abscess

[cheval]

Solon had a HUGE abscess blow a couple of weeks ago. I mean this was THE abscesses of abscesses. But I was reading a thread on h.com and it never even occurred to me if there is going to be any issues once it starts growing out.

My farrier saw it and never really mentioned anything about it. I'll get some pictures and post them. It was the grossest thing ever. It's about 2 inches long or so and right at the top of the hoof. There was a lot of what looked like a tear in the fleshy area too. But I kept it clean and it has scabbed over nicely and started healing.

Any thoughts? The ones he's had have always blown out the bottom. So there was never any real concern about growing out issues.

[Cat]

Any photos?

If the cornet band was injured it could cause a dip or even a crack in the hoof at that area - however those are usually manageable if you take the proper steps. You may also have the problem of part of the wall chunking off when it grows out.

What question I would be asking is why is he having abscesses? It sounds like this was not the first.

[WashingtonBay]

I look forward to seeing the pictures and discussion about them. I don't know the answer. I've seen some pretty serious looking coronet band and hoof injuries heal though, online anyway.... not had to deal with it in person.

I hope we can recruit a couple of the farriers over here!

[cloedoll]

I am no help, but interested in seeing pictures and learning. Sorry about the pony, hope it grows out good and all...I really dunno what to say since I'm clueless about this stuff. =/

[cheval]

It's wicked nasty, even now that it's healing. I'll get pictures tomorrow.

It's right on the front of the hoof. Chunks falling off sounds REALLY bad. :eek:

[Palogal]

My friend is a veterinary nurse so of course when anyone's horse gets hurt they bring it to her. Anyway, she had a TB that had one blow out through the cornet and yeah it was nasty for a long time. It healed just fine though, took a little longer for him to stop showing lameness but it did heal just like it was before.

[Country Girl 43]

OH my, I hope he is going to be OK. That sounds terrible!

Maybe we should try to get Houston Farrier over here????

[Equine_Woman]

Well of course, him being a huge horsey, he'd have a huge abscess!!!! I've never dealt with abscesses (knock on wood) so I'm no help!!! Hope it goes smoothly for him!! Is he lame?

[All4Grace]

My sisters old mare blew an absess so large that it took me 3 months, x-rays, infections and all heck to get it to heal. The infection looked like it have gone into the bone and we were afraid she'd have to be put down. But my anal retentive care of her foot and a serious course of antibiotics pulled her through.

I HIGHLY recommend doing the diaper bootie to keep it as clean as possible until it completely heals. Leah (mare) was a big girl (not quite as large as Solon) but 17.2hh mack truck like build, we had to buy toddler sized diapers!!!

Good Luck!

[KCandAllegro'sMom]

Poor, poor Solon!

KC had one inside his hoof over the summer, but the farrier dug it out and I made sure to keep it clean.

I don't know anything about them growing on the outside of the hoof. I hope it heals fast and easy!

[SedonaThunder]

Poor Solon! I haven't personally had one blow at the front of the coronet but Thunder blew that one at the top of his heel bulb last Feb. The hoof (horn/hard part) was completely separated from the tissue underneath and I was sooo worried about keeping it clean and how long he'd be unable to be ridden. As it was - he was running around within weeks and was ridden a month later... it was amazing how that hoof healed itself and how the "new hoof" appeared underneath.

As for the front coronet blows... I have seen a couple of them growing out and you can see the big line, or sometimes a sort of linear dent/hole, grow all the way down to the ground. A friend of mine's horse who had one of these did have the chunk break off when it got about an inch from the ground so he had to shoe it for protection - but once the wall hit the ground he was back to barefoot and good as new.

[cheval]

He's always had them. Something to do with a lot of weight on his four dinner plate size feet or something. Not really sure. I've talked with several people that have said abscesses can be normal in drafts for that reason.

He has regular hoof care and when we walk across any gravel I try to make sure his feet are cleaned after. He got loose one day just before the abscess started and had been wandering around the property. I wasn't told just how long he'd been out and about (three hours). I ended up digging a huge rock out of the side of his frog and after that he got lame and then after several soakings and diaper wraps it BLEW.

I'll get some pictures today.

[Blue]

I'm of no help...but I hope it grows out okay! I missed the thread about him having an abcess (just goes to show you...haha).

