Pigeon fever - hard capsule treatment?

[BEARCAT]

Just wondering if anyone that has been dealing with Pigeon Fever has any remedies to get rid of the hard capsule left behind after the abcess drains.
Horse was seen by the vet who gave me DMSO to apply on said capsule. Was told it might still be there after a couple of months. It's under my horse's armpit and cerytainly can't be that comfortable, so I am trying to help the poor guy out... plus he hates DMSO. He'll try to bite at it + leap around after it's applied...

[Watermark Farm]

The horse's body creates a hard, fatty wall around the bacteria in order to isolate it from the rest of the body. It took the body time to create it, it's VERY tough and it can take several months to reabsorb. With my horses who've had PF, it's taken 1-3 months after the abscess ruptures, MUCH longer if the abscess was drained prematurely. It takes patience to let that abscess mature fully. Don't drain it until the center is soft and moves like wiggly jello under your fingers.

[Fancy That]

is this what I have to look forward to? Our Belgian's abcess on his midline burst and is draining.

His chest/pectoral abcess is still HUGE and HARD with tons of fluid hanging down below. It hasn't come to a head yet.

I haven't noticed the hard capsule yet on his midline abcess....is that something that we'll have to also deal with, even after the abcesses are drained and are healing?

This Pigeon Fever stuff is terrible. It's rampant here in the South San Francisco Bay Area (all over south valley)

:(

[BEARCAT]

Are those capsules very painfull? He doesn't seem to mind but it's gotta hurt!

[Plumcreek]

BEARCAT,
For a horse that is sensitive to DMSO, try slathering the area with lots of Aloe Vera gel immediately after applying the DMSO. I get large bottles of it at WalMart.

The DMCSO gel seems to be cause less reaction than the liquid.

[BEARCAT]

Thanks! I am using a gel like substance...
How does the DMSO act as a carrier? I've heard it will carry dirt, etc, so I make sure the area is clean, but what if the horse rolls after application?

[Plumcreek]

Thanks! I am using a gel like substance...
How does the DMSO act as a carrier? I've heard it will carry dirt, etc, so I make sure the area is clean, but what if the horse rolls after application?

I asked that same question. Vet says dirt molecules are too large to be carried through the skin by the DMSO.

[Simkie]

Thanks! I am using a gel like substance...
How does the DMSO act as a carrier? I've heard it will carry dirt, etc, so I make sure the area is clean, but what if the horse rolls after application?

Clean? Do you use water? Is the area wet when you apply the DMSO?

DMSO combined with H2O produces a exothermic reaction--it will get quite hot. Sometimes enough to burn. If you are wetting the area to clean it before you apply the DMSO...stop. Or, at the very least, dry the area well.

Simple massage of the scar tissue will help break it down, perhaps even more than DMSO application. Roll the skin and scar tissue, palpate it, manipulate it. Moving it around will break up all the adhesions.

[Watermark Farm]

Bearcat, just keep the abscess draining and let nature take its course. The fatty capsule is really an amazing thing your horse's body did --- it built a "wall" to protect itself from this nasty bacteria. It doesn't hurt him. Once the abscess starts to drain, the worst is over.

If it makes you feel better, try some warm compresses and massage.