Xray for abscess, first step??

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Marmite Sandwich

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Has anyone had a horse with poss low grade lami, an abscess to the point he's absolutely hopping and the first thing the vet wants is an xray? No attempt to dig or drain, won't allow poulticing, just an xray? I haven't heard of this before anyone else have any experience or advice please?
 
I had one with a really bad abscess, first step was to try and open it, poulticed as normal, after a few days with little improvement he was nerve blocked just to make sure it was the only issue then xrayed to find out what was going on, the abscess was just above the tip of the pedal bone so almost impossible to get to and with his very hard strong feet was a very long process to resolve.

I rarely have a vet to deal with an abscess, that time was only because my farrier was off with an injury, I certainly would not expect an xray on day 1 before normal poulticing treatment had been tried, if you want it drained your farrier would be best to do this as most vets dig away far too much, the only advantage with an xray would be if there was no obvious point to open when tested or if there was a real chance of laminitis also being involved and not wanting to compromise the sole, risk rotation, by making it weak with tubbing and poulticing.
 
I suspect your vet thinks there may be more than an abscess going on -I'd go with their advice espec if there is a suspicion of laminitis
 
Marmite Sandwich said:
Has anyone had a horse with poss low grade lami, an abscess to the point he's absolutely hopping and the first thing the vet wants is an xray? No attempt to dig or drain, won't allow poulticing, just an xray? I haven't heard of this before anyone else have any experience or advice please?
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Yes. I was a naive new owner, horse was x rayed. Abscess popped at heel before the result was back (no digital in those days). Hunter livery yard I was on laughed like a drain at the vet.

I'd call a farrier first and x ray if they find nothing.And poultice, your vet can't stop you doing that and it can't harm unless the pedal bone is so rotated it's about to pop through the sole.

But if you are insured and things get complicated, you may find they won't pay if you go against the advice of your vet.
 
Thanks for the replies, it's the old owners vet that was wanting to do that, mine is out Tuesday because I'd been told horror stories about how bad/risk etc. But I can't see any sign of laminitis and apparently it was diagnosed following his swollen knee?!? So would the lami have to be quite severe for the poulticing to be a problem then please?
 
He would have to have thin soles, rotation and too much movement for poulticing to be a problem. why not phone your own vet and ask what they think?
 
We talked again yesterday, and she's out to him Tuesday I was hoping not to sway her too much with the other vets opinion as he's not been lame (prior to abscess) and there are no obvious signs of lami and apparently the other vets that came out to his swollen knee (don't yet know a time frame for that) "completely missed" the laminitis. So hence why I'm dubious and from what your saying the lami would have to be quite serious case for it to be a problem. However you have made me able to understand the risks and why she says what she has. Thank you
 
Im struggling to follow. Is laminitis suspected or not? Low grade can point to a number of issues and a vet can want to x ray to see where it lies, whether there is rotation, whether there are smaller abscesses under running the other feet, etc. LGL can indicate metabolic issues and isn't to be taken lightly. By the time you have a "serious case" a lot of damage can have already been done.
 
If there's thought to be laminitis I can completely understand why they don't want to dig or even poultice without x-rays, I wouldn't want to either. Poulticing a potentially thin or weak sole isn't a great idea, digging when bones may not be where they should is an even worse one! That said if there is possibly that level of problem I would want someone out before Tuesday.
 
In my experience, OP a laminatic will often abscess dead centre of the foot through the coronet band. And most horses will split an abscess at the heel bulb. If I were you and going to wait until Tuesday for your vet, I would poultice the coronet band and bulbs of the heel only while you wait.

I can't, myself, see any risk at all in that approach, and it might help.
 
The abscess is at his toe, he's allegedly been like this close to a month. Out of 3 only 1 vet suspects lami, so I'm unsure. It's a very long and fangled back story and I'm really not trying to confuse anyone. It's just ridiculously complicated and part of that is why the vet can't come until Tuesday. Just trying to do the right thing by the horse until then. Thanks for all the advice
 
If its been going on for a month, then I probably would x-ray.

Does he have a strong digital pulse?

If there is a definite abscess at his toe then I would poultice the toe area. Wait and see what your Vet thinks on Tuesday. I would probably keep him in with a poultice on his toe area, but don't give any bute.
 
There's no pulse, no heat in other feet, only localised heat in affected foot, no ridges on hoof and no lameness prior to this. I wondered whether the vet was trying to take advantage of previous owners naivety or whether there was a genuine link.
 
sorry a month long history of a problem needs an xray... if the vet had missed a problem they could have diagnosed with x-ray everyone here would be jumping on them
 
I had a long running abscess problem with my pony a while ago and it turned out he had a nail embedded in his foot that we couldn't see until the pus pushed it out so yes, go for an x-ray.
 
SusieT said:
sorry a month long history of a problem needs an xray... if the vet had missed a problem they could have diagnosed with x-ray everyone here would be jumping on them
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Please bear in mind tho that this is a month, completely untouched.
He's home now so will see what vet says in morning, it's going to be a long long journey but hopefully with a happy ending
 
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