[IrisGreen]

I think I remember a farrier talking about bruises and how they can turn in to abscesses on H.com. So barefoot horses should be booted if they are sensitive to rocks and things so they don't get bruised inside or under there feet. Even hitting a log with a hoof can make a bruise under there and cause it to abscess and blow out.

I'm not for sure on this but I think I remember something like that. Wish Solon you wouldn't be able to see the bruise because his feet are black.

I would make sure there is nothing for him to bang his feet on and avoid riding on rocks period if you can. Sounds like he has sensitive feet if he abscesses on a regular basis.

That big rock you picked out could have bruised him deep inside his hoof and that is why he abscessed out the top.

Too bad they don't have hoof boots in his size for you to put on him when you ride. Maybe you could duct tape a pad to the bottom of his feet when you go out to ride to protect them from rocks and give them some cushion against the ground so they don't get bruised? It wouldn't be pretty but you could get black duct tape and some 1 thick soft foam at a craft store, cut it to size and fit it to cover the bottom of his hoof?

Just some ideas.

[APPYT]

You shouldn't have any problems with this growing out. My QH had a similar abscess burst right at the top of the hoofwall(c-band) and he had a crack all the way to the ground. The good thing is that since then his crack is gone. :)

Just keep an eye on it and be sure to put a good bevel on the toes to ensure good breakover and to remove any flaring from the toe. Do this all around as needed. Large horses like drafts seem to flare easily and some people think that is normal. It's not something you have to live with. So be sure to do a strong bevel when the crack gets near the ground.

[cheval]

Okay here are the pictures. They were done with a camera phone so they aren't that great. The batteries in my camera went dead... of course.

http://xf2.xanga.com/65bc64e169231214353052/m167498235.jpg

http://xef.xanga.com/38bc611b69c31214353061/m167498242.jpg

[cheval]

I think I remember a farrier talking about bruises and how they can turn in to abscesses on H.com. So barefoot horses should be booted if they are sensitive to rocks and things so they don't get bruised inside or under there feet. Even hitting a log with a hoof can make a bruise under there and cause it to abscess and blow out.



They don't make elephant sized boots unfortunately!

[lovesfortune]

Sorry, add me to the bunch that would LOVE to help, but knows nothing about abcesses. Where's HoustonFarrier when we need him?

[WashingtonBay]

Oh - those don't look as bad as I've seen, at all. I know they're bad when it's your horse, and I'm sure it's of some worry that as that line grows down it won't be strong, but I think your farrier can help ensure it hangs on until it's OK to come off. I think it's actually a good thing that it's around toward the quarter and not right on the toe... isn't it?

[HoustonFarrier]

He's always had them. Something to do with a lot of weight on his four dinner plate size feet or something. Not really sure. I've talked with several people that have said abscesses can be normal in drafts for that reason

I would disagree with that entire statement. In the last 11 years of owning, showing, shoeing drafts.........I have had ONE abscess on my own personal horses(my own fault...I did not trim him when I should have)........ONE on a regular client horse (after he foundered). If the big guy is popping abcsesses on a regular or semi-regular basis, something is amiss.

Steve

[vicklynn]

Well, I sure hope he heals up fine for you.

Never delt with an abcess(knock on wood). What causes them.

[Diane of Buck's Hollow]

I hope he heals Chevel. I am worried about our two horses. We do have some rocks in the pasture and the horses don't seem to mind them...but still I am concerned about bruises and such.

[barngal]

My mare had a similar blowout in her hoof several years ago. She had been sore for some time with nothing showing or hurting on the bottom of her hoof (according to the farrier). Then, one day there was a lot of black crud draining down the outside of her hoof and she was walking fine on it. All i did was keep it clean and all that is left is a little grove.That was the one and only time she had that happen but now as she gets older she tends to abcess around the bars in her feet. Hopefully additional trimming inbetween farrier visits will help.

Houston Farrier, I just saw a Houston AC that had a gray horse with a huge abcess. (It later became a Mounted Patrol horse.) You used something that resembled epoxy tubes that was medicated and like rubber when dry. What was that? I wish the segment showed more of that treatment. Quite interesting, good job.

