What is an abscess in a horses hoof

What is an abscess in a horses hoof

http://www.chacha.com/question/what-is-an-abscess-in-a-horses-hoof

An abscess is a collection of pus that has accumulated in a cavity formed by the tissue on the basis of an infectious process.

How to Treat Hoof Abscesses in Horses

http://www.ehow.com/how_4785248_treat-hoof-abscesses-horses.html?ref=Track2&utm_source=ask

･ 1 The first step is to locate the affected area. A pair of hoof testers is the quickest way to achieve… ･ 2 Once you have located the source of the infection, you need to decide if you can deal with it yourself… ･ 3 Before you begin, …

Why do you have to pick out horses hoofs because the can get a ab…?

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_do_you_have_to_pick_out_horses_hoofs_because_the_can_get_a_abscess&action=recommend&tid=2885

There are many things can happen to the bottom of a horses feet if they are not kept clean. Regular cleaning can prevent any of these things from happening.

Related Questions Answered on Y!Answers

I have some questions on hoof abscesses? (horses)?

Q: Okay…Ill start from the beginning. My friend left last monday to go to Texas and will be there until this upcoming monday. She asked me if I could ride her horse, Ridge, until she got back so he stayed in shape. Well, it rained all last week except for thursday, so I came out and rode on Thursday. He was great, didn’t show any signs of lameness and jumped beautifully. I ride him whenever my friend cant come because I also show him…Anywho, I went to the barn today in hopes of riding Ridge and then my own pony. I got ridge out of his stall, walked him over to the cross ties, same old same old. I tacked him up, picked out his hooves, and he showed no signs of pain at all. I got on him and rode him down to the ring and when I was walking around, he started limping a little bit. Im a huge worry wort and always think of the worst that can happen, so I immediatly got off and put him on the lunge line. I asked him to trot, and lone behold, he was limping on his foot. I walked him back to the barn and called my trainer. She came, and I showed her. I walked him around. Now he was limping even more. I tried to think back to what could have caused this. My trainer picked out his hoof (it was his left?) and said she didnt see anything. She said it was most likely and abscess… Im not really good with medical terms and stuff. I know basics, but not a lot. I called the vet and hes coming out tomorrow to look at him. The farrier will be there also, and he might look at him too. I then called my friend and left her a message letting her know that Im going to go tomorrow morning and find out whats going on.My question is, is there any way I could have caused this lameness? Something I possibly did wrong? Or was it just an accident, could have happened to any horse? Maybe he stepped on something…?I’ve seen a horse have treatment done for an abcess, but I was wondering how long it would take for him to fully recover and when my friend could start doing light work again? I dont know if its serious or not, but Im just really worried. 🙁 Hes a healthy horse, hes only 6-7 years old… How do abcesses even start and what exactly are they? Thanks in advance. C: & Sorry this is so long, I just wanted to be thorough, haha.

A: Simply put, an abscess is the way a hoof rids itself of dead cells and damaged tissue caused by trauma to the internal structures of the hoof. Much like a boil or pimple, pus forms and festers and sooner or later, out it comes. It can burst through the coronet, the sole, the bulbs, the frog or wherever it finds the easiest path. He could have simply stepped on a stone and bruised his foot and slowly an abscess formed.Most likely the vet or farrier will use hoof testers to find where he is sensitive. When they find the spot they may use a hoof knife and dig to try to expose the abscess so it can drain.From there everyone has their own ways of treating an abscess. Our farrier had us soak his foot everyday, squirt water up the hole and then used a batadine & sugar paste to pack the hole, then covered with gauze and wrapped with duck tape. Unfortunately after about a month the horse got another abscess and we had to try other options. way to long to go into.As for riding you may have to give him some time off . Your vet /farrier will be able to tell you more about that.Don’t panic, in most cases abscesses are easy to treat.

Horse hoof puncture, possible abscess?

Q: I started treatment right away after my horse stepped on a nail, following doctors orders and everything is going well. Temp normal, two more days of antibiotics, no lameness at all. Now she has a small lump forming on her heel bulb just above the coronet band. It is sensitive to the touch. I’m assuming that its an abscess forming. I kept her wrapped and packed with icthamol for four days, and just took her wrap for a day and what little swelling she had went away within hours, no heat in her hoof or leg either.Today that little lump is a lot less sensitive and its almost calloused over. If it doesn’t abscess or ever rupture, what will happen? Since she is not lame at all, when will she be safe for riding again?I’m not even sure that it truely is an abscess, I just assumed that it might be, but now that its shrinking and calloused, I’m not sure. She may have had that bump on her heel all along and I never even noticed it. It just became visible when I was soaking and wrapping her and her hoof was so moist all of the time. That’s why I stopped wrapping her, I felt that it was holding in too much moisture and might do more harm than good.

A: If I’m reading this right, she is still getting antibiotics for a couple more days. I assume she was also given a tetanus booster if it was needed when this happened. You could try soaking it in warm Epsom salts. If it is an abscess, the soak would soften the tissue to allow it to drain, and also help to draw it out. I’d do a couple soaks four hours apart and see if the lump returns, or if an abscess opens. If nothing shows up, and there is no lameness, I wouldn’t worry about it. Or, you could just call the vet and get some phone advice there.

Hoof abscess treatment?

Q: My farrier was out today and showed me where a abscess has formed on my horses hind hoof. I have been searching for some information on the net. For treatment, I am planning to soak it once a day in warm water and epsom salts, then apply some iodine to the hole and apply animalintex, a flat piece of hoof shaped plastic my farrier gave me(amyone knw what this is called?), and then bandage and duct tape it.Is this an okay treatment?I am very annoyed at myself for not noticing it sooner, I will not go through my excuses but would really appreciate your advice. As a first time horse owner, I am slightly freaking out. Help?

A: The act of using the animalintex is called poulticing. The farm where I keep my horse is really muddy and my horse is prone to abscesses unfortunately. After the farrier had made a hole for the abscess to drain I soak the hoof in a bucket of warm water with a few drops of iodine for 5 minutes or so. I soak a piece of animalintex in hot water then put it over the hole (shiny side up) vet wrap the hoof and then ductape the sole to stop the vet wrap wearing through. This was done twice a day whilst the abscess was still draining (basically whilst black smelly stuff was still coming out) and dropped to once a day for 2 or 3 days when it has finished draining. I then keep my horse on box rest for a week or so until the hole has had a chance to start closing. You definately made the right choice getting the farrier up! You’re doing all the rights things, don’t fret! Events like this are all part of being a horse owner. No need to freak! :o) x