Posted by elise on February 08, 2003 at 15:18:47:
In Reply to: Re: abscess? posted by Gary on February 07, 2003 at 15:35:43:
: : : : To make a long story short, Sunny, my new thoroughbred, came to me (a clueless new horseowner)about 4 weeks ago. When we had the vet prepurchase the vet said he was a little sensitive in the front left hoof. My daughter had ridden him for a few weeks and he seemed fine. The day he came to us the barn farrier happened to be there, so he shod Sunny. Two days later Sunny went lame in the front left hoof. We thought he had been trimmed too short and gave him bute. Seemed to be getting better. Finally, two weeks later we really didin't think he was that much better and a different farrier tested him with hoof testers, said he thought he had been "quicked" (is that the right word?) and took off his shoe. He said he could see where he had been quicked and that his hoof seemed to have some "moisture" in it? Soaked it for 3-4 days, and farrier came back and glued on an aluminum shoe. Two days after that the vet was out and looked at him and he was okay....no heat from hoof. He said to get him out and trot him around. The barn manager did. NExt day he was limping again. That was 6 days ago. Started soaking in epsom salt and putting icthamol on his hoof. Called the vet 4 days later (2 days ago), as he wasn't getting better, and he said to continue soaking and that he didn't think antibiotics would help...that it seemed like the abscess was "comiing to a head" and wait it out. When I spoke to the barn manager that day, she said that possibly because he had been "sensitive" to the hoof testers at the prepurchase ( 5 weeks ago), but was still okay, that maybe it had really started then, but the shoeing "aggravated " it and now we are dealing with an abscess/bruise that really had started weeks before. My question---- does this seem like a realistic possibility? Everyone (barn manager, farrier, vet) seems to think it is an abscess . COuld it really take this long (it's been 6 days already) for it to "pop" or whatever it does? It makes sense to me, just seems to be taking a long time.
: : : : thanks,
: : : : elise
: : : So the horse was sore before it was shod? Then the next farrier found the evidence that it was quicked. At that point the hoof should have been soaked, checked that the horse is up on his anti-tetanus vac, and the hoof kept dry and clean for 10-14 days before a new shoe applied. And personally I don't think I would have glued on a shoe over a hotnail hole?? Now you wait to see if the abcess migrates to a differant part of the hoof. Happens alot as the while line provides a great highway for infection. And it takes a little while for it to pop at the coronary band. Good Luck! Gary
: : Sorry about that previous post! Just spoke to the barn manager. Unfortunately the farrier is sick today and isn't expected to come out until Wednesday now. She said that she did not see a hole like she thought she did yesterday, but this "mushy" area above the coronet seems to be "more mushy- or looser?". She is saying that this is the abscess, or whatever which is getting ready to burst at the coronet.
: : Gary, yes when I had the prepurchase the vet said he was 1/4 sore (does that mean in the 1/4 area, if that is such a thing?) He is sore now around the outside of the hoof (the white line area?----where the horseshoes were?)
: : the area where it looks like the abscess is/was whatever, where it seems the most sensitive is by the toe on the same side where this (mushy) area is.
: : I asked the barn manager if she thought we should call the vet since the farrier wasn't coming yet. She said no....to continue to soak that it hasn't been that long since we had been soaking and putting icthamol on it (1 week today).
: : Being new to this, I am wondering if you think we are on the right track. What is this mushy thing?
: : thanks,
: : elise
: If it pops at the coronary it is usually a gravel. A term for any foreign object that has entered the white line from the ground and has migrated up to the coronaryband. It should feel warm and will be very sencitive to the touch. But once it pops it will relieve the pressure and the horse will show marked improvement. Now you also said that the farrier found where a hotnail was, so you might have two problems. Both can be treated the same. Keeping them clean and dry is the hard part(your job)! Good Luck! Gary
Just spoke to the barn manager. She says it is getting more and more swollen at the coronet band....that it's happening". Is this normally what happens? She is going to be gone from Sunday afternoon until Tuesday. SOmeone else will be there, but what do I do if it does burst when she is gone?
Thanks,
elise