[HoustonFarrier]

Houston Farrier, I just saw a Houston AC that had a gray horse with a huge abcess. (It later became a Mounted Patrol horse.) You used something that resembled epoxy tubes that was medicated and like rubber when dry. What was that? I wish the segment showed more of that treatment. Quite interesting, good job.

I wish they would too...that's some real fine work I'm doing there !! LOL

What I did, after I relieved the abscess, and removed the false sole that was there, I put a plain old keg shoe on her, and I filled in the bottom with Copper Sulphate Vettec instant pad material. Copper sulphate inhibits pathogen growth so no thrush etc can grow.

Steve

[cheval]

What could be amiss? When I ride, it's on softer type ground (I really only ride in the turn out pastures). He gets regular trims. He's not out in the wet weather during winter.

Uggh. So you think it'll grow out okay? It's shrunk a bit since the actual blowout (since it's scabbed over). Never seen so much pus in my entire life.

[HoustonFarrier]

What could be amiss?

That's the million dollar question:confused: I know you really like your farrier, so I don't want to seem to hack him, but maybe the trim just isn't right...or at least, right for Solon? I don't know without putting my eyeballs on him. Maybe some good pictures of his feet might help???

Maybe it's diet related? What's the big man eating? How much?

Have you ever had his hooves x-rayed (fronts)??? Maybe he has some pathology in there. A horse may not necessarily show obvious lameness even though a pathology may exist.

I've had several really flat footed, pie platter horses, and they all did fine ?

Steve

[cheval]

He had x-rays on both fronts when he was getting them regularly - that was before this current farrier. Nothing did show up. I got the new farrier and he got the feet really cleaned up from the prevoius mess they were. I will get some pictures - he got trimmed about 2 weeks ago, so should still tell you something right?

He gets 2-3 flakes of regular grass hay in the a.m.
1 flake at lunch
2-3 flakes in the p.m.

I also soak the hay which is supposed to remove a bunch of the sugars per my vet

at night he gets 1.5 lbs. of packer pellets
1/2 cup of corn oil
2 scoops of MSM
free choice mineral block

occasional flake of alfalfa

He's out on pasture during good weather during the day and in the winter he gets arena turnout a couple of times a day. He has shavings in his stall over mats for bedding.

See anything glaring? I'll get the pictures taken and post them.

He has gotten less abscesses after I quit riding on the trail which was pavement and some gravel.

[HoustonFarrier]

Can you post the xrays???? I'm wondering about sole depth, for starters? His diet seems OK.

If you can get some nice pics (on concrete if possible), we can all take a look and throw ideas and see what sticks to the wall :)

There has to be a reason he's popping abscesses......is it the same foot every time ?

Steve

[cheval]

I will see if the vet will loan me the x-rays - or get me pictures of them - they can get pictures right?

Come to think of it... it seems like it is ALWAYS the right foot. That's weird. I just looked at the last time he had one, I made a little picture thing on how to do a wrap for an abscess and it was the right one then too.

Does that mean something???

We've got some real flat mats that should work - no concrete around here.

[lovesfortune]

Just popping in to see what HoustonFarrier has to say. Sounds like you guys might be on to something...looking forward to you figuring Solon's abcesses out Cheval.

[cheval]

Thanks! Me too.

Interestingly, he recovers really quickly from the lameness part once the abscess blows. Poor boy gets so bad right before that he can't hardly walk. That's when we do regular soaking, massage the leg and diaper wraps.

Oh, and lots of carrots!!

[Miracle Whip]

Do drafts eat more than saddle horses? I was going to vote for more exercise, Solon has always seemed a bit overpuffed to me. Arena turnout does not provide much exercise, I'd be lunging him in the arena as well...

[cheval]

Nope they don't eat more than light horses.

He gets more than just arena turnout. He actually gets worked and ridden. He's a big horse. He's 18 hands and 2150 lbs. so he's gonna look a lot bigger than a regular size horse. He does need some toning, but exercise isn't an issue for him.

[cheval]

Miracle Whip - you're Summer right? From h.com?

[HoustonFarrier]

Do drafts eat more than saddle horses?
Feed wise, under "normal" circumstances, no. However, when I am working the horse allot, like during the Christmas season, when we are doing wagon rides EVERY night, yes, they will definatly eat more than a light horse. I'll up them from 3-4 lbs of grain a day to 10lbs....and double their hay. when the season is over, they get cut back. Also, preceding show season, when they are working more and I want them "rounder" for the show ring, they'll eat more.

