My horse has an abscess and it just recently popped, I soaked it, wrapped it, then put some duck tape on it to keep it from getting wet and her pulling it off. My other horse had an abscess but many years ago and I can't remember, how often do I change her wrap? She is still limping from it but she does have really sensitive feet. Does anyone have any tips or answers when it comes to an abscess?
I would change it daily because you really need to soak it daily to keep it draining. I like to use an Epsom salt and betadine solution. Did you put some ichthomal or a poultice on it before you wrapped it? That will help continue to draw out the infection if you didn't.
If she wears shoes your farrier or vet should remove them.
I do the wraps with a size #1 baby diaper soaked in the betadine/epsom salt paste. I then wrap with cotton roll and gauze and then elasticon tape then the duct tape being sure to only secure it to the hoof and not the skin/hair. There are some articles and information out there regarding how to wrap. I like to cut the strips of duct tape and tape them all together, about 4 different layers, and have it all ready for after I apply the diaper.
They are sore and do cause pain. Obviously no riding. Poor horse. I am sorry for both of you.
It depends where the abscess has burst & how, and the environment the horse lives, but generally I wouldn't wrap it up at all once it's burst. If I catch it as soon as it does, I would squirt it or soak it in strong saline, then leave it alone. Trouble with wrapping, especially with DUCT ;-) tape is that you're sealing the hoof & keeping moisture in & air out, which will encourage further infection.
i wrap with antiphilogestine , cotton you buy in the roll, vet wrap, then duct tape. I leave it on 3 days or change sooner if they have walked it off. I pack in the antiphilogestine as it well draw and dry. Sometimes I will use betadine first.
The horse should not be limping after the abcess burst, it may have more than one abcess.
The abscess has burst a week ago. But she still has a limp. Now I am thinking she is limping because she has another infection. I soaked a pad in iodine and wrapped her foot up with that. Hopefully that will kill the infection. I can already she a difference in her
Yes, if the abscess has burst a week ago, something else is going on.
I do use iodine for wound care, but for 2 reasons I wouldn't use it as you have. Firstly & most importantly it is damaging to live tissue & when used on open wounds it is advised(by human medical professionals) to use it as an initial wash only, then revert to something non-necrotising for ongoing care. It shouldn't be used repeatedly or held on a wound long term. In some cases of solar abscesses, the sole just never grows back & it is thought that strong antiseptics having damaged the corium is the cause. Secondly, iodine is deactivated with contact to dirt, water, air, after a short time anyway. For use on a pad or poultice I'd be inclined to use salt or raw honey.
I've only had 2 abssesses or abssess problems in 27 years. Mostly they are caused by a soft tissue hoof injury and/or dirty environment. The first one, some 20 years ago, was a stone bruise. The Vet dug almost 3 inches of hoof out, but we had to stall him and let it burst through the top of the hoof. Until it burst we used disposable baby diapers duct-taped around the hoof. A few weeks later we were riding this horse.
In the 2nd case, my 23yoTWH was, unbeknownst to US, developing Cushings disease and abssesses are a common symptom. I fought the first one, and then it recurred one month later. The 2nd time he was walking on his toe, and I opened up the hole with a hoof pick, then it bled out. He was audibly relieved.
He healed from it, but his overall health went downhill after this. I mention it bc I didn't know that this is a form of horse diabetes, and large and overweight horses can develop it. He was 16'2hh, and 1,350 lbs., 7 ft. girth (84".)
I would start soaking it again in Epsom salts 1/2 hr. am & pm in as hot of water as the horse will stand. there may be a stone traveling through and wasn't able to get out with the initial opening of the absess.
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