Deep Hoof Abcess

horseloverinVA · 08-25-2008, 10:51 AM

I need advice on abcess care. I've dealt with abcesses in the past, no problem. But my appy has had an abcess for 2 weeks. It is way up in his hoof. The vet dug it out 2 times but never could reach it. He has this big hole in his hoof. He was being soaked twice daily for the first 5 days with epsom salt. Then the hole was packed with cotton, betadine and wrapped, he was on bute for a few days. After day 5 vet said soak once a day for 6 days. Well day 6 has come and gone. My boy still has a limp. He will move and walk now, but still very gimpy. I'm going to call the vet tommorow again, he's out of town today and I just don't have much faith in the other vet partner after some past issues.

Any other suggections on this nasty abcess?

**gbarmranch** · 08-25-2008, 11:16 AM

Try some ichthomal... it is like tar so wear gloves.. but clean it the hoof, pack it with ichthomal, put a pad of some kind (feminine or disposable diapers - cut to fit) - vet wrap and duct tape... it will draw the infection out of the abcess..

We have had stone bruises in the past that have gone high.. we used the ich with soaking in epsom salts each day during the change of the pad time.. and it does help..

rivervu2 · 08-25-2008, 12:18 PM

I had a gelding years ago who would abcess 2-3x a year. Usually it was a deep infection that I would have to soak, etc. I would put the horse on a course of antibiotics as my vet felt that it would force the infection out. The deep ones sometimes exited at the top of the foot! My horse would go from 3 legged lame to almost sound instantly.

horseloverinVA · 08-25-2008, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbarmranch

Try some ichthomal... it is like tar so wear gloves.. but clean it the hoof, pack it with ichthomal, put a pad of some kind (feminine or disposable diapers - cut to fit) - vet wrap and duct tape... it will draw the infection out of the abcess..

We have had stone bruises in the past that have gone high.. we used the ich with soaking in epsom salts each day during the change of the pad time.. and it does help..

This is new for me, can I get it at TSC?

horseloverinVA · 08-25-2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rivervu2

I had a gelding years ago who would abcess 2-3x a year. Usually it was a deep infection that I would have to soak, etc. I would put the horse on a course of antibiotics as my vet felt that it would force the infection out. The deep ones sometimes exited at the top of the foot! My horse would go from 3 legged lame to almost sound instantly.

I'll see what my vet can do when he gets back in town in the morning! Maybe he can give something in that line!

**gbarmranch** · 08-25-2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horseloverinVA

This is new for me, can I get it at TSC?

You should be able to.. it is not a prescription item - it is a drawing agent..

Get some latex gloves at the same time though - it is sticky..

Anitbiotics is not a bad idea.. along with continuation of bute and cold hosing.. Wendy had two last year - one did exit by the cornary band.. finally.. took 3 weeks to work its way out..

kanoo32 · 08-25-2008, 01:33 PM

Antibiotics...........Will dry up the infection from theinside out. Bute for pain.

RedHotTamale17 · 08-25-2008, 09:55 PM

horselover.... i have had the SAME problem...the icthamol does help and you CAN get it from TSC I am still batteling with my appy's abcess. You can also get something called "sole pack" it is an icthamol, pine tar iodine mixture in a paste form...comes in a pack should be no more than $2 You can pack the hole with that as well and leave it in for a few days, just be sure to wrap the foot so it stays in....i have found that it is not as oily as the icthamol so it does draw the fluid out without making them too soft....my problem is that icthamol is also used to "soften" hard hooves so even though it draws out the fluid it also softens the soles as well. also you can make a poltice with epsome salt and iodine....pack the sole with the poltice and wrap...i have also found soaking in warm water and epsom salt helps as well. My appy had double abcess so on teh one that has healed i have been applying "tuff hoof" from jeffers.com to toughen the area back up.....i guess its just that time of year b/c i have been batteling abcess for several weeks now with a few different horses and my appy has seen the worse....hope this helps and good luck!

