Lari has an abscess

[Birker2020]

My poor boy has a foot abscess right fore and is quiet sore. He got a good two or three abscesses last year, most of the herd did due to the appalling wet weather and constantly standing in wet conditions during the day, they come on hard standing hay feeders at night.

He's been great up until yesterday when with the terrible rain he has got another one. Farrier coming out tomorrow to have a dig. We have about four with them at the moment wearing poultice.

He's holding his weight well this year so that's great. Hopefully it will be resolved soon.

 

[meleeka]

I hope he feels better soon. He looks really well though, sore hoof aside.

I swear by Red Horse Field Paste to prevent abscesses in the winter. My old mare used to get really soft soles, but that prevented it.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Going against the general advice here, but I don't poultice. Old Dobbin got an abscess around a month ago, and beyond soaking his foot in warm epsom salts solution, I left it alone. The soles of his hoof are pale, and the dark track was visible, so a quick skim with the hoof knife opened it into the cleft and it was left to drain. Horse turned out as usual, soaking daily until sound, which took around four days.

 

[Birker2020]

Going against the general advice here, but I don't poultice. Old Dobbin got an abscess around a month ago, and beyond soaking his foot in warm epsom salts solution, I left it alone. The soles of his hoof are pale, and the dark track was visible, so a quick skim with the hoof knife opened it into the cleft and it was left to drain. Horse turned out as usual, soaking daily until sound, which took around four days.

Wow that's was good.

Lari is at retirement livery so I just leave it for the y.o to take care of and she normally poultices it and they still go out.

Photo from last year!

 

[paddy555]

The abscesses may be due to the wet ground but can I just remind you that they are an early sign of PPID and it may be worth testing at some point.
Hope Lari gets sorted quickly.

 

[Birker2020]

The abscesses may be due to the wet ground but can I just remind you that they are an early sign of PPID and it may be worth testing at some point.
Hope Lari gets sorted quickly.

He was tested early last year and was negative.

Its because they are on water logged fields as the river bursts its banks in this kind of weather and they have to go through the flooded water to get to the hard standing. He hasn't had an abscess since about April when the weather cleared up, this is the first one, they are all the same. He has soft soles due to the wet. Even the hard standing is wet.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Agree that multiple foot abscesses could indicate PPID, so it’s worth getting him tested for that.

At my vet’s suggestion I have been applying Keratex hoof hardener to the soles of my very thin soled older Cushing’s mare. It’s helped her hugely. Also, ditto a shout out for Red Horse Field paste to keep thrush et al at bay in field kept horses.

ETA Seeing your update re the waterlogged field, then defo try the Keratex hoof hardener, it’s to be applied initially daily to dry feet (not the frog) for a week, then twice weekly.

 

[Xmasha]

Agree that multiple foot abscesses could indicate PPID, so it’s worth getting him tested for that.

At my vet’s suggestion I have been applying Keratex hoof hardener to the soles of my very thin soled older Cushing’s mare. It’s helped her hugely. Also, ditto a shout out for Red Horse Field paste to keep thrush et al at bay in field kept horses.

ETA Seeing your update re the waterlogged field, then defo try the Keratex hoof hardener, it’s to be applied initially daily to dry feet (not the frog) for a week, then twice weekly.

we share vets, and was given the same advice. Can honestly say that Keratex is fabulous stuff

 

[Birker2020]

Agree that multiple foot abscesses could indicate PPID, so it’s worth getting him tested for that.

At my vet’s suggestion I have been applying Keratex hoof hardener to the soles of my very thin soled older Cushing’s mare. It’s helped her hugely. Also, ditto a shout out for Red Horse Field paste to keep thrush et al at bay in field kept horses.

ETA Seeing your update re the waterlogged field, then defo try the Keratex hoof hardener, it’s to be applied initially daily to dry feet (not the frog) for a week, then twice weekly.

I used to apply it to both Lari and Bailey's feet but then people on this forum were up in arms and said it was the worse thing I could be doing so stupidly stopped.

