier was let lose on it the abscess was found with little damage.

My filly is terrible for getting abscesses - at one time in all four feet at the same time. Fortunately she's almost grown out of the problem - only one so far this winter.

Disposable nappies make great bandage pads and will last a couple of days if well covered with vet wrap - make sure that you fit the nappy snuggly - otherwise - this is a great cheap poultice boot

I LOVE that drawing, so useful to show what you mean. He does however have a poultice boot. He's been nappied, vet wrapped, duct taped and booted.

This is his first one since being with me and as far as I can tell has not history of abscesses. But there does seem to be a correlation with the stretching of the white line and this abscess.

 

[EllenJay]

It is actually illegal for a farrier to diagnose and treat a horse. You need to get your vet to diagnose and to supervise the farrier - ridiculous I know, in my view a farrier knows more about hooves than any vet. As the horse is lame (and in pain) you need to get you vet out today.

 

[Tnavas]

It is actually illegal for a farrier to diagnose and treat a horse. You need to get your vet to diagnose and to supervise the farrier - ridiculous I know, in my view a farrier knows more about hooves than any vet. As the horse is lame (and in pain) you need to get you vet out today.

This is nonsense! - the farrier is performing his job - so long as he doesn't draw blood it's fine - he is not likely to do so - all he is doing is removing the non-sensitive tissue from below the abscess.

To be honest he is far more qualified than a vet to search for an abscess! He is after all foot specialist! The vet a Jack of all trades!

 

[JillA]

For anyone else reading this -take care when tying poultice covers around the pastern - there have been instances of tendon damage due to tying too tightly, especially when the material is waterproof, it seems to not flex and stretch enough. I know the OP has a proper poultice boot, but I have found several overlapping strips of duct tape keep the poultice clean and only wear through when the poultice has been on plenty long enough anyway.

 

[StoptheCavalry]

This is nonsense! - the farrier is performing his job - so long as he doesn't draw blood it's fine - he is not likely to do so - all he is doing is removing the non-sensitive tissue from below the abscess.

To be honest he is far more qualified than a vet to search for an abscess! He is after all foot specialist! The vet a Jack of all trades!

I was surprised when I had read this, I had always know farriers to carry this out without vet supervision! I do feel awful he is in pain but I'm not quite sure what the vet could do given that my farrier can't get to him until tomorrow. Following advice from here I wouldn't want any pain killers and given that there is no heat or evidence of where the abscess is they may not be able to help him anyway. His foot is well padded and he is out which should hopefully help move things along. He's bright and eating, obviously if anything changes between then and now and he needs urgent attention he will have that but I would like to avoid a vet call out if possible.

 

[StoptheCavalry]

For anyone else reading this -take care when tying poultice covers around the pastern - there have been instances of tendon damage due to tying too tightly, especially when the material is waterproof, it seems to not flex and stretch enough. I know the OP has a proper poultice boot, but I have found several overlapping strips of duct tape keep the poultice clean and only wear through when the poultice has been on plenty long enough anyway.

He didn't have the boot on initially as I think I padded him too well and couldn't fit it on. This worked perfectly fine and the poultice was still clean when removed although he does now have the boot on as it is much easier to remove the poultice. It's a neoprene/rubber with velcro straps so certainly not too tight.

 

[StoptheCavalry]

Update on the foot tonight. He is less lame than he was but still not sound. I can't see anything different no definite exit I have included a couple of pics to show how stretched his white line has become. He's having a night in tonight after tubbing his foot after everyone's advice.

And just because he was such a good boy

 

[RainbowDash]

Hi OP,

I had a similar issue with my lad in Feb. He came back from our hack okay but after a short time in the stable was hopping lame. Kept him in, poulticed - nothing, on examination he had a small puncture. We have very rocky ground - farrier had a look at the foot and dug around - no absess - we concluded that he'd stood on a sharp rock and it had caused the puncture and temp lameness.

He was fine in himself and still eating etc and after box rest of a week he was sound enough to resume light work x