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  Discussion on Tissue in abscess?
Author Message
Member:
Bonniem

Posted on Sunday, Jul 27, 2003 - 10:55 pm:

Yesterday evening my vet came out to treat my gelding's abscess. Apparently he had to dig pretty far up to find it, almost to the point of where he couldn't go any farther. After digging it out, he soaked it in epsom salt-betadine-water solution. He then instructed me to pour betadine into the hole, let it soak in, then add the cotton ball and cover with pine tar (to seal it), wrap with vetwrap, and reseal with pine tar. He seemed to be peppier and walking a little better this morning. But this evening, he was still sore, possibly as sore as he was before the vet. I removed the packing and soaked for 30 min. When I went to pour the betadine, it did not have a whole to sink into. With my finger I touched where I thought the hole should be, and there was soft and very sensative tissue. I covered it with cotton and wrapped it as my vet instructed. I'm wondering if this is normal? Is his tissue coming through because it doesn't have enough support from the cotton? Will his soundness/comfort improve if I add more cotton for support. My vet is leaving for vacation tomorrow, so I'd appreciate any advice from you, as it will be difficult to get in touch with him. Thanks!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 28, 2003 - 8:49 am:

It is not normal for the horse to show no improvement 24 hours after treatment and suggests either an incorrect diagnosis or that it is not draining well. Bonnie did your abscess drain puss when first cut open? Your scenrio is possible but I cannot judge from here. The cotton should be firm but not tight and should fill the hole coming up level with the weight bearing surface. You need to have this reevaluated if another 24 hours go by without improvement.
DrO
Member:
Bonniem

Posted on Monday, Jul 28, 2003 - 5:35 pm:

Thanks for your advice. I think his walking has improved slightly (I know it hasn't worsened). He will walk faster to the grain bucket and he's not holding the foot out front as much. He even has lifted his good front foot to stomp a fly. Maybe I'm expecting more improvement than I should? Unfortunately I did not see any drainage as the vet was digging it out because I was at the horse's head. He did mention the puss as he was at the hoof and I did see a puddle of blood. The tissue in the hole is still sensitive to the touch. From what I remember (without measuring it), the size of the sensitive tissue is an oval shape about the width of my little fingernail. Are they normally that large?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 29, 2003 - 6:25 am:

I am not able to evaluate whether the pared out area is appropriate or not from here and the size is not important, proper drainage and treatment is.
DrO
Member:
Bonniem

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 29, 2003 - 12:01 pm:

I think he's walking better this morning. I understand that it is hard for you to diagnose it. If my vet was not out of town, I would be consulting with him. Unfortunately, I live in an area that lacks equine veterinarian services, so consulting with another local vet is very difficult. This part of equine ownership is very discouraging. I love my horses but I often wonder if I should get out of horses for this reason. Thanks for your help.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 30, 2003 - 7:08 am:

Perhaps you could consider trailering the horse to get help?
DrO
New Member:
Hppyhrse

Posted on Friday, Oct 3, 2003 - 5:53 pm:

Hi,
I have a 12 year old paint mare, just purchased 3 weeks ago, who had an absess rupture just above the coronet band on the left bulb of her right front foot. There isn't a clear direction to the hole, but there is an additional hole directly at the center of the "V" where the frog enters the coronet band. We have treated this as many of the absesses described with epsom soaks, flushed with novilsan solution (diluted) packed with numatizine and gauze, then wrapped with vetwrap. Twice a day, began Monday (absesses the Thursday prior, but was on a hunting trip when it happenned and easy booted to get her out). It is now the following Friday (one week + 1 day since rupture) and she is still very sore. Isn't liking the soaks, possibly allergic (genetic predisposition) to penicillin, collic on the SMZ (only did one dose of 10 tabs to 1/2# COB grain), and lastly, is developing proud flesh at the site of the rupture. Not sure where to go from here, after 2 vets locally, I'm doing EVERYTHING they said, and she is still very lame, has swelling and heat as far up as 7 -8 in. up the leg around the tendon area of that leg, but not severe swelling. Looks like from the injury of the rupture, about the size of a quarter's worth of proud flesh forming, and VERY sore to flush and soak. Suggestions????
Karissa
Member:
Canyon28

Posted on Friday, Oct 3, 2003 - 10:22 pm:

Karissa, I think there is something in the wound. I bet she has a puncture wound from how you described it. If you were hunting or trail riding it could be a stob or a stick, glass, almost anything. I would have a vet do an xray to see what is in there. If she is still very sore and it sounds like she is, there must be something in the wound, especically the way you described her leg being hot and swelling. You know what it is like to have a splinter in your finger or hand. It gets hot, it hurts, even throbs, and gets red and pussy. Once the splinter is removed it is instant relief. I say there is a foreign object in the wound in her frog.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Oct 5, 2003 - 6:21 pm:

Christine could be correct or it may be an abscess that just cannot drain well. In either case the article associated with this forum describes how to go about diagnosing and treating cases of abscess/gravel that do not respond to soaking.
DrO
New Member:
Stvwhite

Posted on Monday, Sep 6, 2004 - 9:33 pm:

I have the same question that Bonnie posted.

"...With my finger I touched where I thought
the hole should be, and there was soft and very sensative tissue..."

I have a very similar case. Is it normal to have soft tissue pushing thru the paring hole site?

Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 7, 2004 - 9:16 am:

No Steven, that does not sound right see the article Equine Diseases » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Hoof Abscesses, Bruises, and Gravels for a description of prolapsed sole and information on how to prevent/treat it.
DrO
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