Skin abcess?

[bex1984]

Murphy has had a little bump on his back for over a year, under where his saddle goes. I have prodded it regularly and he has never shown any signs of discomfort.

I prodded it as usual on Monday evening - and it went pop! Some rather lovely pus came and I made sure I got it all out (not the nicest job!!), but not sure what I should be doing with it now. There are two little holes, no more than 2mm diameter. It looks clean and has stopped pussing but he's not keen on me prodding at it (although is easily distracted with an apple ).

Will it get better on its own, what can i do to help, or is it a vet jobby? Should i be leaving it to air and heal itself, or does it need covering (with sudocrem or something similar)?

 

[ThePony]

I would rinse it out well with saline a couple of times a day. I wouldn't put anything on it until it has healed a bit as I wouldn't want to trap any muck in. When the hole has healed a bit then I would put some wound cream on after cleaning. Would also turn out in a fly rug to keep them off. If you want to ride him then I would get an old saddle cloth and cut a little hole in it above the absess so that it doesn't put any pressure on it.
Do you know what might have caused it in the first place?

 

[ester]

don't suppose it had a maggot in it did it?

 

[Alibear]

Bex , Mac has something similar when I bought him, was apparently years old, he had a riser pad with a hole cut out of it to stop it being rubbed when ridden. Vet checked and said nothing to worry about.
About a year later after a long distance ride it burst and never came back.
Just keep it clean and keep the flies off it and hopefully it won't come back.

 

[bex1984]

Thanks folks, I shall keep it clean and keep an eye on it. He's has a few days off and I'm not planning to ride while it still seems to be uncomfortable for him.

Initial bump was caused by a rub from a makeshift riser pad (used as recommended by saddler) - stopped using it as soon as the bump appeared and he has since had a new saddle and astronomically priced prolite pad. I don't know why it has suddenly popped - he's been doing less work recently.

Ester - no maggot - thank god!!