Steve

[vicklynn]

Popped in to see updates. Looks like Houston is on this, cool.

[lisakaye]

Easter just had a small abscess on her left hind hoof just above the hoof line where the hair starts.. Coronary band?? She seems to be doing well and was never lame. My ferrier told me it may take up to a year to heal.. is that true and what do I do to make sure it heals correctly?

[HoustonFarrier]

My ferrier told me it may take up to a year to heal.. is that true and what do I do to make sure it heals correctly?
Not a year to heal...a year for the blowout hole to grow down the hoof.

Steve...(and it's farrier not ferrier.....pet peeve, sorry:eek:) LOL

[lisakaye]

Sorry about the spelling.. Can you tell I am still in the learning phase of ownership? Thank you. Do I keep putting Swat on it and the other yellow stuff or do I leave it alone now? It is dry and I wash it 3 times a week or so.

[HoustonFarrier]

Sorry about the spelling..
Don't worry about it.......it's just me :eek: .....I'm "mentally irregular" :p

Do I keep putting Swat on it and the other yellow stuff or do I leave it alone now? It is dry and I wash it 3 times a week or so.
I don't generally put anything on it. Once it is clean and sealed shut...it's just a scab. Usually, for the first few days after an abscess erupts, I clean the wound, and with a soft brush, brush it out to keep the goop out until it seals. After that, it belongs to mother nature:) Sometimes, I'll open it a bit with my farrier knife after a month or so, to make sure there is not a "void" behind the hoof wall growing crud. But as an owner, you should just let it be, it'll take care of itself.

Steve

[cheval]

So, I told the person at the barn about the statement of a draft horse getting abscess because they have a bunch of weight on their feet - that it was wrong. Holy crap. She was like, it is not wrong. That's exactly what it is, what else would it be? I told her, "well my friend, a draft horse EXPERT, says it's not and I'm going to believe him". :p

She walked away saying I was wrong. Oh well. I know I'm right, that I was wrong before.

I wasn't able to get pictures this evening, but I will tomorrow.

[SedonaThunder]

Oh well. I know I'm right, that I was wrong before.
Good for you Chev! It is soooo hard for so many of us to admit when we are wrong... and some, like maybe her, will never believe it. It will be so great if you and Steve can figure out what's going on and keep his majesty from ever having another ouchie abscess! (I guess she'd have to believe you then, huh?):)

[cheval]

Exaclty! That would be all kinds of funny!

[alittleoffkey]

I wanted to let you know that I'm keeping up with this thread and thinking of Solon, the poor guy. I hope ya'll can figure this out soon for him. :)

[cheval]

Thanks! He's doing really well, no limping at all. So it healed up nicely. Gonna get some pictures of his hooves tomorrow for Houston to dissect.

[HoustonFarrier]

So, I told the person at the barn about the statement of a draft horse getting abscess because they have a bunch of weight on their feet - that it was wrong. Holy crap. She was like, it is not wrong. That's exactly what it is, what else would it be? I told her, "well my friend, a draft horse EXPERT, says it's not and I'm going to believe him". :p

Next time you see her, ask her how many draft horse farrier articles she has had published :p(that'll get her undies in a wad !!! )......then send her to my website and ask her why NONE of my horses get abscesses. LOL

Steve

[Peggy Sue]

hey STeve welcome !!! sorry just noticed you were here LOL

[HoustonFarrier]

hey STeve welcome !!! sorry just noticed you were here LOL

Shhhhhh.....don't tell anyone...:)

Steve

[westmanfarrier]

Ok, the abscess is in the same foot. Does it seem to be in the same area, does it blow out in the same spot. If so, it could be a sign you may be dealing with a keratoma, which is rare but plausable.

P.S. horseshoeguy on the horse.cm forum

[westmanfarrier]

Cheval, I see you are in Gresham, OR. You are very near Columbia Equine, a first rate equine facility. Do you use them?

[WashingtonBay]

Welcome westmanfarrier aka horseshoeguy :)

[cheval]

YES!!! I love Scott and the group over there. They have been my vet for the past 11 years. Scott used to be a farrier so he's really good about hoof stuff. I didn't have him out with the abscess because he taught me a few years back about how to dress and soak them when they happened.

