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Post by Deb on Jul 12, 2009 9:22:08 GMT -5
Had our farrier out Friday to trim Candy and Cody's hooves. Max told me about the farrier's comment/findings on caring for hoof abscesses; not that either Candy or Cody had any. I'm sure you all know how a farrier can talk a "mile a minute" while doing a horses hooves. ;D Kim, our farrier has found that with abscesses less is better and has gained the confidence of all local Vets that instead of digging and cutting away the sole of the hoof to just let it alone; let it rupture then nature will take care of the healing. By cutting away the sole of the hoof opens up a venture for infection to set in. Nature has a way of sealing the ruptured abscess and the horse's hoof is good as it was before the abscess. Please understand I'm no expert, just a "learn-as-it-comes with experience. Boy Howdy, I've got another lifetime of learning to do. I live by the rule, "Never can know everything there is to know about anything". And That's the Truth".....
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Post by Inga on Jul 12, 2009 10:12:49 GMT -5
That is interesting Deb. I have had a horse that tended to get absesses. I was always happy to let the vet or farrier open them up because the horse got instant relief. I mean, they certainly didn't walk away sound but they were a lot less painful after. My vet and farrier always packed it full and then we used a baby diaper and duck tape to cover the foot. I would take it off daily and soak in warm water and ebsom salt. (sp?) She usually healed up really quick after that.
I am sure horses are able to heal on their own, there are a lot of horses out there that do not receive attention when they are lame, they must be able to heal themselves. I wonder how much longer or shorter it would be if left alone?
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Post by Smay on Jul 13, 2009 10:48:13 GMT -5
The only thing I know for sure is that abscesses do better to rupture and heal when the horse is allowed to move around. The natural pumping action of the horse's hoof "moves it along" and helps it to burst on it's own, or drain after it bursts. If you can use a drawing agent ( epsom salts, magnesium gel, etc) that helps to draw out the infection too. But you're right Deb - an abscess can seal up and re infect if dirt, mud, moisture or whatever gets up into the hole... good to keep it covered.
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Post by sarafina on Jul 16, 2009 7:55:06 GMT -5
No stranger to abscesses here. Fifi is very prone. (thin soles) We usually fish about to see if there is an exact location with hoof testers and then scrape away a little at the sole. Usually that and some pressing can get it to blow. By now, i'm an expert at the epsom salt- baby diaper - duct tape deal. i can crank one of those babies out in about 90 seconds. even in fly season.  |
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Post by guiltygirl on Oct 28, 2009 12:41:52 GMT -5
Okay-my first abcess with Leo and I am frustrated. My vet has him on an antibiotic and Isoxoprine plus he getting his foot wrapped with Ithicomyl applied as a drawing agent- (I know I am not spelling these things correct as items are at barn) Wrapped with vetrap and ducttape-changing bandage every two days
this thing must have started brewing Oct 1-when he bucked me off-evidently three legged lame on Oct 5. My vet has Leo inside in a dry stall as he is on dry lot and this quickly turns to mud. I have someone who is going to put some stone in dry lot for me to help with mud. How long will this take? My farrier is coming this weekend to root around to see if he can help it come out- It is located from the xrays looked as both sides on either side of toe.
Funny Leo doesn't mind being on stall rest-he could really care less-never gets hard to handle so I guess being in the stall is better than trying to keep his foot dry in mud.
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Post by Gwen on Oct 28, 2009 14:05:07 GMT -5
I recommend soaking with Epsom salts and warm water too. Really helped Stormy's foot! Usually by the time they're three-legged lame it's close to blowing...but that's with limited experience. Can he get out to hand walk a little? I did that with Stormy in the barn aisle with his last one (which of COURSE showed up RIGHT as he was going to head to his new home...) and kept him inside because of the nastyness of the pasture. I just used icthamol with gauze pads on the bottom of his hoof, and wrapped in duct tape (not covering coronet band!). Stormy was better in about 3-4 days, but is now having some issues with the area it blew (right out of his sole) so farrier recommended that for his next shoeing we put pads on.
The other two horses have taken a couple of weeks to completely recover from theirs. Stormy's first one blew out the coronet band, so we didn't have to deal with the bottom of his foot being affected. But the other two required the wrap-soak-move around approach. They were at about 75% after 2 weeks, and 100% back to normal after 3 weeks.
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Post by Pam on Nov 1, 2009 8:23:27 GMT -5
Guiltygirl,
Often when an abcess takes this long to blow, it will come out at the coronary band. I might be too late since it's Sunday already, but if the farrier hasn't been there yet, I would think twice about digging around too much unless he can really pinpoint where the pain is. If it's working it's way to the top, he could dig a long way and not find anything, in the process making a huge hole that then would need quite a bit of time to heal. Deb is right, sometimes less is more. It is frustrating to wait so long, but unfortunately sometimes that's just what it takes. Waiting.
The one thing I would be concerned about is his opposite leg. I would consider putting a standing wrap on the other leg for added support IF you know how to properly wrap. If not, better to leave well enough alone.
I agree with Smay and Gwen. Movement can help it and so can soaking. The movement forces blood to the area and just like any other trauma, more blood flow to an area usually means faster healing. If the vet wants him to stay in his dry stall, I would get him out and hand walk him for at least half an hour a couple times a day. The soaking helps by softening both the sole and the coronary band, making it easier for the abcess to burst on it's own. Warm water in a bucket for a good twenty minutes, then rewrap if that's what your vet is recommending.
Once it finally opens up, if it's on the bottom of the hoof a sugardine pack and duct tape will protect and keep it clean while it heals. If it blows out at the coronary band, just clean the wound a couple times a day with something like betadine.
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Post by guiltygirl on Nov 1, 2009 17:17:05 GMT -5
thanks Pam- my farrier agreed it needs to be soaked and he needs to be walked-he said Icathymal(SPELLING ERROR)was old school and nothing is as good as epsom salts-he is having me make a paste and put in a diaper and then duct tape- but he wants him moving AND ALSO SOAKING HIM EACH DAY . Leo was very sore to hoof testers but farrier also said it will come out at coronary.
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