Pus still or wet poultice gunk?

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Autumn30

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My mare has had an on going abscess in her frog for nearly a month now. It’s definitely much better. Have had multiple vet visits and an x-ray we treated her with antibiotics for suspected infection by the bone.
Anyway I thought it was clearing up and noticed the original location was glistening- a very small amount of pus came out.
The vet said to wet poultice last night before her visit today and there was a lot of crap again however vet thinks this could actually be the gel from the wet poultice.
I’ll attach a photo. If you see either side of the frog.

Note there is no longer any heat anywhere in the hoof or leg and there is no longer a smell?


Can anyone pls shed some light if they have noticed this before or had experience?
 

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Its difficult to tell but i had one who drained minuscule amounts like this for a couple of weeks after the abscess burst. I think most people thought it was just wet poultice/gunk. But I am convinced it was fluid draining of some sort mine was mostly clear yellow plasma like fluid.

I kept the foot wrapped with dry poultice/nappies. And I got very good at making them watertight for turn out. It was obvious to me when it stopped as the dressing was scrupulously clean.

I suspect many abscesses drain for longer than we expect, but because it is so difficult to keep a poultice and foot perfectly clean then it is impossible to see. I think this is also why abscesses often reoccur.

So based on my experience I would be suspicious. You could try a dry dressing and if anything appears then it wont have come from the poultice.

Edited to say - I have just looked at your picture again, it really does look like pus to me, but I am not a vet
 
mini-eventer said:
Its difficult to tell but i had one who drained minuscule amounts like this for a couple of weeks after the abscess burst. I think most people thought it was just wet poultice/gunk. But I am convinced it was fluid draining of some sort mine was mostly clear yellow plasma like fluid.

I kept the foot wrapped with dry poultice/nappies. And I got very good at making them watertight for turn out. It was obvious to me when it stopped as the dressing was scrupulously clean.

I suspect many abscesses drain for longer than we expect, but because it is so difficult to keep a poultice and foot perfectly clean then it is impossible to see. I think this is also why abscesses often reoccur.

So based on my experience I would be suspicious. You could try a dry dressing and if anything appears then it wont have come from the poultice.

Edited to say - I have just looked at your picture again, it really does look like pus to me, but I am not a vet
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I agree I think it does look like pus also.
But I just don’t know as this has been the same result for quite some time- just seems so much to be coming when wet poultice is in place.
This is the wet poultice. Sorry dropped on the floor hence rubbish on it.
 

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The actual poultice looks clean, although hard to tell there could be a darker area where I've circles. Or it could be shadows, or general dirt. Id be tempted to tub the foot and keep wrapped in clean dry dressings for a bit longer, to make sure it has 100% stopped draining it cant do any harm. What does your vet recommend ?9632.jpg
 
mini-eventer said:
The actual poultice looks clean, although hard to tell there could be a darker area where I've circles. Or it could be shadows, or general dirt. Id be tempted to tub the foot and keep wrapped in clean dry dressings for a bit longer, to make sure it has 100% stopped draining it cant do any harm. What does your vet recommend ?View attachment 173120
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This is the 4th time the vet has been out.
The hoof is getting extremely soft.
Have been on and off wet poultice and dry poultice.
Vet suggested no poultice for a few days all together to let the air get to it as my mare is completely sound. Will be spraying hoof with iodine too.
And we are going to reevaluate end of week.
A few vets have been involved and no one seems to have much of an answer.
I do feel quite anxious about this but stables are very clean and I guess there is no harm trying something else.
 
Midlifecrisis said:
Smell it….infection smells bad. The healing process produces yellow plasma so it can be difficult to tell. There will be heat associated with infection too…and potentially higher temperature than usual in your horse.
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There is a slight smell, but nothing like before. The heat is very minimal now and she doesn’t have a temperature!
 
Can you do a sugardine poultice to dry/harden it up? I agree it’s tricky to say what’s actually going on when it all gets a bit soft and gloopy
 
ester said:
Can you do a sugardine poultice to dry/harden it up? I agree it’s tricky to say what’s actually going on when it all gets a bit soft and gloopy
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I did suggest this to the Vet and she said letting it have some air could be the best thing for it before we try that???
 
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