another abscess thread (how long do these things last???)

[staceyk]

I'm worried about permanent damage to the hoof -- is it typical for abscesses to go on this long??? When do you start thinking about the really invasive fixes (have read some people have them "drilled out"?

--March 5 my 3 year old came in from the pasture just about three-legged, heat in hoof, digital pulse, swelling into the inside of the leg.

Poulticed and soaked every other day for a week. Lameness improved but still head-bobbing, no sign of popping in sole or coronary band.

---Vet out on March 12, xrays taken. Abscess located equidistant from top/bottom of hoof, at toe, just to the inside. Tract evident, just starting to go up toward top of hoof. No clear area to cut/drain in sole area.

Poultice/soak every other day for a week.

--March 21 Lameness nearly gone, but abscess has not popped. Vein/artery going down inside of leg is enlarged, hoof is hot, no sign of popping.

-- March 23 no change

[luvmywalkers]

Have you had your farrier out? Let him/her look at the x-rays and get opinion. If needed, get vet and farrier together. You do not want your horse to be lame on and off for that long; that's asking for a whole different set of problems.

[staceyk]

Hi,

X-rays are in the mail, trying to get the farrier. But from the xrays, it doesn't appear that the problem is anywhere near the sole. Of course maybe the radiographs are missing something...

[trubandloki]

Why do you only soak/poultice every other day?

[staceyk]

I work full-time and have two horses at two different barns (for good reasons, I'll spare you the details). I can only get out to the barn every other day -- I poultice on the coronary band which lasts till the next visit, and the poultice on the bottom of the hoof lasts about 24 hours. Wen I return I soak and re-poultice. There aren't many people at this barn that would be interested in soaking him for $$. The ones that might be are sixteen year olds. My three year old he is pretty wiggly and he is REALLY tired of this whole routine, so it's more than I want to put on a kid.

I'll address this question to COTH -- do you really think poulticing/soaking helps all that much? I'm doing the best I can in good faith, but with no sign that the abscess is near a surface, top or bottom, I wonder how much good this is doing.

[trubandloki]

I have dealt with more abscesses than I care to admit to. I have had very good luck with soaking and packing (I use ichthammal usually).

[staceyk]

I"m also using this, I like that it won't dry out. My other horse (my first horse, now retired) had two abscesses in 12 years and they each lasted like two days. I don't like thinking of stuff brewing yuckily in all that sensitive tissue and bone structure.

[trubandloki]

I would not like it either.

My vet always suggested soaking at least once per day, twice per day is better. The soaking softens things up some.

[MistyBlue]

Also the heat from soaking draws the abcess to the exterior...pus pockets seek heat. If the interior of the horse is warmer than the exterior...the pus pocket doesn't move so fast.
Can you limit his turnout to a small somewhat level area? Like a small paddock, round pen or ring? If so, try slathering the area with icthamol, cover with a washcloth and then stick on a thermacare heat wrap to the washcloth. Then add a baby diaper over that and either duct tapee or vet wrap to cover it. Leave it on, it will stay warm for up to 8 hours drawing that abcess to the surface so it can pop. Next time you're there, remove everything and let it air dry for a couple hours and repeat it if hasn't popped. Usually this blows abcesses within the first application or second one. It's like hot water soaking for 8 straight hours...helluva lot better than 10 minutes twice a day.
You may have to change your barn visits for a few days or so...instead of swapping days off from barn to barn maybe just go to the barn with the abcessed horse and get that popped first.

[staceyk]

Hi \,

I did go out daily for about five days but got worn down. At this point, though, it's worrying me enuf that i'll probably go out daily.

That's a great idea and explanation. I did get a heat packet but when I read the directions it indicated that the contents are poisonous. This is a mouthy youngster who occasionally tears at the bandage.

I'll check to see if the thermacare brand has the same warning though -- it definitely sounds worth the effort.

[findeight]

Abcesses last as long as they last..when I bought my mare, we had a bad time the first year. No problem since.

The worst one (or ones?) were recurring and went on and off for about 90 days. We pulled the shoe, soaked in hot water daily, wrapped in icthammol and kept her moving by handwalking. When that one blew we put the shoe back on only to have it (or another) reoccur-and that one was high and she was able to move with it so we left the shoe on and just packed the sole nightly. I even rode her a little just walking...the movement is important to keep circulation going and help flush it-and that second one blew at the coronet and out the heel about the same time.

Vet and farrier consulted and advised against trying to "help" by opening it up.

I do think that sometimes they have a systematic problem of some sort that makes them more likely to develop the abcess and to get multiples. With mine, she was fat but had not been on a correct feeding program. So we did put her on a good hoof supplement and reduced her calories...in 9 years since have had only one minor abcess from shucking a shoe and stepping on the clip-that was 3 days to blow out.

Last fall we ended up with some bad sole bruising in both front feet due to drought hardened pasture...but did not even know it until the farrier trimmed her midwinter and revealed the bruising. Amazed it did not abcess.

Horse before that one was a rescue that blew abcesses on and off for a few months due to malnutrition and also never had another problem once he regrew a decent foot.

[staceyk]

Yes, this horse isn't in work or on some kind of competition schedule, so the time off being lame isn't what is bugging me -- the only concern right now is long term adverse effects.

The ground has been hard but his feet are also "medio-laterally" out of balance (as my vet says)-- something I'm working on.

I will try the thermacare but have to admit it worries me to leave it on -- I'll use a thick washcloth or diaper and hope he doesn't fuss with it.

[trubandloki]

Has he been fussing with the wraps you have been putting on his foot to this point?

If not, I highly doubt he will bother with the wrap that includes the thermacare heat pad.

[staceyk]

Yes, he did tear at the first few I put on but not so much lately. I would just need to tape this one up very securely.

[staceyk]

Hi, just an update. The abscess started March 5 and while the lameness improved, he was still off 9 day later so I had the vet in for xrays. The abscess is at the toe but there was a track going up toward the top of the hoof. The vet advised me to poultice the top of the hoof. That was two weeks ago. I tried the Thermacare bandage for three days. No sign of squishiness or the telltale bubble.

The good news: My horse seems 100% sound at this point, I saw him trot across the pasture today and he looked great.

The bad news: I don't know if he is really okay. What is going on, I wonder?

The farrier is coming Friday and i'm going to ask him to look for signs of a soft spot. I feel as if 2 weeks of soaking and poulticing has not brought anything out it's not likely to be having an effect.

[Tilly]

My show pony's abcessess [about one per wet season ;)] last 1-4 weeks, every time. Sometimes she's lame for 2, sound for 1, and then lame for 2 again.
I think soaking with epsom salts and nice hot [but not too hot ;)] water helps a lot. So does exercise :yes:

[Queen Latisha]

My horse had an abscess that lasted almost 6 weeks.
I soaked his foot in Epsom salt and warm water 2x a day, every day.
It took awhile but abscess finally started draning and the horse is fine.:D

[staceyk]

Well, the abscess never really seemed to blow but my horse was sound, so I stopped poulticing. The farrier came out this am and trimmed him, and here is what we found as he cut...

http://www.vimeo.com/3988969

The farrier gave me some antibiotic goo to shoot into the hole. He said it may have been an abscess or a little thrush that compromised the hoof. There was a lot of heat in the hoof so I suspect it was an abscess, and that it "blew" through the bottom when my horse was outside.

Eventually the hoof wall should grow down and the crack will grow out. We're now on a 4 week trim schedule...