Abscess about to rupture at coronary band

[saultgirl]

So I soaked and poulticed and wrapped, but this abscess is clearly not coming out the bottom of the foot. As of today there is a specific bulge at the coronary band and I’m guessing that’s where it’s going to pop. I soaked his foot again tonight (epsom salts in the water) and then instead of wrapping the bottom, I wrapped the area that looks like it’s about to pop w/ gauze pad + betadine + vetwrap.

If it hasn’t burst by tomorrow, is there any further benefit in soaking the entire foot, or can I just put a hot compress on the coronary band?

My farrier is coming out Friday morning.

[WildandWickedWarmblo]

Keep soaking it and it’s OK if the abscess comes out at the coronary band. No need to wrap it that high up. If it doesn’t come out at sole or coronary band by time the farrier arrives, he can try to pop it at sole for you.

Give bute daily.

Soak the area around the coronary band for about 20 minutes at a time in order to see if the abscess will come out there. While soaking the entire hoof.

[saultgirl]

I thought you’re not supposed to give bute for an abscess?

[runNjump86]

My guy was three legged lame on and off for about two days over the “winter”. Soaked, wrapped, soaked, repeat. His coronary band was HOT, puffy, and super sensitive to any touch. It took forever but it finally broke through, and I was honesty disappointed! After all the waiting, limping, etc it was TINY.

I gave him bute off and on with the advice of my vet.

[Frizzle]

Do the COTH Majikal Abscess Popper protocol: smear the area that is about to pop with the goo of your choice (icthamol, epsom salt poultice, etc.), cover with a turn or two of Vetrap, then a Thermacare pad, then more Vetrap, and whatever covering you choose (boot, duct tape bootie, etc.).

I do NOT give bute for an abscess, as it can delay the popping; and I do as much gentle hand-walking as the horse can tolerate, in order to speed up the popping. After it pops, I do several White Lightning soaks to make sure everything is all cleared up and healing. Best of luck!

[saultgirl]

Thanks everyone. The wrap is still intact this morning and he is walking sound so I’m assuming it popped overnight. He’s out 24/7 so I haven’t done any hand walking. I’ll check it out tonight and soak again.

I’m assuming I should keep it wrapped at the coronary band?

[merrygoround]

FYI -I gave up soaking awhile ago, I have been known to poultice, and I have also been seen with a container of ichthammol.

And they all got better.

[PlanB]

[QUOTE=merrygoround;8187245]
FYI -I gave up soaking awhile ago, I have been known to poultice, and I have also been seen with a container of ichthammol.

And they all got better.[/QUOTE]

One of my horses popped an abscess at the coronary band and I didn’t even know she had an abscess. She never took a lame step. I didn’t see the hole until it started growing down her hoof. It was a significant size but she’s fine. I did not treat it with any soak or ointment, but I kept her out of the mud and fairly dry.

[walktrot]

My gelding popped a big abscess through the coronary on his right hind. It was more than 1" long. The few days he was walking funny, nobody guessed it was an abscess. It has grown down now almost to the bottom of his foot. The farrier was there yesterday for someone else, and she rasped it down. It looks a little funny, but she was able to smooth it out.

[LadyBug]

My gelding popped an abscess (I’m guessing) through his coronary band and I just noticed it recently since it’s moving down with his hoof growth. He’s retired and I didn’t notice that he seemed ouchy, but he’s doing just fine having had no treatment.

[saultgirl]

Now I’m wondering… soaking the foot with a hole at the coronary band seems like a good way to just introduce more bacteria… doesn’t it?

Like, if water is getting in there, how is it going to get out?

I’m leaning towards just wrapping it and leaving it unwrapped, at this point…

[Frizzle]

The chlorine dioxide (White Lightning/Oxine) soaks kill any bacteria, fungus, or other ick that might be in there, and keep the internal structures of the hoof from getting infected. I have seen a lot of abscesses, but last year I saw one that ended up going to the coffin bone, and a year later the horse is still not right. So, I’m pretty strict about doing lots of WL soaks once the abscess has popped–I think it could have possibly prevented the infection from going to the bone in my friend’s horse.

Since it has already popped, I don’t see any point in doing epsom salt soaks.

[crosscreeksh]

I make a paste of mineral oil and Epsom salts and pack it on the coronet. I’ve been known to put light gauze wrap, soaked in the paste and left on to extend the soak time.

[saultgirl]

[QUOTE=Frizzle;8187662]
The chlorine dioxide (White Lightning/Oxine) soaks kill any bacteria, fungus, or other ick that might be in there, and keep the internal structures of the hoof from getting infected. I have seen a lot of abscesses, but last year I saw one that ended up going to the coffin bone, and a year later the horse is still not right. So, I’m pretty strict about doing lots of WL soaks once the abscess has popped–I think it could have possibly prevented the infection from going to the bone in my friend’s horse.

Since it has already popped, I don’t see any point in doing epsom salt soaks.[/QUOTE]

I don’t have White Lightning so it would be probably 5-7 days before I could get it shipped to me.

[fanfayre]

[QUOTE=saultgirl;8187591]
Now I’m wondering… soaking the foot with a hole at the coronary band seems like a good way to just introduce more bacteria… doesn’t it?

Like, if water is getting in there, how is it going to get out?

I’m leaning towards just wrapping it and leaving it unwrapped, at this point…[/QUOTE]

That’s exactly why my vet instructed us 10 years ago not to soak abscesses!
Slap on a drawing poultice, cover and let dry out. I add the heat pack to encourage drawing of the guck. Keep it lightly covered until all drainage is stopped, plus a day or two for good measure.

[Kyrabee]

My horse popped an abscess at the coronary band. I happened to also be crippled at the time (on one foot due to surgery). I had help the day it popped and did wrap it. 2nd day…no help. I could not hold her foot and one of mine and get any kind of wrap on.
The ground was dry, the wound was above ground level and it did fine unwrapped. It closed up rapidly and she never looked back. I was able to use an old large IV bag on it for 3 days with a soak of warm water and apple cider vinegar with the mother on the advise of my trimmer. Again it healed up fine with mostly benign neglect :).

Susan

[saultgirl]

[QUOTE=saultgirl;8187591]
Now I’m wondering… soaking the foot with a hole at the coronary band seems like a good way to just introduce more bacteria… doesn’t it?

Like, if water is getting in there, how is it going to get out?

I’m leaning towards just wrapping it and leaving it unwrapped, at this point…[/QUOTE]

Ok that made no sense… I meant I think I’m going to UNwrap it, and leave it unwrapped. The ground here is dry and no rain in the forecast until Sunday, so I think I’m going ot leave it open, and also see what the farrier says tomorrow morning.

[beowulf]

IMHO i’d cover it if it is at the coronary band… you don’t want it to get infected and turn into a big cut on the coronary. i’d put some antibiotic on it if it burst and wrap and go.

[Frizzle]

I would clean it really well with chlorhexadine, slap some icthamol on it, and keep it wrapped for a few days, just to make sure nothing gets in there while it’s healing. And maybe order some White Lightning or Oxine to have on hand for the future, just in case (it’s also great for thrush, etc). :yes:

[Lady_Eboshi]

Honest truth, if you do anything, everything, or absolutely NOTHING, the problem will resolve in the exact same time frame. :winkgrin:

And that’s coming from the Abscess Capital of the World, with the collective lifetime wisdom of 5 top vets behind it.

So do what you think may help, and makes you happy. Just don’t get kicked.