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  Discussion on Abscess problems
Author Message
Member:
Kiwi

Posted on Saturday, Sep 18, 2004 - 7:13 pm:

My horse came up slightly lame at the trot three weeks ago. Found a sore spot on the heel, very sensitive, so farrier made a drain track, and some black pus came out. Soaked foot for a week but still off. Farrier came out again and cut out pad on the bottom of the foot and said frog was bad. Soak again for another week. Horse became sound so I stopped soaking treaments and started to dry it up with iodine packing. Horse was put back into work for two days (light) came back severly lame the next. Refused to even pick up the foot let alone he jumped when the slightest touch was applied to the outside heel area. He is basically three legged lame. Farrier again said due to the coloration of the heel, he has a very bad bruise and possible smoldering abscess deep within the foot. Said to start soaks again. One week later, the horse is now the same and refuses to pick up the injuried foot for fear of me touching heel. Farrier said he could not put in a drain tract and best to wait it out for it to pop. He said this can be as long as several weeks. I've called my vet last week and he concurred with the farrier (both of them talked over the phone) and said to wait it out. I'm concerned since he never pulled the shoe (just cut the pad out around the frog/heel area)and the horse has not shown signs of improvement? Should I call a second vet for an opinion at this point? I thought it was the best thing to cut open a tract to drain the abscess?

Thanks for all answers
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Sep 19, 2004 - 8:37 am:

If you don't cut it open to get it to drain you get what you have now Sandy: waiting for it to pop our some where. The problem most likely is that the abscess was not thoroughly rooted out or dirt has packed up and not premitting it to drain. Also you should consider prolapsed corium through the whole in the sole. This is all explained in the article on abscesses. But also important to consider is a second abscess. You need a thorough exam but it sounds like the farrier and vet do not believe the horse will allow it. I agree if they will not come out and try you need to find someone who will.
DrO
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