| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Hosanna |
Posted - Jun 18 2009 : 11:59:15 AM
Hey there, farmgirls and cowgirls. Last week one of my "Off The Track" Thoroughbreds was suddenly lame; I thought he had an abscess. This morning, my farrier was out and I was right - the poor thing has a great big nasty one in his left front hoof. We got it to drain a little, but now I need suggestions on what to pack it with. The farrier suggested a mixture of sugar and iodine. Any other ideas?
I know I need to soak it in Epsom salt water also before wrapping. We'll be using baby diapers and duct tape for a "boot"..... but I am curious about different hoof packs, and what you may have tried that works. I am all for home-made, natural remedies as opposed to going to the feed store and buying an expensive tub of chemical goop. I appreciate your thoughts!
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| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| horsegirl |
Posted - Jun 22 2009 : 11:25:01 AM
My vet always recommends an easyboot, and that seemed to work well. We had one last year step on a nail in a board, and we soaked it in epsom salts first, then used nolvason (sp?) cream and cotton pushed in the hole, then an easyboot over it all. He healed up just fine. Only soaked it for about 5 days I think. Then we left it open to heal.
"I will never leave you nor forsake you"
Hebrews 13:5b |
| goneriding |
Posted - Jun 19 2009 : 9:32:35 PM
My Gigi got the largest absess last year and it popped and drained on it's own. I left her in the pasture and either I or the barn manager made her walk as that seems to make the blood circulate better and force a 'pop' quicker, thus relieving the pain and starting the healing process. I've even heard of people riding bareback on these horses too for the same reason. I and the BM soaked her hoofie in Epsom salts too. The shoer said he'd never seen as big an absess as the one my Gigi had. I'm on dial-up but maybe I can link to the pic...if it doesn't work, just imagine one that is about 4 inches long. No kidding.
As an aside, watch out for the weight bearing other leg that lamitis doesn't set in too.
Ok, trying for the pic or link...
Update: It's not working for some reason. I suspect it's my dial-up. I'll post it when I can.
Winona :-)
To read funny stories about my cooking 'skills', please visit http://lostadventuresincooking.blogspot.com/
For uber-opinionated, pleasurable horse related reading, please visit http://horseinfoperson.blogspot.com/
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| ponypower |
Posted - Jun 19 2009 : 08:44:23 AM
Lesee,...when my horses have gotten a hoof abcess I soak it in the hot water epson salt too if they allow it,...but I then pack the hoof with pine tar (ichthimal) to draw it out and wrap it all up. I make a pad by going back and forth in a cross with duct tape (seven or so times) on the bottom of a bucket and then put their hoof in the center and wrap the sides up around with more tape. This wears really well. I go around the fetlock with cotton gauze first so the tape doesn't pull their fetlock hair. I give them bute if it is really painful and I always make sure that I bring them their bucket of water so they keep drinking even if it hurts to walk to water. They make these really great rubber soaking boots if you happen to have one of those horses that just love to kick the water over on you,...I don't think they cost very much and they are a great thing to have on hand. Sugardine is amazing stuff. I have heard of it curing things that nothing else would touch. The very definition of tried and true, eh? Oh yeah, and you can use a piece of rigid foam insulation cut to in the shape of the hoof under the duct tape to give the horse a cushy pad to stand on. My mare swore by those. Good luck!!!! Sounds like you are on it for sure. : ) |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 19 2009 : 06:57:26 AM
Hosanna- Sounds like you are doing great! Your horse should be feeling better each day :D
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| pnygrl |
Posted - Jun 19 2009 : 06:08:15 AM
Abcesses are one thing I have little experience with (Thank goodness!!!) I have heard interesting things abotu the sugardine treatment though. Ulimately you want to keep it clean so it can heal- I think the point of the iodine to to rid the hoof capsule of any lingering infection that could ultimatley seal itself back in and abcess again. The sugar also serves a specific purpose but I can't recall what that is. If you trust your vet and think he/she is good with horses- I would take their advice.... |
| Hosanna |
Posted - Jun 19 2009 : 04:10:43 AM
Thanks, girls. My husband, my "farmdude", suggested not packing it either, to let it drain. Makes sense. It is a pretty huge abscess, and the farrier made a hole for it to drain, but quit because the abscess kept going and going, covering, he said, most of the sole. These Thoroughbred's hoof walls and soles are so thin and shelly, and they have only been off the track sense last summer, so there is no telling how long some dirt or gravel has been up in his hoof, festering away. I have only had them sense last fall. The abscess drained out his toe, btw. I soaked it in warm Epsom salt water, then irrigated it with diluted Iodine; then made a wrap with sterile 4x4s, coflex bandage, and duct tape; as I couldn't find diapers at the local store, and didn't want to drive all the was to the nearest town to buy them. He was walking so much better on that. I don't like bandaging horses' wounds myself, but the drain hole is too big, and if he gets it packed with manure and mud, he'll never heal. And things have been ultra muddy here in the south with all the rain recently.
I had a friend suggest putting black Icthamol drawing salve in it, and using a plastic bag to "sweat" the hoof...... but I think I will just keep doing what I am doing and keeping him clean and dry for now.
I do have a great relationship with my vet, and if things don't start improving, I'll give him a buzz.
Read all about my horses and this story in particular at my blog: thewindofheaven.blogspot.com. |
| Faransgirl |
Posted - Jun 18 2009 : 7:10:30 PM
My Vet suggests a mixture of Clorox, baking soda and water. You spray it good, don't pack it and wrap it up. After soaking of course. You get a 32 oz spray bottle, 3 oz bleach, 32 oz water and 1/2 tsp. baking soda. Use alot of it. I know some folks don't like bleach but I have seen this stuff do amazing things healing horses.
Farmgirl Sister 572
May the force of the horse be with you. |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - Jun 18 2009 : 6:32:05 PM
While I have successfully treated a VERY BAD case of Laminitis in one of my horses by myself, (an extremely looooooong and frustrating process), I would not recommend trying to treat your horse yourself-- if you can afford to have a vet look at him, DO IT! If not, well, a little on-line searching might give you some good tips.
Good luck Hosanna. Please let us know what you did for him. It will go into my "Memory files" in case I ever need to do the same in the future! ~~~ Tracy
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 18 2009 : 3:15:20 PM
Where did the abcess rupture at? The few horses I have seen with abcesses were only wrapped to keep it clean- not packed with anything. But they were small abcesses. Was this a very large one?
http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-exclusives/treating-hoof-abscess.aspx
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Jun 18 2009 : 3:06:10 PM
Hosanna:
Keep us posted on your horse. I hope its hoof gets better soon.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| 1badmamawolf |
Posted - Jun 18 2009 : 12:36:11 PM
I would not pack it with anything, it needs to drain. You need to soak his/her foot in very warm water with epson salt at least 4 times a day. Wraping it is fine to keep it clean in-between soaking. If the abcess does not rupture with-inb a day or two with the soaking, then call in a vet.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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