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HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Hoof Abscesses, Bruises, and Gravels »
  Discussion on 1-2 abscess per week.
Author Message
Member:
luke1

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 13, 2007 - 7:32 pm:

I am the manager of a 30 horse farm. In the last 3 months I would guess that at least half the horses have suffered from an abscess. What is the problem. Everything has remained the same as far as daily care. The only thing I can come up with the turnout situation has been altered because of paddock repairs. We have the same footing in the indoor, same bedding, same feed etc. We were blaming the warm winter bacteria dampness etc. But for the last month it has been snowy and wickedly cold. I should mention no change in the farrier schedule, they are done every 5-6 weeks. I would like to have the indoor footing tested just to rule that out as far as bacteria goes. I know that they are really caused by bruising. Maybe to much time in the stall with rolling and whacking their feet against the wall? What gives, any suggestion out there?
Member:
frances

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 14, 2007 - 9:04 am:

Is it possible that workmen carrying out the paddock repairs have been careless with nails, etc? (That is, if the horses have been out in the paddock at all since then.)
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 14, 2007 - 9:36 am:

Hello Judy,
I disagree that the most common cause of abscesses is a complication to bruising and explain the most common cause, at least that I see and we see a lot of abscesses, in the article associated with this discussion. Review it and if you have questions post them here. I have rearranged the article to make it clearer.
DrO
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 14, 2007 - 4:14 pm:

Judy -- Did you change farriers, or, if not, is there some reason your farrier may be doing a lesser job (physical problem, burn-out, rushing) and not balancing the feet well, etc.?
Member:
luke1

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 14, 2007 - 7:40 pm:

Dr O. Thank you for responding. But I still am at a loss. Bacteria is the issue. How to sterilize a farm that i have been on for many years, I guess that is my question. Do you suggest liming the stalls. I get the shoeing thing but we are using the same guy, as I said the horses are reset every 5-6weeks. What is now happening that was'nt before?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Feb 15, 2007 - 6:45 pm:

Your confusion is understandable because bacteria are NEVER the issue is these cases. Bacteria are everywhere all the time. Having conditions where they can take hold in the foot is always the issue. After studying the article already though can you tell me which type abscesses you are having?
DrO
Member:
luke1

Posted on Thursday, Feb 15, 2007 - 7:07 pm:

My mind cannot seem to get around this issue. The majority of the abscess's seem to be as of late blowing out the heel. My horse for example had a slight drainage on the out side next to the frog midway down, then proceded to blow out the heel on that side. I have forgotten the terminology, but my next question is should we be treating this with bleach and water like thrush, but why all of a sudden do we have a bacteria that is more stubborn. The blacksmith might be a target but he is equally puzzled by this. Is the idea of indoor soil testing insane?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Feb 16, 2007 - 6:59 am:

Certifiably looney Judy, it will be like checking the water to see if it is wet. You should be sure you have a clean dry environment for the horses to retreat to from the wet weather.
Two other pieces of information will help us help you:
1) How long are the horses lame before they blow out the heel?
2) Picking a current afflicted horse if you can clean the sole and frog completely with the light use of a hoof knife and before any dirt contaminates the surface (you may want to work on a clean concrete surface) take a good, infocus, well lit picture of the hoof's sole that fills the image, and post it I believe I will be able to show you where your abscesses are starting.

The article describes what I am looking for.
DrO
Member:
canderso

Posted on Friday, Feb 16, 2007 - 12:59 pm:

Hi Judy,
You mentioned it has been wickedly cold.

Is it possible horses are playing silly bugger while on turnout ... on the hard frozen uneven ground and hurting themselves by slipping or stepping on themselves (or each other)?

Cheryl
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