Struggling with abscesses this winter

[AutumnDays]

Anyone else? One of mine has had four in the last month or so, two in different areas of the same foot, only one of his feet have got away with it so far! After reading up on many threads here, I've ordered stuff from Forage plus to start adding to feeds, everything is lacking and even my thrifty sheep have needed a boost this year. They have a dry area made of mud mats to stand on, with the hay feeder and a shelter, they are in the field with the most drainage, there are areas of sinking mud that they need to walk through, but it's not a place they stand about in... It's driving me mad! What else can I do? I tried keeping him "in" for a little bit by roping off a space in the shelter with hay feeder access, but he actually tore part of the shelter down to go back out to play, so that's a very sore point

 

[Meeko]

M mare had frequent abscesses throughout 2 summers, as soon as I got her diet spot on and her trims right we were good and for the last 2 years we've had none!
Had xrays to make sure there wasn't anything else going on but she had great feet with a thick sole (for a Thoroughbred)

 

[AutumnDays]

He's the boy who had they rough start in life and I took him on when he couldn't be used like a machine anymore. I'm thinking getting the diet sorted would help him deal with the environmental factors. He's been a tricky one to manage since I got him, he has navicular changes, he had a tapeworm burden and liver fluke when he arrived and he was massively overweight from being turned away. I suspect PPID, but am waiting for tests to confirm that.

 

[paddy555]

I suspect PPID, but am waiting for tests to confirm that.

untreated PPID for mine equalled abscesses, lots of them
out of very many horses over many years one single abscess due to a nail. Then the PPID one started with endless endless abscesses that went on and on. I had no idea at that time of the relationship of abscesses and PPID. Once treated it was the end of abscesses. Hope you get sorted

 

[Alexanderevan145]

So frustrating, isn't it? Mud's the real enemy. You're on it with the minerals and dry standing. Two quick things: first, you could try washing his feet daily with an antibacterial or hibiscrub solution in warm water, then really dry them with a towel. Second, consider using a barrier like zinc cream or sudocrem on his clean, dry heels and coronet bands before he goes out. It helps protect the skin from the wet. Hang in there.