What could be reasons for recurring hind hoof abscesses? My horse has been getting them in both hind feet every winter for the past 3 years. We are talking 3 to 5 months off in total each year.
Each abscess takes months to resolve. It seems that as soon as one foot is healed the other one abscesses.
Horse is barefoot. We do low level dressage.
There are a number of things that can lead to repeated abscesses… repeated bruising from (frozen), hard, uneven ground, punctures on the sole from any number of things or from horseshoe nails, poor hoof condition (ie cracks that allow in bacteria), big swings in weather from hot to cold to hot, and even an abscess that never really completely healed, causing a “new” abscess.
Since these only happen in winter for you, I’d look closely at your footing and speak with your farrier about possibly adding pads or something to cushion/protect the sole (if the abscesses are in fact coming from footing).
I don’t know if the abscesses are coming from the footing. One year she was on pasture, second year she was in a sand paddock, this year she is on gravel. In years prior to this she was stalled 16 hours a day and did not have any hoof problems but we did have severe stocking up in all 4 legs and behavioral issues.
I’m willing to put shoes on but not sure if that would solve the problem.
Any other ideas?
Since this has occurred in three different environments, happens every winter multiple times, if it were me, I’d be contacting my vet for ideas (if I was unable to identify the source). I’d also be looking at nutrition, possibly adding minerals/vitamins or something to promote healthy hooves and I’d get the horse off the gravel if at all possible. While it is unlikely to suffer sole bruises from pasture or sand (especially if it does not freeze solid in winter), gravel can cause bruising, especially for a horse that is more sensitive or has thinner soles.
The issue for my horse is the swing from hard, frozen, pitted ground to sucking mud, and back again. Winter here is hard for that.
Farrier advised diligence with the durasole. Tough to tell if it helped this season. Currently debating if I should radiograph her now, coming out of a winter of abscessing, or if I should wait until fall. I think leaning sooner rather than later.
We’ve been doing this for two winters now, and I thought awfully hard about radiographing her last spring. Was very hopeful the farrier’s suggestions would solve the problem.
For your horse, don’t wait another winter to get the vet involved. Radiograph the feet and see what’s going on in there. The answer might be tweeking the trim, or adding shoes, or perhaps you’ll find something more serious. But until you LOOK, you’re really flying blind.
Seems like we are having similar problems. I’m in the Pacific northwest so very wet winters but not that cold. Vet is coming to x-ray next month but I’m trying to learn as much as I can in the meantime.
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