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  Discussion on Hoof abcess
Author Message
Member:
Annes

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2004 - 1:55 pm:

Yesterday my TB had a hoof abcess cut out and it drained well. The area dug out was located in the groove beside the frog near the heel. The vet packed and bandaged his foot and I am giving him tucuprin (spelling ?)for three days along with bute. His lameness improved almost immediately. On Friday I am to start soaking 2X day with epson salt and warm water for 3 days. The vet said no need to bandage again after the first 3 days when I take the vet's bandage off. I read your article and it said continue to bandage for 14 days so I plan to do that. I have a pond and I will be sure he stays out of it but I also want to be sure the foot stays dry and infection free in case it rains. (Currently, he has vet wrap and duct tape on the bottom of his foot but I am bringing him in when it is wet). I have plenty of vet wrap and duct tape but thought something else would need to be used to keep his foot moisture free. I am sure I can improvise something but wanted to know if any of you have a tip on what you have used in the past. Should I just buy a boot? - Ann
P.S. -This hoof abcess did not have heat or swelling but he was suddenly VERY lame. Also, he did not respond positive to hoof testers so farrier did not think it was an abcess. The vet found it immediately.
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2004 - 3:49 pm:

Hi , I use diapers and duct tape the bottom and edges. I find it a lot cheaper than vet wrap and it fits the foot perfectly. Boots are great , but this is a great alternative.
Katrina
Member:
Terrilyn

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2004 - 4:04 pm:

Very similar discussion was on here a few weeks ago...was it Tips & Tricks or something like that? Anyway, lots of good ideas. I liked the one where someone used an old inner tube folded back onto itself and duct-taped above the hoof...a recent search should turn it up...
Member:
Shirl

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2004 - 4:04 pm:

Katrina, I've never tried diapers, but my horse, being Cushings, has abscesses from time to time. What size diapers do you use, the smallest? She's 1/2 quarter/arab. I've been putting the drawing stuff on cotton, then the gauze, followed by duct tape, and it's a 'pain' to say the least, specially when the back's not good! Thanks for the info. Shirl
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2004 - 6:26 am:

Hello Ann,
Though many hoof abscesses will heal by simply being pared out and no bandaging, it helps to prevent continued contamination, prolapse, and excessive granulation tissue. I have seen these problems develop as late as 2 weeks out so think it is best to protect that long.

There is a link in the article on abscesses that will lead you to how we bandage hooves, see Equine Diseases » First Aid » Bandaging Horses.
DrO
Member:
Annes

Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2004 - 12:01 pm:

Thanks Dr. O. I wasn't sure if the bandage described in the article would be water proof if he is outdoors when it rains. I am going to see if I can find a boot to fit. Thanks for the great site and articles! - Ann
Katrina - I plan to try the diaper suggestion too.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Apr 2, 2004 - 6:15 am:

I am afraid neither my bandage or the boots will stay dry when it rains.
DrO
Member:
Annes

Posted on Monday, Apr 5, 2004 - 2:52 pm:

Update...after soaking Fri night and Sat AM, the abscess burst out at the heel bulb - not a large place. Even though I know this happens, I was a little surprised since it had drained so well when the vet pared it out last Tues near the frog. I soaked and wrapped 2X a day over the weekend and called the vet today. He suggested 5 more days of soaking and using ichthammol under the wrapping. Also we are back on tucuprim for 5 days. I really hoped he would be 100% by now - I am letting him out with another horse during the day. He is still limping but much improved from last Tues. I do not have him on bute because I don't think he needs it now. Dr. O, I wanted you to know how much your bandage instructions helped me! It was so easy and fast, I was amazed. (I was not able to find a boot big enough for him at the local Coop.) I also used a large zip lock bag for soaking and that worked perfectly. He could walk around in the stall if he wanted and I didn't have to stand next to him like I would if he soaked in a bucket. Thanks for listening....
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Apr 5, 2004 - 10:40 pm:

Thanks Ann, it really helps me to know what helps.
DrO
Member:
Osakr

Posted on Sunday, Oct 16, 2005 - 6:40 am:

Dr.O,
I have a four year old mare who went lame suddenly and abscessed at the frog . This is been going on for some time (14 days) . We soaked the foot in epsom salt and the first abscess burst then a second developed which is next to the first one and also burst and then suddenly \i see pockets of abscesses all around the coronary band. She can't put any weight on her feet. I had started her on bute and she has been bandaged. Three days ago we saw what looked like a puncture wound from a nail. We had not noticed this before.I suppose this must have been the cause. She is not getting better and is developing too many abscesses. I will have an xray done tomorrow. I took pictures of the foot and was hoping to upload them but couldn't. Is it normal to have so many abscesses. What can I do She developed a fever for three days. She is on Penicillin .
Member:
Zane

Posted on Sunday, Oct 16, 2005 - 10:58 pm:

Omar not to scare you but follow the link below and you will see a post I have going on a very similar situation. It now appears this all may have started from a small hole in the sole that healed over. This was not apparent until the hoof came off and there was what appeared to be a point of entry.

Horseadvice.com » Equine Diseases » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Overview of Diagnosis and Diseases of the Foot »
Discussion on Horrible Hoof Disease? Injury?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Oct 17, 2005 - 8:16 am:

Omar it would be normal if you have not gotten to drain the source of the original abscess. Because it cannot drain itself out the horn it goes looking for the edge of the hoof and drain. If it does not find a way out quickly it can damage a lot of the foot. For more on all this see the article associated with this topic Hoof Abscesses, Bruises, and Gravels. You can select it off the navigation bar at the top of this discussion.
DrO
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