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  Discussion on Bad heel bruise with abscess
Author Message
Member:
Dawn

Posted on Monday, Oct 4, 2004 - 2:02 pm:

Dear Dr. O:

Nearly three weeks ago, my gelding Poker stepped hard on a thin blunt object with the outside rear left bottom heel wall while galloping about wildly and became very lame. I had the vet out two days later, whereas an abscess had popped that morning above the coronary, which eventually became about an inch and a half wide.
The vet pared a small hole in the sole to remove blood, with improvement to the lameness grade, but still quite lame for another two days. I wrapped/soaked/treated the abscess and coronary wound as recommended for two weeks after that, and while there has been steady improvement, the horse is still slightly sensitive if you press on the outside hoof wall directly under the coronary break. This area was "soft/spongy" to the touch, unlike the rest of his rock-hard outside hoof wall. The underlying pared sole has closed up, so I stopped wrapping/soaking to let the foot dry up last Friday. The soft area under the coronary is getting smaller and the hoof wall is getting harder but leaves an icky hoof odor on my finger when I touch it; however, the wound looks like it is healing up now (finally!) that it is drying. Since I know that the abscess was caused by a bad bruise, should I remain patient with the soreness, or should I be evaluating if there is still drainage that needs to be released? Is it normal for this soft area to be present? To soak or not to soak, since more soaking makes more softness?? The horse will put full weight on the foot and is sound at the walk, but still is protecting the heel at the trot. Is it likely that he is just still a little sore from the bruise, or does this indicate that the problem is not clearing up as well as I had hoped?

P.S. I live in Florida and have been dodging hurricanes all summer. Last week, we got a tremendous amount of wind and rain from Hurricane Jeanne and I was forced to turn the horses out into a very wet pasture for a day their safety, with no way to keep the foot dry. The next day I was able to resoak/rewrap/retreat and keep the foot dry for the last week.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 5, 2004 - 7:10 am:

It could be 3 things Dawn:
1. Unresolved abscess
2. Ongoing bruise
3. Other injury that occured but as yet undiagnosed.

From here I cannot tell you which is occuring. However if all the drainage areas are sealed up I suspect the bruised areas are stiil not healed and as long as progress is being made, you should be encouraged and soaking will probably not be helpful, unless it re-abscesses. With a heel wound the horse may not be sound until it is healed.
DrO
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