That still sounds like an abscess, just a really bad one. Time to get either the vet or farrier to try to open it up.
[QUOTE=Highflyer;8919736]
That still sounds like an abscess, just a really bad one. Time to get either the vet or farrier to try to open it up.[/QUOTE]
Farrier is scheduled to come back out on the 11th. Think I need to make it sooner?
Still soaking and hoping for just an abscess.
[QUOTE=stryder;8919720]
Do you have standing wraps on both fronts?[/QUOTE]
No standing wraps on right now. Just in bedding.
I don’t have standing wraps on hand (I can make a trip this weekend to get some). Any suggestions on improvising something? I have polo wraps on hand, and bandages, fabric, etc on hand.
Another trick that might help
If he won’t stand for soaking…try this trick to speed the abcess along…place a “Toasty Toes” warmer over top of your drawing agent and wrap as normal.
The Toasty Toes will add heat to help draw, yet won’t get too hot to make uncomfortable. The heat lasts 3-5 hours.
[QUOTE=mtngirl;8919811]
If he won’t stand for soaking…try this trick to speed the abcess along…place a “Toasty Toes” warmer over top of your drawing agent and wrap as normal.
The Toasty Toes will add heat to help draw, yet won’t get too hot to make uncomfortable. The heat lasts 3-5 hours.[/QUOTE]
That is a great idea! Not expensive either, I’ve seen those in the dollar section of Target and in bulk at Costco. I’ll pick some up when I’m in town tomorrow.
I’m thinking salve on diaper, diaper on foot, then the warmer between the diaper and the duct tape. I think the heat should still warm through the diaper, and it will be much easier for me to get it on him that way. I pre-load the diaper before I stick it on his hoof so the salve actually stays on if he jerks his foot away from me.
Perhaps you can have him step down on a diaper, have a helper lift up the other foot, and then close up the diaper around thd hoof he is standing on.
[QUOTE=Am_and_jj;8919569]
I’m really starting to think I’m going crazy. He’s still lame, bounding pulse in the front, swollen on his front left. I have him locked in his run-in shelter (like a stall) with bedding. His front left is swollen now from the fetlock down to the coronary band. He looks so stiff and uncomfortable, almost like his shoulder is messed up now. I’m thinking (and hoping) that his shoulder is just tense from the pain of the abscess.
I started treating him like it might be laminitis as well, just in case because he’s shuffling around and that’s a much more serious issue. He’s not in the full laminitis stance, but he REALLY doesn’t want to move. He’s barefoot and his trimmer came out, no rotation seen. No grain, no alfalfa, nothing sugary at all, deep bedding, icing his fronts, etc. I iced down his front leg were the swelling was, and he is moving better in his stall for now.
He’s on all orchard grass, soaked beet pulp (no molasses just pure beet pulp), MSM, California Trace Minerals, and flax seed. He got some aspri-eaze today so he could be a little more comfortable as I moved him to soak, etc.[/QUOTE]
This is normal—the leg will stock up bad. And they will be 3 legged lame FUBAR. Once it opens and drains—the stocking up will go down.
I think it’s probably getting close to draining.
Giving bute or banamine or aspir-eze won’t hurt to take the edge off the discomfort. You can also cold hose the leg. At this point–the bounding pulse/inflammation…some cold hosing isn’t going to hold back the process of it maturing.
You could also hose before you plan to change the hoof bandage—let the water get in there- which will soak/soften things some. They change bandage to fresh clean one.
Give farrier and vet a call see what they think. I suspect it’s about ready to let go—but does no harm to get their opinion, and if they feel should try to open/ help it–then that could be the way to go.
Take a good look around the heel bulbs and cornet for a slightly swollen softer area—that’ll be where it wants to exit from.
Personally—I’m not huge fan of the gooey salves—they can cover things up/ seal things—where as water will soften more effectively and help the exit. If was me— think I’d get out there and just hose whole leg and hoof—doesn’t matter, warm or cold water at this point. You just really want the hoof/ coronet to soften up and stretch.
