Treating an abscess?

[Sarah W]

Hi all.

Harvey came up lame on his front left about 10 days ago. Tried bute for 3 days but no improvement so got the vet out; she diagnosed laminitis (horse is out 24/7 in mud, on low starch/sugar feed and ad lib low quality hay, not overweight) and prescribed more bute and calmivet injections twice daily. No improvement after 3 days so she comes back, does X-rays and puts a wedge in his hoof boot. Our barefoot trimmer is the other end of the country so call out an emergency farrier - he's there at 8am the next morning, takes one look and says "abscess" - turns out it's one of the worst he's ever seen. €240 later (ouch!) Harvey is feeling a LOT better.

He's on box rest with antibiotics for the next 3 weeks and I've been hot poulticing for 4 days but it's still weeping and doesn't smell too good. I've ordered Formula 4 Feet and Keratex hoof putty, both of which should arrive in the next few days. In the meantime should I keep poulticing? Should I leave it uncovered and let it dry? The vet has posted (!) a jar of 'dark ointment' with instructions to paint it on daily for 3 weeks but, not surprisingly, I don't have a lot of faith in her advice any more. (And she can whistle for her bill!).

Any advice on how best to proceed?

Many thanks.

 

[[69117]]

Keep hot poulticing until nothing is coming out - twice a day ideally. Then dry poultice for a week or so. I would keep him in until the hole is healed over a little. Popping them back out with a hole still open means that they're very likely to get another abscess and be back at square one.

 

[Hepsibah]

Keratex hoof putty in the hole once it has drained completely will prevent dirt getting in. I'm not sure why you've been given antibiotics considering they are known to be ineffective against abscesses and box rest is frowned upon because exercise helps abscesses to drain.
When it comes to feet, I always go to my farrier first and take their advice as vets seem to be a bit too inclined to remove huge chunks of hoof wall/sole which then require lots of box rest and huge bills!

 

[Cocorules]

Mine have had a good few abcesses in recent months.

Vet tends to say dry poultice plus pethadine (sp?) (it is the extreme wet conditions that has been one factor in getting so many so I think that is a reason for using dry) until the gunk is all out. Then it is a case of keeping covered for a little longer and using blue spray for a few days.

They go out all the time. The poultice/guaze layer is kept dry with an additional layer of duct tape. Movement helps and vet and farrier never suggest box rest.

 

[Tnavas]

Keratex hoof putty in the hole once it has drained completely will prevent dirt getting in. I'm not sure why you've been given antibiotics considering they are known to be ineffective against abscesses and box rest is frowned upon because exercise helps abscesses to drain.
When it comes to feet, I always go to my farrier first and take their advice as vets seem to be a bit too inclined to remove huge chunks of hoof wall/sole which then require lots of box rest and huge bills!

Totally agree - Mine stay out, with a poultice on and are poulticed daily until they are 100% sound. Then if shod a leather pad is put on under the shoe, the hole s stuffed with cottonwool dipped in Stockholm Tar, between the hoof and leather pad is packed with cottonwool and Stockholm Tar.

If unshod, then a dry poultice is needed for a lot longer until the hole has healed - You can also pack it with Stockholm Tar and cottonwool.

I rarely call a vet in for an abscess - the farrier is a foot specialist and can find an abscess with far less damage than the vet.