Abscess woes

[grandprixer]

Hi all. Yet another lame horse post.

I usually deal with 1 or 2 abscesses during spring, but this year Pony has topped it with 2 abscesses at once - RF and LH. I noticed the hind on Tuesday, wrapped and soaked until Thursday when I noticed the RF and called the vet. At this point, he was never super lame, probably 1.5/5 on each, but a hot hoof and strong pulse.

He drained a pretty little abscess from the front toe, and a smaller one from the back that was also a bruise. Had to pull both shoes including the pad/wedge off the front.

Today, Saturday, I noticed he was lying down in the field which he usually doesn’t do when it’s cold. He was moving a little slow coming in but not outright lame. Tonight though, he’s obviously sore on a straight line and very lame on a turn in front. Way more lame than he was with the full abscess. He’s also still got a very strong pulse in the legs.

The vet had said it was okay for him to be outside in the hoof packing as long as I put duct tape on, and it’s held, but is it possible being outside and active without his shoes are what’s making him extra sore? Or is it possible the vet missed a little pocket and it needs more attention?

I gve him 1g Bute and locked him up on rubber mats and shavings, hopefully he’ll look a little happier with some rest. I’ll call the vet again if he looks worse tomorrow for sure, but I’d love to hear COTHs thoughts!

[SolarFlare]

Mine’s also got two abscesses right now, although his are RF and RH. He’s not in pads (but shod all around) so I am able to pack and wrap with shoes still on, as his are in the heels.

However, in previous times when I’ve had to have shoes pulled, he would absolutely be sore and lame if I turned him out without on frozen ground. Are you in a colder climate where the ground is frozen? Remember too that if you’re soaking/packing then his foot is going to be softened from that, and will bruise more easily.

What I do is apply Animalintex (wet with warm water), vet wrap on top, duct tape booty, then add a hoof boot on top. I use Cavallo Simple Boots, right on top of his shoes and the packing. This system works really well to keep the feet protected while still allowing me to draw the abscess out.

I did run into one problem last week, when he was packed and booted on both right feet. He ended up losing his footing and falling in turnout. It was witnessed so they saw what happened - he wasn’t doing anything like running around, he just lost traction on the frozen ground and couldn’t catch himself. Because of that he’s getting both feet packed at night when he’s in, then he goes out with only one hoof boot. It might take longer to get both to burst but at least he won’t injure himself falling!

[grandprixer]

Thanks for the reply! The ground is not frozen, but he has been very active. He looks a little better after a night inside, so I’m assuming he is just foot sore. I’ll keep giving him Bute until his shoes go back on tomorrow.

[SLW]

Outside and walking around on hooves with just pulled shoes absolutely could be a factor. Also, if you pulled a wedge/pad from the front hoof, whatever balance/angle protection that provides is a factor now that it’s missing.

Abscesses can “wall over” and cause discomfort until they burst again. Can you gently poke around in the area where your vet opened the abscesses, see if any more drainage is there??

[Jealoushe]

When I turn out with abscesses I always after soaking put a hoof shaped poultice pad on, then wrap the foot with gamgee or cotton, even a thin shipping cotton works. Then gauze, vet wrap and finally duct tape. They are much happier with the extra padding and the boot will stay on 24hrs. I usually either re wrap at night or take it off at night and re wrap in the morning depending on the situation.

I’ve dealt with many abscesses with horses coming off the track over the years and found this the best way to keep them comfy and heal fast.

[grandprixer]

The vet used a bunch of gauze and padding and vet wrap over. I added duct tape. He doesn’t want me changing the wrap until tomorrow, there’s ointment and stuff on there. So I can’t see the foot at all either.

I did very gently put hoof testers on, and he’s lightly sore over the whole foot and not just where the abscess was. I definitely think he’s just foot sore now.

[Jealoushe]

I find too they can go away and come back a few times before they totally clear.

[grandprixer]

Good to know!

My farrier won’t come out until Thursday, unfortunately - he was supposed to today. But now I can change the dressing, so I’ll pad it up nicely and put some magic cushion on - hopefully he’ll be more comfortable. He still looks a little pitiful but he was out there playing today so it can’t be too bad.