Best drawing agent for abscess that can be bought at Walmart

[SusanO]

Cushings pony has had a hard time lately and I have been fashioning feet cushions with duct tape and camping mats because boots will not stay on him. When I took off his right “boot” I could tell that a nasty abscess had broken open on the side of his foot and on his heel on the coronet band. He is walking a little faster now. So besides cleaning the area really well with an iodine wash what can I put on the area to draw more infection out?

I don’t deal with abscesses often, so I am not prepared although I might be able to find some reducine in there somewhere. Yes I know I need to clean up the barn and organize…

[Jarpur]

Ichthammol?

[SusanO]

I don’t think Walmart down here in the sticks carries that. It would be great if they did. Not sure if I have any or not already.

[JB]

If it’s burst at the coronet band I would just medicate like a normal wound, and let movement push gunk out… Wrap if it’s getting too dirty, otherwise don’t bother.

[frugalannie]

I know people who swear by sugardine: Betadine (or other iodine solution) mixed with sugar to the consistency of a paste. Or an epsom salts paste for the horse that will not let you soak the foot.

But generally once it’s broken open, just repeat soakings for a few days will allow it to drain. Not sure that you want to introduce anything else into the void.

Walmart might carry icthammol as “drawing salve”. Nasty black tar smelling stuff.

[NaturallyHappy]

Sugardine is MUCH easier to clean up than ichthamol. I wonder if the “icht” is for a reason😀.

[Jarpur]

I had a farrier recommend sugardine, too. One of my dressage trainers was a fan of ichthammol, which is available at Walgreen’s in my area.

[Ghazzu]

Sugardine or epsom salts.

[cnd8]

If it has already burst, I’d just soak a couple days with epson salt bath (hot).

Though animalintex pads are my favorite and are available at Tractor Supply.

[Feathered_Feet]

Easiest answer for Walmart shopping is epsom salts, for sure.

If I were in a pinch, I’d almost be tempted to make a poultice of epsom salts and iodine/betadine, almost like a sugardine mix. I’ve been lucky to deal with very few abscesses but is there a reason we don’t do this mixture more often?

[furlong47]

@Feathered_Feet

If I were in a pinch, I’d almost be tempted to make a poultice of epsom salts and iodine/betadine, almost like a sugardine mix. I’ve been lucky to deal with very few abscesses but is there a reason we don’t do this mixture more often?

I have soaked (both horse feet and my own feet) in this combination, but with water, not in a paste-like consistency. Sugardine I use more for oozy wounds or scrapes (again, on both horses and myself)

[ThreeWishes]

Epsom salt and iodine. You can get it all at wal mart really. The diapers the duct tape tbe epsom salt and the betadine/iodine. You can even get the faux vet wrap although it’s pricey. Tractor supply or rural king is better.

[SusanO]

I bought some iodine today and I already have lots of Epsom salts so I will try to make a paste of that and bandage it onto where the abscess burst. But first I am going to scrub the area clean with a gauze and some Hibiclens. He will be inside tonight so it will stay clean. Tomorrow is the tornado day for the week so I don’t know how long he will be outside. I just want all the nastiness to drain out of his hoof. He does seem happier today and I am hoping he continues to improve.

[Ghazzu]

If the abscess has already opened, you might want to just flush with saline and then use mastitis ointment directly into the tract.

[SusanO]

I knew I should have bought some saline solution at Walmart. But I can mix some up with water and salt. Maybe TSC has mastitis ointment? I can get anything over the internet but local choices are limited and I want to get it cleaned up and healing tonight.

[mmeqcenter]

Sugardine #1

[Ghazzu]

You ought to be able to get some variety of mastitis ointment at TSC.

[beau159]

@SusanO

So besides cleaning the area really well with an iodine wash what can I put on the area to draw more infection out?

Diapers
Duct tape
sugar
Iodine

All readily found at Walmart. I’m thankful I have only had to deal with ONE abscess in my life, and this is what my farrier told me to do. I started with a clean foot, packed on the sugardine (sugar and iodine), slapped on a baby’s diaper, and then wrapped a ton of duct tape on.

[Scribbler]

Once it’s broken it will clear up fast.

As others have said, soak in a saturated Epsom salts solution (hot water and so much salt it stops dissolving) and then wrap in a baby diaper with wet Epsom salts inside. I’ve never used a baby diaper, just Animal Lintex. Baby diapers are very absorbent they will likely pull a bit too

Once you feel the abscess is resolving stop the wet treatment let the foot dry out and the abscess tracks will close up. They will quickly start to heal from the inside as the foot constantly grows, and you don’t usually need to worry about things getting inside.

[Angela_Freda]

One key is HOT water