What should a used poultice look like?

[Milford]

Horse was stabled last night with poultice on (didn't have a nappy on as i didn't know about that bit) . Took it off this morning and it was slimey either side of the frog - what does this mean? He is limping around but maybe due to punchured sole?!

Horse is v impatient - i tie him up outside whilst i'm changing it - can i allow he horse to put his foot on the floor between changes? Sorry for the ignorance, i don't really understand it all.

Thank you

 

[suestowford]

If it's black smelly slime then you have pus, which is good.
Yes, you can let the horse put his foot on the ground while you are changing the poultice.

 

[AmyMay]

They're always horrid when you take them off - always slimey too (regardless of whether 'gunk' has come out).

If he's limping you need to give your vet a buzz.

 

[be positive]

The slime is normal the coating of the poultice tends to move into that area by the frog and congeal it may also be black and smelly. Has the hoof been examined by a vet or farrier to see if it is the cause of the lameness. They should be able to open they area to allow any pus to get out.

In between changes you should really tub his foot, hot salt water in a bowl for him to stand in for as long as you can this will help draw out any pus and is really effective, ideally take the foot out of the tub and put on poultice straight away, get some one to help you.

 

[be positive]

If it's black smelly slime then you have pus, which is good.
Yes, you can let the horse put his foot on the ground while you are changing the poultice.

The black may not be pus on the first poultice it can just be dirt from the frog mixed with the slime from the poultice.

 

[Milford]

Vet coming out tomorrow morning to vaccinate. Farrier told me not to call vet out, thinks it's a puncture from the clip (shoe became lose). He said poultice for 1 1/2 days then call him if no better and he will drain it.

Horse is desperate to go out, can anyone give me step by step instructions on how to poultice correctly please? do you put the hot poultice then vetwrap then a baby nappy (how do you fit a nappy to a foot?) then strips of duct tape? ...Do you need the vet wrap over the poutice if you've got the duct tape?

Would purple spray not help??

 

[Milford]

They're always horrid when you take them off - always slimey too (regardless of whether 'gunk' has come out).

If he's limping you need to give your vet a buzz.

He always gets foot sore without shoes

 

[AmyMay]

He always gets foot sore without shoes

In a stable??

 

[Auslander]

The black may not be pus on the first poultice it can just be dirt from the frog mixed with the slime from the poultice.

+1. This is just one of the many reasons I hate proprietary poultices with a passion. The black smelly gloop is a mixture of dirt and poultice residue, and is often confused with pus (which is generally whitish yellow). You see all the scum, think the poultice is drawing out the infection, when in fact, all its doing is creating a lovely warm sticky anaerobic environment for bugs to grow in. The boric acid concentration is pretty low (or you wouldn't be able to buy it in tack shops!) so doesn't really have much effect.

Clean, dry and covered is your best bet, until you can get the vet out to make sure all's well. Don't take any chances with a punctured sole - there's far too much important stuff in the foot to risk not having it checked.

 

[Milford]

In a stable??

Yes

 

[AmyMay]

Yes

Wow, that's a pretty serious issue.

Anyway - good luck with his recovery.

 

[Milford]

Wow, that's a pretty serious issue.

Anyway - good luck with his recovery.

Thank you for your constructive advice

 

[PercyMum]

This is the way I do it, but everyone differs:

1. Preparation is key!! Get out all your stuff (VetWrap, nappy, Animalintex, gaffer tape, scissors) and put in a clean but accesible spot.
2. Make a 'star' out of the gaffer tape and stick somewhere handy (I usually stick it on my horse!!)
3. Soak animalintex in hot water with a sprinkle of salt in it
4. Tub foot in hot salty water for as long as poss
5. Take foor out and put some hoof dressing on foot (if you have it) then out Animalintex on the hoof
6. Put nappy over hoof and secure above the heel bulb. Ensure its spread nice and evenly over the edges of the hoof
7. Wrap Vetwrap around hoof, making sure its not too tight above the coronary band and lots around the hoof edge as this is where the holes appear most!
8. Whack your star on the bottom of the hoof and stick the edges up. Then add more tape until its as waterproof as you can get it
9. Stand bakc and admire your handiwork! Suspect horse will be slightly less impressed...

Hope that helps!

 

[Milford]

This is the way I do it, but everyone differs:

1. Preparation is key!! Get out all your stuff (VetWrap, nappy, Animalintex, gaffer tape, scissors) and put in a clean but accesible spot.
2. Make a 'star' out of the gaffer tape and stick somewhere handy (I usually stick it on my horse!!)
3. Soak animalintex in hot water with a sprinkle of salt in it
4. Tub foot in hot salty water for as long as poss
5. Take foor out and put some hoof dressing on foot (if you have it) then out Animalintex on the hoof
6. Put nappy over hoof and secure above the heel bulb. Ensure its spread nice and evenly over the edges of the hoof
7. Wrap Vetwrap around hoof, making sure its not too tight above the coronary band and lots around the hoof edge as this is where the holes appear most!
8. Whack your star on the bottom of the hoof and stick the edges up. Then add more tape until its as waterproof as you can get it
9. Stand bakc and admire your handiwork! Suspect horse will be slightly less impressed...

