Suspected Abscess Help

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SophieOtis1990

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Horse came in hopping lame nearly a week ago. After a bad spell with random injuries I called the vet to be sure. Also doesn’t help I’m a tad emotional with a 7 week old baby! Lol.
Vet who attended knows my boy well as she handled all his hind leg injury and surgery so I trust her judgement. She went straight to the foot and said some frog was hanging and looked as if the top half had sustained an injury and come away almost. She said she wasn’t sure if it would pus but to wet poultice for few days and leave in then turnout with a boot etc and recommended farrier see what he can find.

Farrier came out couple days later and dug around but couldn’t find abscess. Although he strongly suspects that’s what we are dealing with. I’ve been redressing and hot tubbing as advised and he looks way more comfortable and even started to look sound on Saturday but still not right last 2 days. I thought there was some pus coming the frog area and others on yard agreed. But not much. I’ve only been turning him out in a ‘dry field’ because is anywhere dry at the moment? And it’s only small maybe 3/4 stables size with a rubber hood boot as well as being well poulticed . I’ve heard some movement is good and helps. Also really struggling between me and husbands work to keep up with the mucking out with a 7 week old who’s very clingy and colicky and a 5 year old too!

Anyways I’ll call vet/farrier to see what they think in the coming days and pray for more pus. But I’m just very on edge and anxious and worry I’m not doing enough but am trying my best. Just anxious that it’s not an abscess and something worse. I’ve owned my boy 12yrs and never had to deal with an abscess!

Any thoughts or advice appreciated!
Thanks
 
You're doing great, honestly. Abscesses are a total pain and they mess with your head because they get better then worse again. Classic behaviour.
With a newborn and a five year old, the fact you're even remembering to poultice is a win. Don't be hard on yourself. Movement is good, you're keeping it clean, you've had the vet and farrier. You're doing everything right. Just hang in there, it'll sort itself out.
 
Rough and tumble said:
Sometimes abcesses can take a good week to come out , fully if definitely a abcess , if still not right maybe another vet visit maybe 🤔
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Hey, yes it’s been a week. Farrier due out again tomorrow, see what he thinks and if he’s not sure then vet will likely have to be involved again. I really hope it’s just a stubborn abscess and not anything else sinister! X
 
Alexanderevan145 said:
You're doing great, honestly. Abscesses are a total pain and they mess with your head because they get better then worse again. Classic behaviour.
With a newborn and a five year old, the fact you're even remembering to poultice is a win. Don't be hard on yourself. Movement is good, you're keeping it clean, you've had the vet and farrier. You're doing everything right. Just hang in there, it'll sort itself out.
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Hey @Alexanderevan145 thanks so really appreciate that, life is manic at mo and I’m somewhat exhausted but my boy is of course important to me but finding it all a lot and then worrying about what it could be if not an abscess it’s really unsettling me! Farrier tomo to take another look and then go from there! Fingers crossed it resolves soon! Thanks again! X
 
He’s now much happier at walk. But still not right if he tries to trot. He’s been wearing a hoof boot which I think is a little big for him so now it’s drying up a little I’m going to duct tape and not bother with boot so much. Vet said to touch base again next week, she’s very good with lameness and helped my boy through a manica flexioria injury and surgery in 2024, so I’d of thought if she thought was limb related she would be bit more concerned. Farrier came again still couldn’t find anything but he was sensitive to hoof testers. I’ve kept him in where I can but also had him turned him when I’ve struggled. Hate not truly knowing what’s wrong at this stage! X
 
If it helps .. my cob pops out with an abscess every year like clockwork as the ground dries up due to the change in ground and moisture in the hoof. a combination of the grass coming through sugar content inflames the hoof lining, then get a small crack, infection builds.. it tends to brew for a few weeks just got to be careful when it does pop it drains fully and down and not track upwards We're gonna buck the trend this year i swear !!
 
starbucker said:
If it helps .. my cob pops out with an abscess every year like clockwork as the ground dries up due to the change in ground and moisture in the hoof. a combination of the grass coming through sugar content inflames the hoof lining, then get a small crack, infection builds.. it tends to brew for a few weeks just got to be careful when it does pop it drains fully and down and not track upwards We're gonna buck the trend this year i swear !!
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SophieOtis1990 said:
Hey @Alexanderevan145 thanks so really appreciate that, life is manic at mo and I’m somewhat exhausted but my boy is of course important to me but finding it all a lot and then worrying about what it could be if not an abscess it’s really unsettling me! Farrier tomo to take another look and then go from there! Fingers crossed it resolves soon! Thanks again! X
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Honestly don't blame you, it's exhausting when they're not right and you're running on empty. You're doing all the right things, try not to let your brain run away with worst case scenarios before you've even got the farrier out. One step at a time. Fingers crossed for tomorrow, let us know how you get on x
 
Alexanderevan145 said:
Honestly don't blame you, it's exhausting when they're not right and you're running on empty. You're doing all the right things, try not to let your brain run away with worst case scenarios before you've even got the farrier out. One step at a time. Fingers crossed for tomorrow, let us know how you get on x
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Farrier can’t find anything :(
He’s much happier walking still not 100% but trot still lame. He was reactive to hoof testers…so it seems foot but I’m at a loss. It’s really hard juggling it all I’m not usually so wobbly but at mo finding it super hard!
 
it might just be niggling on. keep an eye on the coronet band. if theres not a clear exit perhaps its tracking upward and might pop out up there??
 
starbucker said:
it might just be niggling on. keep an eye on the coronet band. if theres not a clear exit perhaps its tracking upward and might pop out up there??
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Maybe, I just very nervous that’s it’s something more sinister. I think because my boy has had other injuries I then go straight to it’s another ligament or tendon. I’ve asked vet to call. I mean she seemed confident was in the foot and same with farrier: but would lameness improve at walk and not trot with an abscess/ bruise… gah it’s really worrying me not knowing! Least if you know what it is can make a clear management plan
 
When my mare gets them, she'll be cantering in the field one day, then hopping lame the next. She makes it nice an easy for me waving round the offending hoof (dramatic girl) once I had the farrier out. another haad to get the vet as she was shaking in pain bless her. she was off for a week or so beforehand when i think back ( an odd rear etc struggling with canter lead) then when it pops noticeable less resting then still a bit off a trot then they bounce back like nothing happened. Its just making sure the infection drains 100%. Fingers crossed nothing more sinister for you.

Could it perhaps be gravel bruise? just thinking its gone harder recently and mine are starting the get a few rocks jammed up there.
 
It might be coming out at the top? My horse had all sorts of abscesses over the years, never a classic "pop out and sound again." In that case it was a good thing the vet gave him antibiotics as it concentrated the infection (she said) and it came out at the coronet band and had tracked up from the bottom of the foot.
 
vet said might be sensible to x ray the foot… I’m not anti the idea as we might well get the to bottom of things as given it two weeks and whilst some improvement he’s still lame….
 
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