I only see him once a week, he lives out 24/7 so I don't see much point. His legs and feet are always muddy in these conditions and are never going to be clean enough to apply it anyway.
But if he lived with me and I could pick out his feet and dry them overnight then I would apply it as I did before but its an impossible situation during the winter.

As i say, he is not the only horse that has an abscess, its just the weather and constant wet.

 

[Birker2020]

Agree that multiple foot abscesses could indicate PPID, so it’s worth getting him tested for that.

At my vet’s suggestion I have been applying Keratex hoof hardener to the soles of my very thin soled older Cushing’s mare. It’s helped her hugely. Also, ditto a shout out for Red Horse Field paste to keep thrush et al at bay in field kept horses.

ETA Seeing your update re the waterlogged field, then defo try the Keratex hoof hardener, it’s to be applied initially daily to dry feet (not the frog) for a week, then twice weekly.

He was tested last year and was negative.

 

[Tiddlypom]

It’s really not great that most of the horses at the retirement livery get abscesses . It’s not something to be expected or tolerated if the management is good.

Surely the yard will get him in for a couple of hours to dry his feet, apply the Keratex, let it dry for an hour then pop him back out?

Re Cushing’s tests, I can’t remember how old he is now, but annual screening tests for 10+ year old horses is a good shout, it’s how I picked up PPID in an 11yo.

 

[Beausmate]

He was tested last year and was negative.

How about this year? How far into the normal range was he, as there isn't a negative as such? My ex-racehorse used to throw an abscess out on an almost monthly basis. He was fifteen and didn't show any other signs of PPID. He also didn't hold weight well over winter, but that might have just been him.

I had him tested a couple of years later, as his weight loss was more pronounced and his ACTH was borderline, but given his foot problems we put him on half a Prascend per day and he never had another abscess. He lived out 24/7 (couldn't be stabled) until his death aged 24, in some seriously wet conditions at times.

 

[AandK]

Another thing to consider if a lot of the horses are getting them (I agree it is not normal), is the mineral balance in the soil/grazing/hay. UK soil is high in iron and this affects absorption of copper and zinc. Both of these are needed for good hoof quality.

I found this out after I moved from Hampshire to Sussex and my late gelding had 4 abscesses in the first winter there, despite never having had one before! Did some research and started him on a mineral balancer, which made a huge difference. Not all horses need them, my late mare was in the same field as him and had one in the 7yrs she was there before she was PTS, but getting them regularly means there is something amiss (I also tested him for PPID several times, always negative). This is the article I found that helped me: https://www.forageplustalk.co.uk/horse-hoof-abscesses-and-poor-hoof-quality/#:~:text=There is a direct relationship,low copper and low zinc.

 

[Birker2020]

How about this year? How far into the normal range was he, as there isn't a negative as such? My ex-racehorse used to throw an abscess out on an almost monthly basis. He was fifteen and didn't show any other signs of PPID. He also didn't hold weight well over winter, but that might have just been him.

I had him tested a couple of years later, as his weight loss was more pronounced and his ACTH was borderline, but given his foot problems we put him on half a Prascend per day and he never had another abscess. He lived out 24/7 (couldn't be stabled) until his death aged 24, in some seriously wet conditions at times.

Another thing to consider if a lot of the horses are getting them (I agree it is not normal), is the mineral balance in the soil/grazing/hay. UK soil is high in iron and this affects absorption of copper and zinc. Both of these are needed for good hoof quality.

I found this out after I moved from Hampshire to Sussex and my late gelding had 4 abscesses in the first winter there, despite never having had one before! Did some research and started him on a mineral balancer, which made a huge difference. Not all horses need them, my late mare was in the same field as him and had one in the 7yrs she was there before she was PTS, but getting them regularly means there is something amiss (I also tested him for PPID several times, always negative). This is the article I found that helped me: https://www.forageplustalk.co.uk/horse-hoof-abscesses-and-poor-hoof-quality/#:~:text=There is a direct relationship,low copper and low zinc.

Y

Another thing to consider if a lot of the horses are getting them (I agree it is not normal), is the mineral balance in the soil/grazing/hay. UK soil is high in iron and this affects absorption of copper and zinc. Both of these are needed for good hoof quality.

