Stuborn hoof abscess

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Candygirl14

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My mare started with a hoof abscess 3 weeks ago. Poulticed and a lot of purulent pus still coming out of sole by the bar. Vet has been coming for the last 6 days to give pain and antiobiotic injections, but still the amount of pus is still the same. It was at one point coming out of the top of the heel bulb but that opening has now closed. She was x-rayed on Tuesday and the vet said the coffin bone was not involved at this point. I don't think she is in as much pain as at the beginning of the week, where she was lying down most of the time. However, she still can't put any weight on the right forefoot. The vet now wants to send her to horsepital for surgery. Does anyone have experience of this and likely outcomes? Thank you Worried
 
Surgery for a hoof abscess? No, no experience with that, but I have had a horse with a persistent hoof abscess that took nearly 5 months to resolve, with daily soaking and poulticing. I would ask the vet to explain exactly what the surgery involves, or could it be just digging out the sole? (Which in my horse's case was MAJOR and left a gigantic hole, but did ultimately fix the problem).
 
Vet has just been. getting worse, more pus which is brown and full of blood clots. she wants us to send her to 3 counties vets (3 hours away for us) for further surgical investigations and debridement. She also is thinking the bursa is involved and if this is the case, she will have to be pts. Don't know what to do as I am having to rely on OH has I have just had a 2nd bunion op.
 
Monet's Garden made a full recovery from something similar, link below to the early report.
http://www.racingpost.com/news/hors...or-life/804924/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews

A 3 hour journey would be my main concern for a horse that is almost non weightbearing, if my own vets could not do any more and there was nowhere nearer I am not sure I would want to risk something going wrong on the journey, it is not going to be an easy decision for you to make, will be thinking of you.
 
I am very upset for you, this sounds awfull, and I would be too concerned about the journey to allow it. The worse case scenario is too bad to risk in my humble opinion.

The mare is in pain and even if it can be sorted there is a long road to recovery, she may never be 100%.
I would want her in the horspital for weeks ro ensure she is fit to return. A huge cost, but to my mind essential she is monitored and has vet on hand.
All in all I would try to do the best thing for her, which may be pts at home with some one who loves her. All her pain will be gone and she is saved from further pain and stress.
 
What are you feeding her?

Abscess' can (are) made worse by sugars in the diet... so keeping her on box rest with a high-sugar diet (mollasses in mix/carrots/etc., etc.) is a bit like telling a diabetic not to get sick and then feeding them cream cakes.
 
Is there not a nearer equine hospital your vet can refer you to? I would opt for the nearest and get her there and see what happens fingers crossed it's not an infected bursa.
 
Before you go down that route, give Clean Trax a go. You can get it from Justine Jenkins at equine podiatry supplies, and it costs around £15. It basically gets everything surgically clean. I've seen clean trax clear things up where nothing else has worked. Worst case, you've spent £15 and still have to go to 3 counties. Best case, you save yourself £100's!

The instructions come with the bottle, but it's basically a soak so if you're horse won't stand with her foot in a bucket you'll need to beg/borrow/steal a soaking boot. You will also need a bin liner, some duct tape, a large haynet and a book. Empty the entire contents of the bottle into a 5l (I think) bucket of luke warm water and stir to dissolve. Stick horse's foot in the bucket and administer haynet. Read your book for 30-45 mins, then remove foot and place in bin liner for another 30-45 mins. Following all that, bandage and see what happens!

Good luck x
 
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