abscess :(

Back to Forum

Topic by doublelfarms

February 1, 2010 10:52AM

looking for quick survey data, for those who have had horses with abscesses - how long did it take to blow?

we're going on 10 days now and it's about ready to pop out the coronet band but still not gone, and after 7 days on bute I'm getting concerned for his stomach - what's your experiences? :( :(

our last one a few years back with another horse took about 2 weeks, and we poulticed twice a day, but it was low on the foot, this one is high so we aren't, ugh, poor guy is limping badly and there's not much we can do about it but wait - ugh!

Reply by Giantpony

February 1, 2010 12:34PM

I've waited 2 weeks before for one to blow and that was with soaking 2-3 times a day. I personally don't use bute for an abscess and I don't do stall rest for them either (like many people do).

What about having your farrier come and get the process started? Just a thought.

Poor horse... dare I ask who is the suffering party?

GP

Reply by doublelfarms

February 1, 2010 12:45PM

vet has been out, farrier has been out and both have done all they can already, when they are as big as he is, I don't like wasting time or second guessing on anything to do with feet

he's not on stall rest as I believe it's important to keep them moving at least a little bit to help get it out, but has been moved into a semi-private paddock with level ground, easy access to water and small companions to stop his being chased around since he's limping so badly and we don't want him mis-stepping and twisting something else in the process:(

you can guess exactly who, and he's taking it as well as can be expected, 2nd one this year on the same foot, for a horse that has never had them, let complete strangers pick it up and work with it

Reply by Giantpony

February 1, 2010 12:50PM

Sounds like you're doing all the things I would be doing. Soaking in as hot as water as is comfortable, as many times a day as is reasonable helps soften things and helps get the pressure relieved.

Hopefully someone else will have a magic solution for you and your big cutie! Give him a hug and carrot from me ;)

GP

Reply by TH

February 1, 2010 01:36PM

I had an appaloosa. We got him in late winter, in the spring and early summer we went through 8 abcesses. First his front feet (1 at a time) then his back feet (1 at a time) then when we though he was good, the whole process again!! :mad: :( We soaked in epsom salts and warm water, then cut animalintex (sp?) to fit the bottom of his hoof and up the back of his foot. Put that on then wrap with plastic (we used shavings bags) then duct tape. Usually pulled out after 2-3 days with the worst on about a week. Everyone kept telling us appy's had such good feet. I tell ya I was sick of abcesses! But then we changed barns to where the footing was all sand and I never had another problem with him. Changed barns again, and monitered his paddock (if it was too muddy he'd get turn out in the arena.) I sold him to another border at the barn and he wasn't too bad until this summer. Because it was so wet his new owners have now become pro's at abcesses lol ;) :)

Reply by Rachel

February 1, 2010 02:33PM

Yes, they can be stubborn and take upto 2 weeks to blow. I too try my best to lay off the bute as it has been shown to slow the process, but if they are really suffering I can see the need. It does sound like you are doing everything right by having him out and about. Like GP said, soaking as often as possible in as hot as possible will help soften things up. Sometimes they are just so darn deep seated. I am also a huge fan and believer in Animalintex. Wonderful stuff that really works but its not cheap. I think I went through $80 of it with Kaeli's abcess last fall (took 2 weeks to surface) I was concentrating on her coronet band and heels and don'tcha know it ended up blowing out her toe?? Good luck and hugs to your boy :(

Reply by SavingGrace

February 1, 2010 03:27PM

I have always turned them out etc. to let it blow. Especially in the winter when the snow keeps everything non muddy. ;)
Sometimes they take their time and thres not much to be done about that. I have done the poulticing and such and never found that it worked as good as keeping them moving outside. Once it has popped and is draining the Animalintex etc. routine was effective.

Hope he pops it soon!

Reply by stonehedge

February 1, 2010 06:48PM

I agree with everyone else with the bute ... it is a steroid based anti-inflammatory so just could prolong the whole process ...otherwise you are doing everything that can be done, poor guy and poor you .... it is so hard to feel powerless and we always want to be able to fix these things to give them some relief. I don't have a lot of experience but one of ours Abcessed a few years back and after we was drained we kept him in diapers for a few weeks and poulticed etc. The diapers are much cheaper. 12 -24 months fit like dream but it depends on your size.

Hope he pops ASAP.

Reply by xine

February 1, 2010 11:10PM

i had nimrod (the guest horse) in moon boots with diapers inside slathered with mag 60 after x-rays.
he's not lame now, but when the farrier comes, we'll see if his abscess needs digging out if it's not gone.
who ever came up with the 'healthy as a horse' saying? i'd like to smack them.
as far as blowing out at the coronet, gronwy always did it pretty fast. smelled awful, but he felt better when it blew. then i soaked some more with epsom salts.
xine.

Reply by doublelfarms

February 2, 2010 08:49PM

Well, the good news is it blew either late last night or early this morning and the limping is down to minimal! yah :) :) :)
The big guy is definitely relieved and doing better moving around (which is a relief for us as well).
He'll stay with his 'little buddies' a few more days until draining is done (although it already looks done, which seems odd) before he goes back to play with the 'big boys'!
thanks guys for your input and support, it's so good to see him feeling better!
LL

Reply by Giantpony

February 2, 2010 09:48PM

Great news LL!

I forgot to mention the sure fire way to get an abscess to pop... post about it on an online forum! ;)

Glad he's feeling a bit better and that you can now relax a bit! Yay :)

GP

Reply by Rachel

February 3, 2010 12:15PM

Wonderful to hear :)

Reply by stonehedge

February 3, 2010 12:38PM

Good to hear.... now watch for the heat in his lower leg but you knew that already.

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search•Log In
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.


Back to Forum