**gbarmranch** · 08-26-2008, 05:31 AM

RHT, does TSC have those packs.. with the dry weather (well, until yesterday

) we have had a few sore tootsies this year.. those sound like something to keep on hand..

randy_dani · 08-26-2008, 06:02 AM

My Appy had one of those deep ones this spring and it took about 2 month to get rid of it completely. Two long months of soaking in epsom salt and packing with ichthammol like everybody already mentioned. I did not use bute, because it tends to slow the process down some and you can't quite tell if he is still lame or not. Everytime I thought he was better the next day he was lame again and we started the same routine over. His abcess drained 5 times through the coronet band at the heel of his hoof. I found that a soaking boot worked best for him. We soaked with epsom salt for about 20-30 min. , then dried the hoof and inside of boot(you need someone to help you hold the hoof while you dry the boot and hoof or buy a second boot), packed his hoof with ichthammol and stuck it back in the boot. No wrapping coming undone etc. We did this twice a day-in the morning and in the evening.
Slow process. but it worked.
BTW the first abcess didn't bust until 2-3 weeks after I started soaking- some just take longer to surface.
Also you want to make sure to put some ichthammol allover the outside of the hoof to, I found that to speed it up some too and not all abcesses will surface at the sole.

**seerfarm** · 08-26-2008, 09:30 AM

For anyone interested....these come in mighty handy.

You can also get larger square ones to accomodate other type wounds.

http://www.rrvp.com/midwestvet/animalintexhoofpad.htm

RedHotTamale17 · 08-26-2008, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbarmranch

RHT, does TSC have those packs.. with the dry weather (well, until yesterday

) we have had a few sore tootsies this year.. those sound like something to keep on hand..

I have not seen the sole packs at TSC...i bought them from a family owned feed store....im sure that some tack/ feed stores will have them and some TSC may have them but i know that ours doesnt carry them. This is a link to the maker of sole pack....maybe this will help... the packs i bought were just little packages they are not pictured in this link...but im sure it is the same stuff pictured in the containter....like i said they only cost me $1.69 per pack.
Good luck to all!
Im feeling your abcess pain and headaches!

http://www.farrierproducts.com/hawthorne.html

**gbarmranch** · 08-26-2008, 06:16 PM

Thanks.. I will hunt around on the websites.. if I find them, I will post a link...

HLVA, how did it go.. are you covered in tarry goo.. hopefully it has helped him a bit already..

horseloverinVA · 08-26-2008, 07:04 PM

I am not covered GBar, however, my fiance wasn't so lucky!

My appy was being tempermental this morning, so we tied him up and I held his foot while Asa(my bf) shoved the packing in. He had on gloves but was still attacked by goo!

It came off mostly with mechanics hand cleaner though, so he was lucky! We'll undo it tom and see how it looks! Thanks for the idea!

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08-25-2008, 10:51 AM
horseloverinVA Started Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Central, Virginia Posts: 2,175	Deep Hoof Abcess I need advice on abcess care. I've dealt with abcesses in the past, no problem. But my appy has had an abcess for 2 weeks. It is way up in his hoof. The vet dug it out 2 times but never could reach it. He has this big hole in his hoof. He was being soaked twice daily for the first 5 days with epsom salt. Then the hole was packed with cotton, betadine and wrapped, he was on bute for a few days. After day 5 vet said soak once a day for 6 days. Well day 6 has come and gone. My boy still has a limp. He will move and walk now, but still very gimpy. I'm going to call the vet tommorow again, he's out of town today and I just don't have much faith in the other vet partner after some past issues. Any other suggections on this nasty abcess? __________________ A horse can lend its rider the speed and strength he or she lacks, but the rider who is wise remembers it is no more than a loan. Pam Brown

08-25-2008, 11:16 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 29,240	Try some ichthomal... it is like tar so wear gloves.. but clean it the hoof, pack it with ichthomal, put a pad of some kind (feminine or disposable diapers - cut to fit) - vet wrap and duct tape... it will draw the infection out of the abcess.. We have had stone bruises in the past that have gone high.. we used the ich with soaking in epsom salts each day during the change of the pad time.. and it does help.. __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles. ~Author Unknown

08-25-2008, 12:18 PM
rivervu2 Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 1,003	I had a gelding years ago who would abcess 2-3x a year. Usually it was a deep infection that I would have to soak, etc. I would put the horse on a course of antibiotics as my vet felt that it would force the infection out. The deep ones sometimes exited at the top of the foot! My horse would go from 3 legged lame to almost sound instantly.

