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boon
Posts: 4
Location: East Tennessee | Go to feed my horses yesterday morning to find my new mare lame, like extremely lame. Her whole leg up to her hock was swelled yesterday. No blood or anything anywhere. Heat around her heel. Today theres a place above her hoof that has bled and her heel looks bruised now. She has a place on her from from the time I got her that was kindly cut looking... I figured an abscess had come out when I got her. I've been soaking in Epsom salt. Yesterday morning after I soaked it I mixed very little water with Epsom salt and packed it all around her hoof and around the warm areas. That seemed to help it come on out. Any ideas on helping this healing process go quicker and easier for her? Do I keep wrapping, leave it open? Opinions and experiences greatly appreciated. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
Location: Lost in the swamps | I used to work in a vet clinic. And also I had both of my horse abscess In the SAME place at the SAME time on the SAME foot.(literally not joking!) Had to take one to the vet and get it drained because it would not come out. And the pus pocket was huge and deep! The other horse ruptured before the vet visit and his leg swelled. Usual corse is epsome salt multiple times a day till rupture,and continue to epsome for a few days after, keep foot wrapped to prevent crud and mud from getting in and making it worse. I also iodined mine after rupture. Call your vet to discuses findings. Bute for pain, and smz for possible infection. And if he hasn't had a tetanus. I would get one. And if you don't know how to properly apply a duct tape hoof wrap please google it! I've seen some people wrap crazy. |
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boon
Posts: 4
Location: East Tennessee | Thank you! I've dealt with abscesses before but never one in the area its in. She's got one place above her heel that's bled a lot and then also on her heel, which it has opened up and is draining puss. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 209
| My method for abscess that mainly coming from my vets recommendation. Soak the foot (in a bucket or feed pan) get the water as warm as the horse will tolerate it, only use warm water this will help draw out and kill the bacteria and mix in Epsom salt and soak the foot twice a day for like 20min. Some horses will stand some wont. Next mix some Epsom salt with iodine so its like a paste, pack this on the foot where the pus and drainage is coming out especially if it has been dug out a bit by a farrier or vet. Then use Animal Lintex (can find at TSC) its a poultice and will help draw things out as well. Place that on hoof then wrap with vet wrap to hold the animal lintex in place then duct tape over that. Please be careful when wrapping to not wrap too tight. But you want to make sure no dirt or anything gets in there and it stays covered. If you are able its best to change the bandage twice a day. Best of luck! |
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 Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
 
Location: Nebraska | a 5L IV bag works SO much better than a bucket for soaking! |
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 Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | If you can't get any IV bags gallon sized zip lock bags work amazingly well too. I just used the cheapy store brand ones. I put three on at a time because the horse will most likely paw and wear a hole in the plastic. I just tape it on around the pastern with electrical tape. I always got holes in my IV bags after 2 or 3 uses and zip lock baggies are easier for me to pick up at the store.
I pack the hoof with a mixture of sugar and betodine or iodine. Get some small diapers, pack the foot, put the diaper on, then put your duct tape boot over it. Works great! :)
I am battleing a nasty abscess with my horse that got a puncture wound up under his frog. We got the abscess under the frog pretty much all cleared up but now there is a new pocket under the sole that we just got opened up today so hopefully this is the end of it and my boy can start feeling better! The puncture happened over 3 weeks ago and he was three legged lame for nearly 2 weeks! He walks pretty good now but still has quite a limp. He has a medicine shoe on now so I don't have to wrap it every single day. I just unscrew the plate, pack it, then screw the plate back on. Works pretty slick. |
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boon
Posts: 4
Location: East Tennessee | It opened up and was draining this morning but not this evening. A friend said to take a syringe and stick it in where its draining and squirt peroxide in it to make sure it stays open... ever heard of that? |
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