I found this out after I moved from Hampshire to Sussex and my late gelding had 4 abscesses in the first winter there, despite never having had one before! Did some research and started him on a mineral balancer, which made a huge difference. Not all horses need them, my late mare was in the same field as him and had one in the 7yrs she was there before she was PTS, but getting them regularly means there is something amiss (I also tested him for PPID several times, always negative). This is the article I found that helped me: https://www.forageplustalk.co.uk/horse-hoof-abscesses-and-poor-hoof-quality/#:~:text=There is a direct relationship,low copper and low zinc.

He's not had an abscess for 8 months or do horses only get PPID in the winter ??

Yes a mineral balancer sounds like a good shot.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Horses are less likely to get abscesses in the summer because the ground is dryer and their soles are harder. Soft weak wet soles are very prone to bruising and injury leading to abscesses.

A PPID horse is always going to be more prone to getting an abscess. Lari might well not have PPID, but without testing him you won’t know.

 

[Birker2020]

Horses are less likely to get abscesses in the summer because the ground is dryer and their soles are harder. Soft weak wet soles are very prone to bruising and injury leading to abscesses.

A PPID horse is always going to be more prone to getting an abscess. Lari might well not have PPID, but without testing him you won’t know.

He was tested May 2023 and was negative.

I have no intention of testing him again, he loses his coat really quickly after the winter, he isn't lethargic, he wasn't drinking more than normal when I rehabbed him April/May 2023. He didn't keep his weight well last year but that was because he was subjected to constant rain for 5 months as it was an exceptional winter! He's kept his weight great this year. We are a week into December and it's been appallingly wet. As a result he has got abscess. Some of the others have also.

 

[Tiddlypom]

He was tested May 2023 and was negative

Yes, but that was 19 months ago. Things might have changed, and you won’t know without getting a retest. I get my 10yo+ non PPID horses screened annually.

He shouldn’t be getting repeat abscesses, there is something wrong whether medically or in his management, or both. Abscesses are horrible painful things for horses, the cause of them needs to be found.

The wet ground won’t be helping, for sure.

 

[SantaVera]

Sorry to hear lari has an abcess. It's been so wet and soggy . Hoping things will dry up and remain that way for a while. I second the keratex advice,is there anyway the livery could bring him in for your visit so his hoofs could dry for application.

 

[Birker2020]

Another thing to consider if a lot of the horses are getting them (I agree it is not normal), is the mineral balance in the soil/grazing/hay. UK soil is high in iron and this affects absorption of copper and zinc. Both of these are needed for good hoof quality.

I found this out after I moved from Hampshire to Sussex and my late gelding had 4 abscesses in the first winter there, despite never having had one before! Did some research and started him on a mineral balancer, which made a huge difference. Not all horses need them, my late mare was in the same field as him and had one in the 7yrs she was there before she was PTS, but getting them regularly means there is something amiss (I also tested him for PPID several times, always negative). This is the article I found that helped me: https://www.forageplustalk.co.uk/horse-hoof-abscesses-and-poor-hoof-quality/#:~:text=There is a direct relationship,low copper and low zinc.

I can certainly give him a supplement in the winter. They don’t come up to the yard during the summer as they don't need feeding so it would only be during the winter.

Sorry to hear lari has an abcess. It's been so wet and soggy . Hoping things will dry up and remain that way for a while. I second the keratex advice,is there anyway the livery could bring him in for your visit so his hoofs could dry for application.

Hi SantaVera

No the horses aren't stabled. They live out 24/7. We only visit once a week now and not always on the same day, depending on the weather Even if it were applied it would come straight off again as soon as he went back out. It's just not doable. He'd need it applied every other day minimum.

It's a bit different when you have your horse on a yard, can wash and dry feet and apply keratex and their feet get a break and can stay on a nice deep shavings bed at night like he did with me.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Horses are less likely to get abscesses in the summer because the ground is dryer and their soles are harder. Soft weak wet soles are very prone to bruising and injury leading to abscesses.

A PPID horse is always going to be more prone to getting an abscess. Lari might well not have PPID, but without testing him you won’t know.

