An abscess question

Trewsers

Trewsers

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Oct 13, 2004
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I "think" Fuzzy may have an abscess brewing / grumbling. Okay, rode her a tiny bit Sunday and hopped off as she didn't feel right. Turned her back out and she looked okay (ish). Let her back up the yard and it was clear she wasn't happy bearing full weight on one of her back feet. So popped her in the biggest part of the byre to rest and for me to have a proper look. Soaked in salt water and put a poultice on overnight. She ended up staying in because when I offered her back out she planted, gave me a pleading "can I stop in please" look so I gave her a pile of hay and Danilon and said goodnight. She's not used to being stabled overnight but she was fine and happy and this morning looked bright eyed. Opened her door and she looked pleased to come out. Not right by any means but not as bad as yesterday. So I let her out for a couple of hours grazing and then kept to her routine of coming in at lunch for a snooze.
She went back out but she's not quite right and I'm keeping her in the byre again tonight. She can see her friends, Zi comes and goes all night so she's not stressy at all. However, what I thought was an exit hole just looks on further inspection like a crater? In the frog.
She doesn't seem bothered with me messing / touching it either.
So, question is - do you always need either the farrier or vet to come and dig? Or do abscess find their own way out?
If she's same tomorrow I will get the vet to come look. There's no heat or swelling in that leg either, so pretty sure she hasn't pulled a tendon.
How long would you give it for coming out without any intervention? And is it possible to have a grumbling abscess that never actually appears?
Sorry that was more than one question and Cornetto for anyone who read all that!
Thanks in advance. x
 
I don't keep inside. Gentle movement gets it coming out better imho, unless the field is a sea of mud.

No to the vet and farrier too mostly because our vet would be telling me to do what I am already doing. And farrier - he only visits the island once every 8 weeks.

I would be daily standing the hoof in a bucket of hot water with epsom salts for 20 minutes (I fed my horse a bucket while he was standing there). Maybe give painkiller if hopping and miserable. And turning out to be with friends in a clean field so getting some movement and it will burst on its own. If hopping for ages, maybe antibiotics but I only did that for my old lad (aged 32) because it was a really nasty deep abscess that I was convinced gone right up (I may have slightly overreacted at the time!)
 
Frances144 said:
I don't keep inside. Gentle movement gets it coming out better imho, unless the field is a sea of mud.

No to the vet and farrier too mostly because our vet would be telling me to do what I am already doing. And farrier - he only visits the island once every 8 weeks.

I would be daily standing the hoof in a bucket of hot water with epsom salts for 20 minutes (I fed my horse a bucket while he was standing there). Maybe give painkiller if hopping and miserable. And turning out to be with friends in a clean field so getting some movement and it will burst on its own. If hopping for ages, maybe antibiotics but I only did that for my old lad (aged 32) because it was a really nasty deep abscess that I was convinced gone right up (I may have slightly overreacted at the time!)
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Thanks, its not muddy at all, but, she did look a bit fed up being out as Zi can be pushy and likes to round her up and herd her back up the yard at night (I watch them from the kitchen window sometimes late on). She just looked so relieved last night to have some peace and quiet away from him, he can be a bit over bearing (he adores her but likes to put her where he wants her). Thanks for the tip with the salts - I just used ordinary but will try and get some Epsom.
 
Frances144 said:
what about putting an electric fence between them so she is outside but not getting hassled?
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I don't have a working electric fencing set up anymore. I scrapped it when Fuz came to live here as she just seemed to go through fences for fun (unless they are post and rail or something substantial !). I'll see how she is later tonight. She's quite an interesting pony in terms of management. She's small, tank like and will do my bidding but sometimes if she doesn't quite agree and is feeling nosey you just can't contain her.
 
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If you know a homeopath, myristica sebifera is very good at getting the abscess to burst quickly.

"Myristica sebifera (also known as Brazilian Ucuba or Virola sebifera) is a prominent homeopathic remedy utilized to treat skin infections, boils, and abscesses. It is valued for its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to act as a "homeopathic knife" by promoting the natural maturation and drainage of pus."

I would give Haakon sandwiches with pillules inside!
 
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Does she have a higher digital pulse in that leg? An abscess will cause one, though like the lameness it can come and go while it's brewing.

I'd monitor and keep hot poulticing for a couplee more days, if there's no change or she looks more uncomfortable/reluctant to move then I'd get the farrier to have a look. Farriers ar my go to for an abscess because they don't tend to dig the great big hole that vets do! Abscesses are the one time that good rock hard feet are a nuisance because it's harder for the abscess to burst out so it goes on longer, and I wouldn't want to leave it unsen for too long in case it tracks backwards and infects the pedal bone - rare but I've seen it happen.
 
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