[westmanfarrier]

thanks washingtonbay, beautiful forum. I am jealous.

[westmanfarrier]

YES!!! I love Scott and the group over there. They have been my vet for the past 11 years. Scott used to be a farrier so he's really good about hoof stuff. I didn't have him out with the abscess because he taught me a few years back about how to dress and soak them when they happened.

Awesome. I really like the facility. Very state of the art. I did a hoof dissection there and took a tour. I don't know if you ever worked with Dr. Wickliffe while he was there, but he is a friend of mine and great DVM I have worked with in the past.

[Diane of Buck's Hollow]

I wanted to let you know that I'm keeping up with this thread and thinking of Solon, the poor guy. I hope ya'll can figure this out soon for him. :)

Me too Cheval. I hope you and Steve can get this figured out.

[cheval]

What was Dr. Wickliffes first name?

[westmanfarrier]

What was Dr. Wickliffes first name?

Chris. I believe he is at Oregon State U. now. I haven't been able to contact him for some time. He wears a handlebar mustach.

[menagerie]

Hey Cheval that looks about like Rain's and she's doing great now after I started using the sugardine on it. It drew all that infection out really quickly and its healing over. (I was pround&gray on h.com)

[cheval]

Chris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh wow. If you do ever get in contact with him, tell him everyone in Gresham misses him.

He's the one that cared for Solon during his colic. Solon had a bloody nose all over his fancy western shirt. That guy was amazing with draft horses. We were all majorly bummed when he left. That could do anything with a horse illness or injury. I didn't realize he went to OSU.

Chris was the only male vet Solon liked. Now the girls take care of him. He tossed Scott up against the wall like a fly once. :eek:

[Ms Eddi]

Jake had an abcess come through the top, he could hardly walk and I freaked and called every vet known to mankind and one said soak him in hot water and epsom salts twice a day I did it once and it popped (yuck) then she said, antibiotic twice a day and keep clean. in one week he was rideable and healed completely only problem was as it grew out it caused a hole like thingy in the hoof and when it got to the bottom he had to be shoed for six weeks. Now it has grown out and he's barefoot again and doing fine, sure scared me though.
Thanks HF for all your good advice. Give Solon big sloppy kisses from Auntie Eddi.

[westmanfarrier]

Chris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh wow. If you do ever get in contact with him, tell him everyone in Gresham misses him.

He's the one that cared for Solon during his colic. Solon had a bloody nose all over his fancy western shirt. That guy was amazing with draft horses. We were all majorly bummed when he left. That could do anything with a horse illness or injury. I didn't realize he went to OSU.

Chris was the only male vet Solon liked. Now the girls take care of him. He tossed Scott up against the wall like a fly once. :eek:

It's been a few years since he left her and I am still bummed. I bump into him at the vet conventions and conferences I go to, we have dinner or something, but sure miss him. He was very smart and professional with great 'bedside' manner with the critters.

Here is a picture (I hope it is attached) of Chris, me, and my apprentice working on a laminitis.

[Pi and Tofu]

Steve, could it be a Percheron thing? I have found that thoroughbreds (in Florida) abscess more than the quarter horses and warmboods at the old barn - in general. I also found that my Perch cross abscesses quite a bit. On a Perch site that I am on, it seems that there are usually quite a few posts about an abscessing Perchie.

Tofana has blown out on all feet in the 4 years, but mostly hind, and he usually gravels as well. Love the chunks that fall off as it is growing out; since they are so large, usually 2 inches across or more, he almost always has large pieces fall out as it is growing.

Once the abscess blows, you're fine, but he is pretty stoic. The thoroughbreds are usually 3-legged lame, but there has been a time or two that he never felt off before he gravelled.

He grows out pretty quick.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/redsweg/SAJhYLH-QII/AAAAAAAAB0s/tkk-RC45oLY/s800/IMG_0282.jpg

[cheval]

Hey girl!

Poor Tofana! I know what you mean by stoic - Solon has done that a time or two. Just out of the blue lame as you know what then the next day after lots of soaking BOOM! Major eruption.

[cheval]

That's a cool picture of you and Chris. Yes he had a great manner with the horses. He could get them do anything, no matter how scared they were.

