Holes in hooves...or *banging head against wall*

[Unbound]

So, a few weeks ago, Drago was toe-pointing lame on one front. I knew it was an abscess - even had a neighbor stop & tell us that one of our horses was hurt, but we reassured them that it was an abscess and he really was fine. It took FOREVER to blow, but it finally did after about 2.5-3 weeks, and he was immediately sound. The abscess did blow at the coronary band.

So, the farrier came out today, and started trimming. He uncovered a HUGE hole in Drago's hoof, in the white line area. There's literally a chunk as wide as my thumb and probably as deep that is now gone. He dug it out and now there's just...nothing...there except hoof wall & a space until the "inside" starts. He believes it's the remnants of the abscess.

Drago is sound - we took him over rocks & such today with no problems. However, I'm disconcerted by the hole. I've got him wrapped in vetwrap & out in one of our pastures that is not muddy, and am heading out tonight to get duct tape to make a boot. I've got a call in to the vet to see if there is anything he wants me to do (it's time for spring shots/coggins anyway) & am waiting on a call back...

Does anyone have any experience with this type thing? Should I pack it? The farrier did not recommend that (he recommended bleach ), but said that he could possibly use epoxy to fill it in if it doesn't heal....

Sigh....

[Pam]

It's not uncommon for an abcess to leave a large hole. I don't know that I would use bleach in it, but something less potent like betadine solution probably wouldn't hurt. Don't freak out about it, it'll heal.

[Unbound]

Mar 4, 2013 20:27:46 GMT -5 Pam said:

It's not uncommon for an abcess to leave a large hole. I don't know that I would use bleach in it, but something less potent like betadine solution probably wouldn't hurt. Don't freak out about it, it'll heal.

Thanks, Pam. We did go tonight & I got some more vetwrap and a davis barrier boot to keep on him. I did put some absorbine thrush remedy in there tonight and packed a cotton ball gently in there to hold it in, just in case any fungus or bacteria was left over. I'm more concerned because the sacrifice lot is fetlock deep mud, so we're keeping him out in the other pasture for now.

I'll try to get pics when we rewrap it later this week. It was dark out by the time we got home & we were working on him with floodlights tonight.

[diane]

sending healing JINGLES that Mr, Drago heals quickly

[welkin]

I feel for you! Last spring when D had his abscess after the farrier got it out it left a big hole too, just below his coronet band. I just kept it clean (hose it out, packed it with keratin hoof wax) until it grew out, not much else you can do!

[Goalie]

I especially hate abscesses in the winter. sending jingles from Michigan that he heals fast.

[elizabeth_h]

I had that happen last Spring with Ansel. He was lame on the RF, vet could not find anything so we thought it was a bruised hoof. Gradually it resolved and I had pads under his shoes for the rest of the Spring. Next time he was shod we took off the pad and saw the huge CRATER in his toe where he had apparently blown out an abscess! I suppose the pad kept it from getting full of debris, but it was by no means a sterile environment. Luckily nothing happened and he was fine. I think you're doing the right thing keeping the mud out as much as possible.