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  Discussion on Keeping an abscess away
Author Message
Member:
Ella

Posted on Thursday, Oct 19, 2006 - 10:40 am:

I bought my Draft Cross last winter. You may remember that I was concerned about purchase because he had had abscesses on both front feet. He was barefoot and had approximately 1 inch cracks in the very front of his foot. Both front feet had gotten bacteria through these cracks and abscessed. Well, he got better and I purchased him. He is wonderful by the way. I have kept shoes on him all summer and one crack has grown out completely the other has about a 1/2 inch crack remaining.

We are in Maine. I usually pull shoes for the winter. I am concerned that by pulling the shoes I will be setting him up for another abscess in the front feet. Especially in the foot where the crack remains.

Is there anything I can do to minimize this possibility or should I leave shoes on him for the winter. I would like to pull them if it is going to be o.k. for him.

Ella :-)
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Thursday, Oct 19, 2006 - 11:47 am:

Ella, do you have a rasp of your own? If you can keep the two sides of the crack from touching the ground (rasp a little every week to keep it up) until the crack grows out, I don't think you'll have any more splitting. Alwo, if you can rasp the crack vertically from the top and round the bottom edge where the two sides of the horn meet, that will help. If you squirt an antibacterial or thrush med on the crack and the underside of the crack regularly, I would think that it would help, as well.
I'm not an expert, but I do trim my own horses, and that is what I have done for my guys in the past.
Member:
Ella

Posted on Thursday, Oct 19, 2006 - 12:58 pm:

I worry about messing up with a rasp (don't want to make mistakes that will hurt him) but don't mind trying if it will help. I like the idea of squirting and antibacterial or something in regularly. That should help too. Thanks for the suggestions!
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