Very sound advice, the farriers are seeing so many washed out soles and subsequent abscesses already this year. I would test Lari if he was mine because if he was popping multiple abscesses in last years wet winter and has started with another this year I would be suspicious PPID is possible.

This photo is a PPID medicated and tested regularly, horse and I found him in agony a few weeks ago, he put another one up on the off fore 4 days later with pain levels off the scale. The way the weather is in winter now I think the wintering out of quality horses, aged horses or health compromised horses is pretty much impossible. A tough native might cope with permanently soaked horn and wet legs if they are lucky. As much as owners don't want to have horses stabled or on hard standing for hours it is of benefit for drying feet and keeping a healthy foot intact, there is a balance to be had when the fields are swamps.

 

[SantaVera]

Very sound advice, the farriers are seeing so many washed out soles and subsequent abscesses already this year. I would test Lari if he was mine because if he was popping multiple abscesses in last years wet winter and has started with another this year I would be suspicious PPID is possible.

This photo is a PPID medicated and tested regularly, horse and I found him in agony a few weeks ago, he put another one up on the off fore 4 days later with pain levels off the scale. The way the weather is in winter now I think the wintering out of quality horses, aged horses or health compromised horses is pretty much impossible. A tough native might cope with permanently soaked horn and wet legs if they are lucky. As much as owners don't want to have horses stabled or on hard standing for hours it is of benefit for drying feet and keeping a healthy foot intact, there is a balance to be had when the fields are swamps.

Agree. I think these wet winters are going to change how we look after our horses. It won't be easy for a lot of us and it could be expensive laying hard tracking buying mud mats and organising stabling. I do feel for us all and our animals. Sorry if I've gone off topic.

 

[Fieldlife]

Very sound advice, the farriers are seeing so many washed out soles and subsequent abscesses already this year.

. The way the weather is in winter now I think the wintering out of quality horses, aged horses or health compromised horses is pretty much impossible. A tough native might cope with permanently soaked horn and wet legs if they are lucky. As much as owners don't want to have horses stabled or on hard standing for hours it is of benefit for drying feet and keeping a healthy foot intact, there is a balance to be had when the fields are swamps.

I’ve got a fully clipped large German warmblood living out. Barefoot, working 6 days a week. But it’s not easy in wet winters.

Field is gently sloping mostly chalk. Gets wet but drains.

I have a lot of ground mud mats. A 35m square feeding space. And a large bedded shelter with big front & back patio.

And I clean dry & apply hoof armor to feet weekly.

I also apply mud fever protection products most days.

 

[Beausmate]

Y
He's not had an abscess for 8 months or do horses only get PPID in the winter ??

Yes a mineral balancer sounds like a good shot.

Horses have PPID all year round, but the ACTH levels do vary. It affects the immune system, among other things, so they are more likely to develop infections and foot abscesses especially. Only one of my PPID horses has the heavy coat, and she still has a great topline for a horse of nearly thirty. They all had hoof and skin problems, two of them had difficulty regulating body temperature. If my horse had the same body shape as yours does in those photos, I would definitely test again. My old mare gets her ACTH levels checked twice a year.

As it is a retirement yard, I'm not surprised that several horses are having problems, as I would imagine they are older animals. Which would make it even more important they have somewhere to dry off. No horse should be forced to stand out in a bog for ages, but especially not an old horse with a compromised system and quite likely creaky joints. I hope they at least have a decent shelter.

 

[ycbm]

Even if [keratex]were applied it would come straight off again as soon as he went back out. It's just not doable. He'd need it applied every other day minimum.

Birker you are misunderstanding Keratex. Its main effective ingredient is formaldehyde. It doesn't come off, it reacts chemically with the sole to make molecular bonds that make it harder. It doesn't need the foot to be clean or dry to apply, you can even wash mud off with it. Formaldehyde is cheap enough to slather on. You can buy it on ebay at a strength of 35% . Measure out 250ml of it, add 750ml of water and you will have a litre of formaldehyde at just about the 8% strength of Keratex (which has some other bits in too but it's too expensive to slosh about like water). Whilst it's better to start with once a day for a week, it will still have an effect if you just apply it every time you see Lari.
.