Hoof abscess in the winter

[Ayaehne]

Hello, My horse has a recurring abscess that requires treatment. I really want to avoid keeping him on stall rest but it is winter and very snowy. He is very active! I feel like a ductape boot will be too slippery and a hoof boot will likely get lost. Hoping for suggestions on how to safely turnout and treat the abscess. I thought when the farrier found it 2 weeks ago he would be fine to just let it heal on its own, he wasn’t sore, out 24/7, the pasture is always covered in fresh snow, hay bales moves around so his feet never get dirty. But I guess it got worse besause he is now sore and needed it drained again.

Love to hear some thoughts!
Thanks

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

You could try something like this Hoof wrap -
https://www.amazon.com/Hoof-Wraps-HWB-001-Brand-Bandage/dp/B004BP07EE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1548305754&sr=8-3&keywords=hoof+wraps+equine+hoof+bandage

I have used one in the past and think it would hold up better and give a little more traction than a duct tape boot. I can also say that the velcro in this thing is some of the most powerful velcro I have ever encountered. I don’t think it would hold up long, but it’s not that expensive either…

[SolarFlare]

I have the Cavallo Simple Boots, and they hold up well for turnout. Mine is shod, and I use these boots if he has an abscess as well (I pack with Animalintex, vet wrap, duct tape, then boot on top). They’ve held up for several years of seasonal use. The only time one has ever come off is when the velcro got mud-logged and he stepped in a deep spot and it got sucked off. In the snow it should be just fine.

[cnd8]

Did it not drain completely the first time? Was it dug out, or did it blow at the coronary band?

[Xanthoria]

I just kept a wrapped abscess covered with an old mac trail boot, which stayed in place over 4 days of mud, rewrapping daily.

[Ayaehne]

It came out of the sole and there wasn’t much digging done, just a small hole made. My vet and farrier have now both drained it over the last few months, they are not big fans of digging too deep. It must not have drained completely so I’m going to be more diligent this time. Its just that he is terrible when in a stall!

Also thank you others for the boot suggestions. This is my first time using a forum so I’m not sure I’m relying properly;)

[trubandloki]

In your situation I would go with a hoof boot like one would ride in. It would hopefully stay on, even in the snow and it would allow your horse to keep moving around. You can put some drawing agent in the sole to keep the abscess draining too.

[OTTBay]

I used the Cavallo trek boots for every day turnout and they held up super even with heavy mud! The trick is getting the right size. He was wearing the boots on both hind feet because of double subsolar abscesses, and the boots plus baby diaper wraps packed with sugardine inside helped keep them dry and clean. The trick with the reoccurring ones is to soak soak soak and then keep them as clean as possible. Once I was able to keep it clean they started resolving.

He probably wore the boots + wraps on both hind feet for two+ weeks during the worst of the mud so that he could still go outside.

[gumtree]

@Groom&Taxi

You could try something like this Hoof wrap -
https://www.amazon.com/Hoof-Wraps-HW…e+hoof+bandage

I have used one in the past and think it would hold up better and give a little more traction than a duct tape boot. I can also say that the velcro in this thing is some of the most powerful velcro I have ever encountered. I don’t think it would hold up long, but it’s not that expensive either…

I have used several of these. They work surprisingly well. Even in muddy turn out. Last longer than expected also. Even with 24/7 turn out. Well worth the $20

This one looks interesting.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N54CYIZ/ref=sspa_dk_detail_5?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B01N54CYIZ&pd_rd_w=uT9ZN&pf_rd_p=f0dedbe2-13c8-4136-a746-4398ed93cf0f&pd_rd_wg=9NfRv&pf_rd_r=2SG5JTFX2PVB1C6ZGFZ3&pd_rd_r=4d01a439-2001-11e9-8398-b3ecd3f33b25

[gumtree]

@trubandloki

In your situation I would go with a hoof boot like one would ride in. It would hopefully stay on, even in the snow and it would allow your horse to keep moving around. You can put some drawing agent in the sole to keep the abscess draining too.

I cut a a piece out of an Animalintex poultice pad and stick in the boot. They make a hoof shaped one but it is cheaper to cut your own out of a full size pad IMO.

[gumtree]

The turn out is covered in snow. Why worry about snow and turnout? Any snow getting in the hole is going to melt.

My farrier turned me on soaking in warm water with some Oxy-Clean. Boot and turn out. Seemed to work really well on a horse that have a very pesky abscess. Haven’t used it enough to say for sure it brings a lot to the table. Based my experience dealing with LOTS of abscesses over the years. An numerous different “treatments”.

Sure wish our paddocks were covered with snow for the majority of winter. Instead mud, frozen mud, thaw, deeper mud, a little snow, melting making more mud

[Bluey]

@Ayaehne

Hello, My horse has a recurring abscess that requires treatment. I really want to avoid keeping him on stall rest but it is winter and very snowy. He is very active! I feel like a ductape boot will be too slippery and a hoof boot will likely get lost. Hoping for suggestions on how to safely turnout and treat the abscess. I thought when the farrier found it 2 weeks ago he would be fine to just let it heal on its own, he wasn’t sore, out 24/7, the pasture is always covered in fresh snow, hay bales moves around so his feet never get dirty. But I guess it got worse besause he is now sore and needed it drained again.

Love to hear some thoughts!
Thanks

If that is a reoccurring abscess, did they X-ray the hoof?

We had a horse that had a crack on his coffin bone and kept getting abscesses from it, until the crack healed, then never again.