08-25-2008, 01:33 PM
kanoo32 Started Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,432	Antibiotics...........Will dry up the infection from theinside out. Bute for pain. __________________ Even if your on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there!

08-25-2008, 09:55 PM
RedHotTamale17 Newborn Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 28	horselover.... i have had the SAME problem...the icthamol does help and you CAN get it from TSC I am still batteling with my appy's abcess. You can also get something called "sole pack" it is an icthamol, pine tar iodine mixture in a paste form...comes in a pack should be no more than $2 You can pack the hole with that as well and leave it in for a few days, just be sure to wrap the foot so it stays in....i have found that it is not as oily as the icthamol so it does draw the fluid out without making them too soft....my problem is that icthamol is also used to "soften" hard hooves so even though it draws out the fluid it also softens the soles as well. also you can make a poltice with epsome salt and iodine....pack the sole with the poltice and wrap...i have also found soaking in warm water and epsom salt helps as well. My appy had double abcess so on teh one that has healed i have been applying "tuff hoof" from jeffers.com to toughen the area back up.....i guess its just that time of year b/c i have been batteling abcess for several weeks now with a few different horses and my appy has seen the worse....hope this helps and good luck! __________________ Amanda Wolfe- Windy Wood Farms (Lexington SC) http://www.windywoodfarms.bravehost.com A horse is the projection of people's dreams about themselves - strong, powerful, beautiful - and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence -- Pam Brown

08-26-2008, 05:31 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 29,240	RHT, does TSC have those packs.. with the dry weather (well, until yesterday ) we have had a few sore tootsies this year.. those sound like something to keep on hand.. __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles. ~Author Unknown

08-26-2008, 06:02 AM
randy_dani Halter broke Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 89	My Appy had one of those deep ones this spring and it took about 2 month to get rid of it completely. Two long months of soaking in epsom salt and packing with ichthammol like everybody already mentioned. I did not use bute, because it tends to slow the process down some and you can't quite tell if he is still lame or not. Everytime I thought he was better the next day he was lame again and we started the same routine over. His abcess drained 5 times through the coronet band at the heel of his hoof. I found that a soaking boot worked best for him. We soaked with epsom salt for about 20-30 min. , then dried the hoof and inside of boot(you need someone to help you hold the hoof while you dry the boot and hoof or buy a second boot), packed his hoof with ichthammol and stuck it back in the boot. No wrapping coming undone etc. We did this twice a day-in the morning and in the evening. Slow process. but it worked. BTW the first abcess didn't bust until 2-3 weeks after I started soaking- some just take longer to surface. Also you want to make sure to put some ichthammol allover the outside of the hoof to, I found that to speed it up some too and not all abcesses will surface at the sole.

08-26-2008, 09:30 AM
seerfarm Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portal, Ga Posts: 7,844	For anyone interested....these come in mighty handy. You can also get larger square ones to accomodate other type wounds. http://www.rrvp.com/midwestvet/animalintexhoofpad.htm __________________ The man who questions opinions is wise. The man who quarrels with facts is a fool.

08-26-2008, 06:16 PM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 29,240	Thanks.. I will hunt around on the websites.. if I find them, I will post a link... HLVA, how did it go.. are you covered in tarry goo.. hopefully it has helped him a bit already.. __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles. ~Author Unknown

08-26-2008, 07:04 PM
horseloverinVA Started Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Central, Virginia Posts: 2,175	I am not covered GBar, however, my fiance wasn't so lucky! My appy was being tempermental this morning, so we tied him up and I held his foot while Asa(my bf) shoved the packing in. He had on gloves but was still attacked by goo! It came off mostly with mechanics hand cleaner though, so he was lucky! We'll undo it tom and see how it looks! Thanks for the idea! __________________ A horse can lend its rider the speed and strength he or she lacks, but the rider who is wise remembers it is no more than a loan. Pam Brown