Posted 2018-07-10 10:01 AM Subject: Abscess aftercare thoughts
The One
Posts: 7997 Location: South Georgia
Three weeks ago, I came out to a dead lame horse. Next couple days, farrier opened a small (dime size) area near toe on sole side. It drained for 3 days. I kept it wrapped with Animalintex pads. Lameness was gone. Sore, but not lame. I have kept it wrapped for the last 3 weeks and I have flushed it with Betadine daily. I can “hardly” get any in now. So, how long do I have to keep this wrapped for turnout? One vet says keep it wrapped until hoof grows in. Other says it is probably fine and to leave wrap off and just continue cleaning daily. I don’t know which to go with. He is stalled under fans during the day and out at night with a wrap. I remove the wrap while stalled. I’m just over it! LOL I should have bought stock in Duck tape and vet wrap. So over it. Thoughts? It’s the south, so we have rain most afternoons in the summer, so there is a little mud in areas daily out there. (THIS IS PIC DAY IT WAS OPENED. IT HAS GROWN IN SOME)
I think after 3 weeks your safe to let it go unwrapped. Really and truly that was probably too long. Think of it like a wound...they need air. Wrapping traps moisture and heat which creates a breeding ground for bacteria.
If you’ll take some Magic Cushion and press it into the hole it will usually stay in on it’s own without a wrap. I usually cover it with brown paper when I pack it in. It will cure and firm up a little and the paper will fall off.
If you don’t want to do them MC I would leave it unwrapped and just make sure dirt isn’t jamming up into it’ll. Clean it twice per day and flush with ACV, tea tree oil or a Mastitis tube
Abscess aftercare thoughts
