abcess problem

Hi there
My 4yo rescue tb has had an abcess now going on 3 weeks.I bought her 5 weeks ago and didnt do anything with her bar put her in an acre paddock with our rescue tbx yearling.Within about a week and a half she went lame so I got the farrier out,he drained it and reshod as he said it wasnt too bad ,she was fine for a few days but went lame again so I got the vet out and he drained it again but within a week (last saturday)the farrier came out and it was still there,we soak it in epsom salts and pack with cotton wool soaked in iodine and wrap with a baby nappy and duct tape evey day but today (thursday) she is still lame any ideas?thanks
Patrick

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EDIT I rode her around the paddock for about 20 mins only the first week she came.mainly at walk and a little trot

Has it recently been wet outside? Is she standing in mud or hard ground?
When it gets really wet at my barn, one of the mares always gets abscess . She is on pasture 24/7, so when she gets them we have to put her in a stall, and keep the abscess as dry as possible. And soak it in warm salt water for about 15-20 minutes 2 times a day if possible, and then epsom salts and the baby nappy ect. Ect.

Sometimes it just takes a while and it probably isn't even the same abscess. You might try and apple cider vinegar soak instead. Some horses abscesses respond better to that. I also wouldn't drain it. That's kind of an outdated technique that is no longer recommended (by my vet atleast)...digging a hole in the foot only allows more bacteria to get in there.

Yeah the paddock where they were got pretty muddy but they are now on a pristine grassy paddock.hopefully that will help

My horse did the same thing 4 weeks ago. I soaked daily with Iodine then rinsed. I then placed an old drawing salve called Ichthamol and epsom salt gel then a diaper to keep it clean. The abscess got a lot better and after a couple of weeks she was back to her old self. My vet stated it was due to the rain, and muddy environment. Good luck.

I have used a variety of different methods to work on abscesses. I find a paste of betadine scrub and epson salts placed on the sole with a gauze pad to cover then wrapped with vetwrap and covered with a duct tape hoof boot(for turnout) or any hoof boot to simply keep the bandage in place works very well. I like the duct tape boot as it will wear thru and fall off in a day or so. Then you replace it. ;) or you can do so every day or 2 anyway. This draws out the abscess nicely imo. It also is a good thrush/hoof greeble killer. You can use sugar and betadine solution if you have that handy as well.

Or sometimes I use a hoof boot.. First I put an old cut down sock on the hoof then stuff it in a hoof boot and pour ACV (with our without water) into the boot to cover the hoof. I keep that on, replenshing the ACV as needed for up to 4 hours. Be sure if you use full strength ACV that it doesn't burn the heel bulbs/tender skin. This really works well and may one need to be done one time.

Some abscesses simply take a lot of time as they reform.

Thanks everyone she seems to be walking better now but I think I will keep treating it for another week or so and leave her off for a couple of weeks to let her heal properly.

Thats probably a good idea Paddy. My old Mare use to get abcesses alot with her cushings so I know what your going thru good luck

The same thing happened to my horse! My horse buckwheat had an abcess, the farrier came out, hoof tested it the whole 9 yards...ok, still lame, farrier came back,whole 9 yards, still lame!! Finally it ruptured...if it takes that long it may have a bette chance of coming out at the cornet band...so here, keep soaking 2 a day in warm water for at least 30 mins. If you are near a rivier that you can stand him in that's great the moving water helps draw it out. If when it ruptures swelling goes throughout the leg.....soak hoof in epsom salts...then vet wrap hoof, then duct tape it... cold hose or put ice boots on the leg. Rub poultice on the legs...rubbing a little harder by the tendons.wrap lightly in vet wrap.pillow wraps then standing wraps...helps dramatically!!! Hoper that was somme help..good luck