Abscess - how long to heal?

[LaraNSpeedy]

The vet is worried the thing has not healed in 4 weeks. Should I be worried? It burst out by the coronet band - not big - small hole - very little discharge but we have buted him and run him around every day per the orders and he is moving a LOT better but there is still something there - should we be worried? I hear people say 6-8 weeks but the vet is like - 2 weeks or he worries about the bone being infected.

[baysngreys]

Years ago I had a mare with an abscess that never "broke". It was absorbed into the coffin bone. Xrays looked like cottage chesse. Vet wasn't very positive, but I guess we got lucky, she was sound and continued a jumping career.

When you say "running around" is the horse sound?

Soaking the foot in epsom salts or green tea works wonders for cleaning out the "hole".
Yes, I've soaked my horse's foot in steeped, green tea - it worked when NOTHING else would!

[qhwpmare]

My horses abcess began on July 22nd. I soaked,wrapped,pulled shoes, and exayed. Abcess burst at coronary band,looked like it was sliced with a scapel.vet gave the okay to put shoes and pads back on and begin riding. he is 90% better, but does take a few off steps each ride. I take it very easy when riding.I am worried, but vet says tincture of time will take care of it.

[LaraNSpeedy]

He is sound in that there is only a slight gimp at the trot. He is a little short at the canter but it looks like a horse that could just have a slightly short stride when I know his stride is slightly bigger.

It came out at the coronet band = very little drainage - very small slit - but the amount of relief when it popped was substantial - he went from being 3 legged to being able to move around but he was pretty lame so I soaked it in epsom salts for a week (did so prior in order to get it to pop to begin with) - to make sure I was keeping it open and drawing stuff out. I used warm water. I just did not feel like there was a lot of drainage.

Then the vet came out and saw him - said he is very lame and he was worried it was lingering so long - I think it popped about 4 weeks ago and the pain started - the end of July too. I would say he is also about 90%.

I always thought that sometimes it could last this long but the vet said it shouldnt.

[hossluva]

I'm going through the same thing right now with a yearling. It's been FOREVER (probably beginning of July), and I'm freaking out but the vet isn't overly excited about it. I've not seen any exit wound and the farrier couldn't find anything either. She's a typical tiny footed, bulky paint so not much to see from the bottom. She had visible bruising to the front of the hoof and still tests very ouchy in one spot on the inside. She also has recently outgrown another abscess which happened before I got her; she's apparently prone to them. She never had the typical 3 legged symptom with relief after the pressure's off, she's earned herself a new set of x-rays next week. I had a mare last year take about 5 months to get back to 100% with a nasty hind abscess - she was 90% after it broke (within the first week) and continued draining for a couple weeks. It is difficult to tell how much it's draining though. The farrier was still finding evidence several trims later, so I guess if it's large and deep it can take a long long time for the sensitivity to go away. Good luck with him! It sounds like it'll just take a little more time.

ps: The worst is when the hole is growing out if it's in the nailing pattern of the shoes. What a pain in the butt...

[goeslikestink]

if you dont clean an abcess out properly or make sure its kept clean and dry till healed it will take ages

[MaresNest]

Yes, I've soaked my horse's foot in steeped, green tea - it worked when NOTHING else would!

This is EXCELLENT info. I am a believer in Epsom salts for hoof soaking, but I had never heard of using green tea before. I have a mare coming off an abscess right now, too. So thanks! I will try it!