Suspected Abscess and Management

[Patiencepending]

Hi all

under advice from my farrier one of my pair is having a poultice to draw out his abscess. Normally they are on 8+ hours turnout (as much as there is daylight) and then in their stables at night (winter).

I don’t have dry turnout and I’m a big concerned about having them both in for a week or so while we draw the abscess out. His companion will not be happy in the field alone and Nito (one with abscess) will not be happy without him in either. I don’t want to distress them.

any tips or suggestions on keeping them happy during this time? Thank you

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I don't stable for abscesses. I want them to move about at their own pace because I was told that the movement helps. I can do a poultice that will last a good 12 hours, so if I need to poultice (and I don't always) I can do it twice a day. I don't have deep mud though.

 

[Quigleyandme]

Woof Wear hoof boots are a bit spendy but would hopefully keep a poultice on and clean whilst the horse is turned out. I haven’t used one though so can’t provide any sort of review.

 

[meleeka]

I don’t keep in either. I use nappies, corners of feed sacks, vetwrap and duck tape to secure the poultice. Basically poultice and wrap in vet wrap over the coronet band, then use the corner of a plastic sack, secure with duck tape and more vet wrap then cover the whole thing with more duck tape (it’s easier to make a bottom with strips first then secure that).

When one of mine couldn’t be poulticed I hot rubbed twice a day and the abscess burst.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

The feed sack idea is great. I like to tub too. Also if there is a hole where the abscess has burst, I like to clean that out. Usually dilute iodine in a syringe but I have used other things previously.

I have always done a bit of animalintex cut to size over the specific abscess area (this is applied hot - but not scolding hot - for a hot poultice) then a nappy, followed by some vet wrap (usually 1/2 a roll) then gaffer tape. I put a couple of strips of Gorilla gaffer tape on the toe as that wears through the quickest. Then I check that the fetlock and pasterns have good movement by flexing the joints. I will adjust if required. Then they are left to it.

 

[Patiencepending]

Thank you everyone. I have picked up a woofwear and some extra supplies. I have some sacks off our wood pellets which are nice and thick and will be good waterproofing too.
I’ll turn them out. Thank you ?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I'm another that turns out for abcess. I put poultice on and hold in place with vet wrap. Then put some gaffer tape over whole hoof, then a doubled over feed bag, thenn more gaffer tape.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I kept my horse to his out 24/7 routine when he had an abscess. When you have done the soaking and wrapping bit, cut out a huge circle from an old plastic feed bag, then criss cross over and over with Gorilla tape leaving sticky ends sticking out,place his hoof right in the middle of the plastic circle and bring all the ends of the tape up and over to encase his complete hoof.

Our fields were very wet and muddy and it worked perfectly to keep the bandaging and poultice below clean and dry. It cost a fortune in Gorilla tape over the 10 days though! Moving about outside if possible always helps an abscess to drain IMO. Good luck, I hate dealing with an abscess.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Sorry posted reply before seeing others had already said the same - blame it on not enough caffeine yet!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I turn out as well a feed sack and duct tape is all you need.

 

[ycbm]

Am I the only one who thinks mud makes a terrific poultice? If you got pus but no blood out of the hole, then there should be very little risk of infection. I would turn out in the mud during the day and wash with hydrogen peroxide at night before possibly pouticing for the night.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Am I the only one who thinks mud makes a terrific poultice? If you got pus but no blood out of the hole, then there should be very little risk of infection. I would turn out in the mud during the day and wash with hydrogen peroxide at night before possibly pouticing for the night.

I have done this a couple of times ycbm, with the same horse. He could hang onto an abscess forever with normal treatment. My then (brilliant but rather dated) vet advised just squirt peroxide into the hole he had excavated and turn him out (mud, mud glorious mud!) . I brought him in later in the day to do the peroxide again and then straight back out. On both occasions he was broken leg lame as per usual, the first time on about day 3 he hobbled in with me, I did the peroxide again, he hobbled back out, farted loudly, bucked three times and trotted a few paces totally sound and then galloped off across the field. I think the bucking and farting was probably the abscess bursting and the galloping just pure relief lol!

 

[wickedwilfred]

Hi all

under advice from my farrier one of my pair is having a poultice to draw out his abscess. Normally they are on 8+ hours turnout (as much as there is daylight) and then in their stables at night (winter).

I don’t have dry turnout and I’m a big concerned about having them both in for a week or so while we draw the abscess out. His companion will not be happy in the field alone and Nito (one with abscess) will not be happy without him in either. I don’t want to distress them.

any tips or suggestions on keeping them happy during this time? Thank you

There is a product called Pack-N-Stick Hoof Tape by Equifit, which is a hoof shaped pad. You place some padding or poultice on it and it sticks firmly to the foot and hoof. I secure it with Vetwrap round and above the hoof, to secure it in the field.

 

[Patiencepending]

Thank you I hadn’t heard of that!

Update is that he’s been out every day and in at night with two poultice changes a day. He only ever had clear liquid out of it snd the heat is almost gone now and the poultices are clean coming off. Farrier is here tomorrow for their trims and hopefully to give an all clear!
The poultice, vetwrap, tape, bag and woof wear boot with over reach has been very effective and we’ve had no poultices lost.
Thanks for the advice all!

 

[SBJT]

I don’t keep in either. I use nappies, corners of feed sacks, vetwrap and duck tape to secure the poultice. Basically poultice and wrap in vet wrap over the coronet band, then use the corner of a plastic sack, secure with duck tape and more vet wrap then cover the whole thing with more duck tape (it’s easier to make a bottom with strips first then secure that).

When one of mine couldn’t be poulticed I hot rubbed twice a day and the abscess burst.

This and add a hoof boot on top. If you can keep them in a non muddy area but I agree with other comments you want movement to draw it out.

My trainer suggested packing in the hole with a scrub of sugar and betadine which actually worked well too but I’ve heard of other methods to pack the hole too.