[Ryle]

My mare had one do that as well. It took about 6 months for the hoof defect to grow out and when it got close to the bottom of the hoof we actually put a sealer on it to provide a bit of protection and stability for that section of hoof wall so that it didn't break off when it got near the weight-bearing edge.

[Pi and Tofu]

Hey you too!

The big guys are definitely more stoic than the thoroughbreds, in general. Florida gets the soaking rains that cause standing water for a couple of days, then hot sun and drought-seems to be perfect for abscesses. Nice to have the gel epsom salts, as well as the hot patches, makes it so much easier to draw one out.

Good luck, hope his feet grow fast.

[KCandAllegro'sMom]

Interesting thread and lots of great info.

I'll be interested to see what Houston says after the photos are posted.

Poor Solon :-( Hope he gets better soon and that you get to the bottom of this

[westmanfarrier]

Not a percheron thing, a maintenance and environmental thing. TB's seem to have more hoof problems, but I blame that on breeding mostly. I have seen some great TB feet too.

Looks like your blowout is pretty clean of fungus/bacteria. Could be cleaned up with a dremel and hoof repaired without problem.

[APPYT]

I would disagree with that entire statement. ...snip... If the big guy is popping abcsesses on a regular or semi-regular basis, something is amiss.

Steve

I agree. The horse isn't being trimmed properly. Most likely due to flaring as many think drafts are supposed to flare. :(

[cheval]

AppyT I disagree with Solon's trim handling. He doesn't have flares - not in the way Steve has described what flares are. I took the information several months back from one of the Steve's posts and showed my farrier and he doesn't trim that way.

This last particular one was probably from the rock that had been stuck in his frog but I'm not sure about the others - it could have been from when I was riding on the trail. I only switched to riding in the turn out pastures a few months back. It may have been I didn't keep a close enough watch on keeping the feet clean as possible and I take full blame for that. But my farrier has got the draft hoof pretty dialed in.

Steve, I didn't get the pictures today, was home with a migraine but I will get them tomorrow.

Westman, I've wondered about dremel's before, do they work pretty well?

[JackieB]

Thinking of Solon. Looks like Steve might have to make good on his threat to come up to Oregon to put the smack down on the warpony. Well, to work on his hooves, anyway.:)

[APPYT]

I would like to see pics of this hoof before I change my thoughts on it. But if indeed there are no flares I apologize.

[cheval]

I'll get the pics but yeah, I know there's no flares.

Here are a few that I can find that are older. This one is straight down and he was leaning - I wanted to do a comparison of my feet and his:

http://x97.xanga.com/da0d377545d3782758875/m56623865.jpg

This one is from a few months back, I think he was due for a trim when I took this picture - I can't remember.

http://x19.xanga.com/9b1d8321c2633139652088/m102820413.jpg

Same day back feet. a bit of a bad angle, he was starting to back up.

http://xaa.xanga.com/0cad82f247c33139267823/m102494224.jpg

[APPYT]

Nice from what I can see. Would like to see sole shots.. They tell me more about flaring.

[cheval]

He's a barefoot draft - only had shoes on once in his life. I use them a picture frames now. :)

Hopefully I can get the right type of sole picture needed. Someone wrote up a how to over at h.com, I'll go see if I can find it.

[jerseypacer]

One of my boys had blown an abscess out of the coronary band on his hind hoof before I got him. The hoof has always grown out funky and from time to time it cracks from the ground up to right where the abscess was. He has never had any lameness issues with it, but it looks bad sometimes. Shoes help but when I pull them in the winter sometimes it cracks again. :mad: I keep asking my farrier about it but he doesnt seem to think its a problem. Im not so sure because other people I'ver talked to have said that it shouldnt keep splitting like that.

[westmanfarrier]

You could have some damage to the coronary band, where the hoof wall grows from. This causes abnormal hoof wall growth in that spot, and possibly a weak spot. It depends on the extent of the scarring, but usually does not pose a huge problem so long as the hooves are kept up. You may see what looks like a crack from the hairline to the ground, but may simply be a surface defect, a blemish.

[Miracle Whip]

Yeah Miracle Whip and Summer are one and the same. The secret was bound to come out sooner or later. This is a nice forum, no drama, other then my slipups now and then. Better warn Washington Bay.

[WashingtonBay]

Oh I knew you were you when you first signed up. :)