Hope that helps!

Thank you. Why do you use hoof dressing just out of interest? i have hoof moisturiser?

 

[Charlie Bucket]

Step by step....i feel i could be professional at this, my horse has so many damn abscesses!!!

1) If it is a puncture, it will almost certainly have turned into an abcess. Hole in foot + tiny grain of dirt = BOOM. Puss and lameness.
So, step 1, wash the foot with warm salty water. Ideally, if he will, make your horse stand with his foot in a bucket of it for aslong as he will.

2) Dry the foot.

3) Depending whether it is a wet or dry poultice, soak the dressing in hot water before applying. Obviously if it is a dry poultice, don't!

4) Apply poultice dressing over the part of the foot which has the puncture/abcsess.

5) Vet wrap securely around the hoof, making sure that it is all covered.

6) I usually use a feed bag cut down and taped around my horses hoof, but I think a nappy sounds like a great idea! We got posh lately and bought a poultice boot as it is becoming such a regular occurance!!

So yeh, that is pretty much it. If you can get somebody to help you, SO much easier!
When you take the poultice off, there should be some puss/goo where it was on the abcess, but the rest of the foot will be smelly and slimey too - i always think of this as there feet sweating, i might be wrong?

Hope this has been helpful! When the foot has drained, my farrier usually makes me put iodine and cotton wool in the puncture for a few weeks to harden the foot up.

Anyways...hope this was helpful! I'm known as Poultice Queen at my yard haha! Good Luck!

 

[Ibblebibble]

Vet coming out tomorrow morning to vaccinate. Farrier told me not to call vet out, thinks it's a puncture from the clip (shoe became lose). He said poultice for 1 1/2 days then call him if no better and he will drain it.

Horse is desperate to go out, can anyone give me step by step instructions on how to poultice correctly please? do you put the hot poultice then vetwrap then a baby nappy (how do you fit a nappy to a foot?) then strips of duct tape? ...Do you need the vet wrap over the poutice if you've got the duct tape?

Would purple spray not help??

i soak foot in hot water and epsom salts, then without putting foot on ground get the hot poultice on and vet wrap it in place, then if you need you can put the foot down, then do your best with the duct tape i don't bother with nappies

 

[Charlie Bucket]

Just realised I've cross posted...sorry!

 

[Milford]

Step by step....i feel i could be professional at this, my horse has so many damn abscesses!!!

1) If it is a puncture, it will almost certainly have turned into an abcess. Hole in foot + tiny grain of dirt = BOOM. Puss and lameness.
So, step 1, wash the foot with warm salty water. Ideally, if he will, make your horse stand with his foot in a bucket of it for aslong as he will.

2) Dry the foot.

3) Depending whether it is a wet or dry poultice, soak the dressing in hot water before applying. Obviously if it is a dry poultice, don't!

4) Apply poultice dressing over the part of the foot which has the puncture/abcsess.

5) Vet wrap securely around the hoof, making sure that it is all covered.

6) I usually use a feed bag cut down and taped around my horses hoof, but I think a nappy sounds like a great idea! We got posh lately and bought a poultice boot as it is becoming such a regular occurance!!

So yeh, that is pretty much it. If you can get somebody to help you, SO much easier!
When you take the poultice off, there should be some puss/goo where it was on the abcess, but the rest of the foot will be smelly and slimey too - i always think of this as there feet sweating, i might be wrong?

Hope this has been helpful! When the foot has drained, my farrier usually makes me put iodine and cotton wool in the puncture for a few weeks to harden the foot up.

Anyways...hope this was helpful! I'm known as Poultice Queen at my yard haha! Good Luck!

If you're in Notts, can you pop over and do mine? hehe!

 

[only_me]

We use Epsom salts for a poltice now - pack the hole with Epsom salts, cover with nappy, tape/wrap etc over the top
Cheap and very effective!

 

[Auslander]

We use Epsom salts for a poltice now - pack the hole with Epsom salts, cover with nappy, tape/wrap etc over the top
Cheap and very effective!

Brilliant stuff! I also like Magnesium paste!

Seems to me that where feet are concerned, the old methods work the best.

 

[AmyMay]

Thank you for your constructive advice

Not really any need for a sarcastic response.

A horse that experiences problems without shoes on in a stable, would be a cause for concern for me - as in my experience it's very seldom a problem. So whilst I've not given any advice, my response was constructive - if it gives you pause for thought.....

It's good that the vet is up tomorrow, because I suspect you may need some antibiotics and cause of bute. But obviously your vet will be able to best advise on that.