Still pussing!!

ATrueClassAct

ATrueClassAct

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Little lady's hoof abscess is still pussing nearly 5 weeks after it was given a drain point. 3 weeks ago it burst from the coronet band and its still giving some yellowy, browny pus out. It has slowed down slightly and she is completely sound now. But now she's back to box walking abit since she's getting bored. She has had her shoe pulled from it so isn't allowed out due to having two front rotated pedal bones 7 months ago. It's being dry poulticed for about 2 weeks now since we were getting soggy hoof smell after two days of hot wet poultice. What could cause an abscess to go on for so Long? She's a cushings lady so I know this doesnt help and she's just finished her course of antibiotics. :( can someone give me light at the end of this pussy tunnel?

(Waiting for vet to ring me back)
 
My experience is similar - but different!!

My horse went lame at the end of November, abscess, burst mid December, reinfected Xmas then New Year. Eventually came soundish, but with the odd sore step. Went hopping lame 3 weeks ago. Abscess burst in one place after a few days, then another a few days later. Finally almost sound today.

In my case, it was an abscess due to blackthorn. I think because the hole was plugged too early it tracked upwards and then took ages to come out.

Good luck with your girl. I think the weather has been so mushy that it really hasn't helped, hopefully this nice dry weather will help them clear up. But as you say, you have to rely on the vets and farriers when its that prolonged.
 
I would have thought turning her out with a well padded and wrapped foot would be the best thing for both the moving of the abscess and her happiness, my laminitic, with rotation, is barefoot and when he had an abscess that lasted months turning him out really helped and did no harm to his pedal bones.
 
She'd been doing a walk out twice a day which seemed to help. I'd love to turn her out but just got off phone to vet and she said best try and take poultice off for 5 days and see if it dries up at all whilst she's on the antibiotics. If this doesn't work then its X-ray time :/. She's gotta stay in stable since its wet here :(( but luckily she actually enjoys being in her stable, it's an outside one which looks over the whole yard and she can watch the staff preparing her Haynets ;)
 
I'd get some culture and sensitivity tests done to see which bacteria are involved, and which antibiotics they'll respond to best.
You may find that the ones she's on aren't the best for that infection, hence its been ongoing as the cushings is dampening down her immune system.
 
Agree with the culture/sensitivity suggestion..but I can tell you that Homeopathy has a lot to offer.In this case Hepar Sulph would be the choice,four 30C tabs given four hourly should pull out the remaining gunk,stop dosing once it is done.I find it can be used alongside standard vet treatment successfully,which is a good thing ,if like me,you are not a total convert!
:o
 
Paint on her soles formaldehyde daily it will harden her soles, do not paint on the frog or coronary band just the soles, do for 1 week to harden up soft soles from poulticing.
 
I would talk to the farrier about taking the hoof wall off over the abscess to expose it to the air. The bacteria are anaerobic and can't survive if exposed to oxygen. I know you've seen the photo of my mare's hoof after this was done. The Farrier might want to only take a small section away, so that you can clean it more easily. Dilutes peroxide or diluted iodine can then be syringed directly into the abscess hole twice a day to clean it out.


The antibiotics might be why this is dragging on. AB's tend no suppress the infection, but not fix it. You should not give AB's for an abscess unless the infection is causing the leg to swell badly.

I wouldn't paint anything on the soles either, especially a chemical as nasty as formaldehyde (which is why I never use Keratex which contains it). You need to get the poultice off. I hardly ever poultice these days for abscesses after a long and informative conversation with my Vet and Farrier during my mare's hoof problems.
 
Go back to wet poulticing - her feet will smell from being wet but will allow the horn to become soft enough to get the whole abscess to drain.

Scrub hoof really thoroughly and then squirt some dilute hydrogen peroxide in all the cracks - this will clean any bugs out. Place the foot down on a clean sack or have someone keep it off the ground while you apply the poultice.

I've found that a baby's disposable nappy is an excellent padding for the foot before wrapping it well with vet wrap or duct tap. I use my cheap poultice boot that will stay on really well - picture and instructions below. Keep poulticing until the poultice comes clean - one thing you could do is get a tube of the antibiotics they use for mastitis in cows, force some into the drain hole as this will help clear up the infection and the poultice will pull out the damaged tissue.

 
@Faracat, I think that's what the vet is planning if she needs x rays. Today I cleaned it out and took the poultice off. All hooves were cleaned out and then sprayed with anti bacterial spray. Poultice isn't going back on and going to see if it dries up itself. Vet said she only recommends antibiotics after the abscess has burst and I understand where she is coming from. The problem I have going against what she advises is that she's been a fantastic vet through her laminitis treatment and she's a orthopaedic surgery and lameness specialist. :/
Pony is still very sound and comfy on her feet and now on a very low antibiotic dose.

Thank you for all the advice though. The only luck we've had it that it came out of coronet band and not the sole!
 
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