Abscess??

So I meant to post this after the tick thing but forgot. The same friend who found the huge tick in shaggy's ear also saw his limp and said he might have an abscess. I've never dealt with an abscess before. I do know you have help it drain once its open so I went ahead and got epson salt the last time I was at walmart (better to be safe then sorry right?) but other than I know nothing. Is there anything I should look for when I pick his feet out? Honestly I'm not sure it is one seeing how both my horses came up lame with in a day of each other and a part of the ring was broke but she was nice enough to take a look a my horses and say they were looking good I wasn't going to argue. I am going to call vet soon I know that for sure.

Bump come on out all you ppl on here some one must know about abscess's I don't meant to be pushy but I would like to something before I go to the barn

Well..you could look under his hoof & try to see anything unusual. Feel for heat on both hooves, typically if there's heat, there's swelling inside somewhere. My mare abscessed last summer, & I could see ANYTHING or feel an abnormal amount of heat. The vet misdiagnosed her with laminitis (he wasn't used to large animals), but gave her a shot of antibiotics. The next day, the abscess had ruptured through the top of her hoof. I soaked it in warm water & epsom salts, and about a week later, she was perfectly sound.

Thanks for the reply Abby! I'll check his hoof really good tomorrow!

Ahh, it was supposed to say "couldn't see anything or feel an abnormal amount of heat" haha

Sometimes there's some, sometimes there isn't..Good Luck!

Does your horse get fed any raw grains? Oats, etc. Two of my friends have mares that constantly get absesses and they love to feed rich, raw grain mixtures.

I feed no raw grains, only low-starch blended feeds when in heavy work (replacing calories we use), and I've yet to have an absess. I don't think it's strictly coincidence. Some horses seems to have a lower tolerance for sugars (laminitus, IR). I personally think absesses fit into this category. There's certainly no environemental reasons for my two friends' horses to have any issues - dry as a bone out here. Their feet are rock hard and STRONG.

The epsom soak does seem to draw infection out and help them heal faster. I'd be soaking even before the thing blows out. Soften that hoof up and encourage healing. Jmo.

Thanks for reply Hemms and nope the only food shaggy gets is the pasture. But they're lots of rocks where a path to drive up still is. Shaggy like you friends horses has strong feet as well. I'll definably see about giving him and epson soak when I go to the barn later!

My gelding just got an abssess in his coronet band.. You would have thought his leg was broken. The vet suggested( once it was open) to soak it twice a day in epson salt and betadine. Then wrap in twice a day with sugar and betadine. Do this for about 4 days. Then just start soaking it once a day in epson salts and betadine but leave it unwraped.(do this for about 3 more days) Bute is a good painkiller but don't give it too much as it can cause stomach ulcers(3 to 4days of bute should be fine). The epson salt draws the infection out and the sugar actually slows the growth of bacteria down. Then of course the betadine dissinfects it... If it is in his coronet band it may come back because gravity will try to pull the infection down... When you soak his leg make sure its for atleast 10 minutes. Oh and when you mix the sugar and betadine make it into like a toothpaste substance! It reallys helps and my geldings went away the first time!

Capital Vendetta- Thanks so for info Im writing it all down!

I'm happy to report I don't think its an abscess anymore! I went to barn yesterday after not seeing him for fews days due to my dad being in the hospital(his home now and recovering) and when I got out there yesterday he wasn't limping anymore and I did check his hooves nothing that looked like an abscess! Yay! But like I said Im going to write down everything Capital said so I'm ready for the next time!

I though my boy had a tendon injury because he was hoping on 3legs. Hope he feels better!