Lameness, unsure where from,

[china]

My 15 yr old tb is semi retired and does some light hacking every now and then. He has navicular in both front feet, DJD in both hocks and KS. he has been sound since January this year due to a transition to barefoot which has made a remarkable difference for him.
I took my six year old to three counties and he was out in the field on his own. My friend saw to him to morning I wasn't there and I was back by 3pm that afternoon to see him walk over very very lame on his right hind. No heat or swelling so I was going down the line of a foot abcess.
I poulticed and tubed the foot for a week, I couldn't see anything come out but he seemed to be improving.
He was no longer noticeably lame in walk but he was in trot. Today he's walked over and I can see he is lame in walk again :-( I'm not sure if its my imagination or if his hock has abit of fluid around it or not.
Thinking of poulticing and tubbing again over the weekend and see if there is any improvement again and if not call the vet on Monday.
Does abcess lameness normally do this? Or do I need to be looking at his existing conditions? :-( the fact he was in his field on his own makes me think he had a hooley and has perhaps agrivated his DJD?

 

[mightymammoth]

In my experience an abscess will often come and go as it works it way to the surface and is ready to blow. Can you get farrier or someone with some hoof testers to see if there are any sore spots?

 

[china]

I had a look again yesterday and there is a stronger pulse so going with tubbing again! The day after I found him lame my trimmer was out to do his feet so had a look then. If nothing comes if it again this week il get his foot checked again. He's only just come back into work, its really frustrating. Just not sure if he's ever meant to be sound :-/

 

[mightymammoth]

abscesses were the bane of my life last year but since I've played around his minerals not had one.

It's abscess season again (warm and wet) which doesn't help, I know how frustrating they are as we had at least 4 last year.

Can you turn him out in a poultice? the movement should help force it through

 

[china]

Yes I can, its abit hit and miss if he keeps it on or not but I can tub his foot along side. He almost doesn't seem lame enough for it to be an abcess which is what is making me question what it is. He was initially very lame for a couple days now but it settled but you can see he is short in walk!