Posted 2019-07-08 1:17 PM Subject: Suspected Abscess - Do you pull the shoe?
Veteran
Posts: 269
If your horse has a suspected abscess is his foot do you pull the shoe right away or leave it?
Had a horse come up severely lame about 3 days after a shoeing. I didn't find anything with hoof testers. Farrier couldn't come out right away, so I told him I was going to pull the shoe, test at the nails holes and treat like its an abscess whether I found anything or not. He told me there was no reason to pull the shoe. Curious what everyone else would have done.
Posted 2019-07-08 1:48 PM Subject: RE: Suspected Abscess - Do you pull the shoe?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 678 Location: Canada
Personally I wouldn't pull the shoe at this point in time. If it's an abscess removing the shoe isn't likely to help it now, and if it's not, having your horse walk around barefoot after being shod may cause bruising or an abscess. Futher to that if you just had the horse shod, removing the shoe so soon will leave little to nail the shoe back to when the horse is sound.
If once the abscess makes its way to where it's going to drain if the shoe is in the way then I'd pull it. At it stands if it was my horse I'd just treat as normal and see how it does.
Posted 2019-07-08 3:50 PM Subject: RE: Suspected Abscess - Do you pull the shoe?
Saint Stacey
I wouldn’t pull the shoe. It’s easier to pack with a shoe on. If it took three days for the horse to go lame, it’s doubtful a hot nail is the issue. Plus you don’t need to pull the shoe to test for a hot nail. Just get a pair of pliers and squeeze the nail hole.
Posted 2019-07-09 3:15 PM Subject: RE: Suspected Abscess - Do you pull the shoe?
You get what you give
Posts: 13030 Location: Texas
I pull them. But by the time I see them its because someone's brought it to me to address. But if I were you I would probably just start soaking the foot. Three days after being reset honestly a hot nail or close nail would totally be on my mind.