Ally has an abscess

[RipSpark]

On my way to drop the keys off to my car(broke down last night and had to get it towed) I noticed Ally was dead lame. I ran out and checked on her. Figured it was an abscess. When I got back she was laying down. She got up and went down again. I couldn't get her up that time. I gave her 2 grams of bute. A bit later she was up and I brought her in to a small paddock. I noticed a tiny blood coming out of her nose which was really odd(it stopped and haven't seen it since)...

I was going to call the vet(but last time she was a jerk to Ally and charged me $600 for the abscess), so I called the farrier. He ran over when he was in the area and said she has two abscesses. They are to far for him to dig out. He told me to wrap her and he would check her tomorrow or the next day. She was up and grazing but she went back down for a few hours. I gave her more bute this evening and she is up again.

There is a lot of filling in her leg. He told me not to be too concerned about it. Last time the vet was really worried about that but I have had quite a few problems with that vet(I no longer use) so I am not sure if I should be concerned about it. I am also worried because last time she ran a 104.5 fever and was in horrible shape. I want to call the vet but I tend to worry too much, so I am not sure if it is just me overreacting. Also it was odd when she stood up she was kicking her belly and acting funny. She is grazing and gut sounds are good...

[oursarge]

Is there another vet you can call? Last yr my Rompy was running a high temp, the vet put him on anti biotics and Banamine. We didn't know what was wrong with him then a couple days later an abcess showed up. The vet said the abcess caused the fever, the farrier said the fever caused the abcess. I don't know what caused what but I know he was not feeling good at all. He wasn't bleeding from anywhere though. That sounds scary. I tend to panic so I call the vet for everything. Hopefully all will be well.

[RipSpark]

Yeah I have another vet now I can call. The farrier and another guy at the farm said most likely her nose bleed came from her banging her head. Think maybe she knocked her nose when she was getting up. It was just a tad and after that there hasn't been any more.

[natisha]

Can you try soaking the foot in water as hot as you can stand & epsom salts? That will help draw it out.

[oursarge]

Oh good, the blood part really scared me. Maybe when she was laying down her nose hit the ground. Rompy had us really scared last yr because it wasn't colic, didn't know what it was. Then the abcess came out. The anti biotics knocked the fever down though. We had to take his temp twice a day and he wasn't amused. My old horse never had these issues, he was healthy for the 15 yrs I had him then he coliced and I lost him but before that the vet was only here a few times because of his eyes. These guys always seem to have an issue. Good luck, hope all will be fine. Hope someone who knows something will come on here and help.

[RipSpark]

I will try that tomorrow morning. I don't have anyone here to help hold her though and last time soaking was a HUGE battle. Even with some tranq. Apparently she has a huge fear of putting her giant hoof in water to soak.

I am really concerned tonight and wondering if I should get the vet out tonight. Grr I worry so much. The farrier said there was no reason to have the vet out but I am concerned with how she is acting.

[oursarge]

Natisha and I posted at the same time, she knows alot more than I do about everything. I think you should listen to your gut and call the vet. Rompy never laid down when he had the abcess, he had the temp and was limping but stayed on his feet. My farrier uses something called Thrush Buster and that really helps the abcess, we used that on Sarge when he had one [He did lay down alot but he lays down alot anyway, loves to sun bathe] and he was better pretty fast, he wasn't as sick as Rompy though. I had the vet here two days in a row for him I was in a panic. He was OK as long as the Banamine was in him but when that wore off he was sick again refusing to eat and when he doesn't eat you know there is a problem. I'd have the man live here because I worry so much. If it would make you feel better call the vet, it's better to have a false alarm than a real emergency.

[walkinthewalk]

I would try to find another vet "five minutes ago" if possible.

If the horse's leg is still swollen, that is also something to be concerned about, contrary to what the farrier thinks.

Adding the fevers to these other issues would make me worry a lot about founder. I am not sure I would want her on grass right now, but maybe in a dry lot or roundpen if you have that option.

Regardless, the best thing would be to let a vet look at your horse.

Good luck:cowboy:

[natisha]

Natisha and I posted at the same time, she knows alot more than I do about everything. . Stop that

[RipSpark]

Well the vet just left. He agreed with the farrier and said they are too deep in there but he gave her some bute/banamine and tetracycline to make her more comfortable. He is coming out again tomorrow for a repeat and to bring me some bags to soak her hoof.

[lisakaye]

I am going through this with Easter akthough she didn't have an abcess she cut her hoof on the cornet band from one side to the other. This is what the vet told me. Only soak the hoof if you think it is an abces and then use warm water with epsom salt. Soak for 5 to 10 minutes 3 x daily. wrap both hooves with vet wrap and cotton cloths to prevent the other leg from swelling. If you wrap one you should wrap both because the horse will favor the other and cause swelling. Bute 2x day but take temp before giving. and monitor if goes up or down. Monitor food intake and output. Stall for 5 days with only hand walking to keep legs moving. SMZ 15 pills 2x daily 10 days. unwrap and rinse with betadine then dry thouroughly before rewrapping 2x day until it heals over. Easter's is pretty bad and she would've gotten stitched if it had been anywhere else. I hope this helps and I hope she heals quickly. Good luck.

[oursarge]

Stop that

It's true, I go through this stuff 1/2 blind because I never dealt with horse illnesses before the 2 bandits I have now. You know so much. Our mare will go lame sometimes from kicking when she's in heat but my friend deals with that stuff since she lives there. I go into panic mode when something happens to the 2 here. I call the vet so much between the horses and dog they know my voice when I call! He also knows when I call it is important and he always comes. There was a place for sale near his house, I wanted to buy it, I was teasing him I'd be his worst nightmare!

I was so lucky when I had Dommie, I didn't know 1/2 the things that can go wrong and they happen so fast! I might go overboard calling the vet but yet I don't know things and I'm afraid if I ignore it then it'll go real wrong. I always tell him I hate to bother him but he has told me to call, he'd rather deal with something in the beginning than wait and have the horse or other animal get to the point he can't help. He's a real nice guy I just wish I didn't have to see him so much!