Abscess

[GreyMare]

Well, I took the time to read all the postings in this particular forum...great information...this is a great website!
No one ever really answered my question as to whether or not Lime will contribute to Abscesses or not...that's what my farrier told me...so was questioning what you guys/gals thought of that.
Did work some more tonight on cleaning out more of the black stuff. It seems to run very near or along the White Line. As I cleaned out what I could I also left the cleaned out areas angled for easier cleaning and less stuff to get trapped. Read in one of the postings here that is a good thing to do (angling the holes).
However, the black stuff does go further back toward her heels and such. At the V junction of the bars and the seat of corn (did I say that right?)...the black line runs under that and further back. I didn't feel comfortable cutting thru the V at all and "slightly" tunneled under but not very far at all.
A reply under the Lime + Abscesses posting stated that this black stuff should be cleaned out. But how much or how far should one clean this stuff out...versus...letting it drain (although it's not wet) or whatever? Some advice would be appreciated.
Meanwhile she is turned out on a hilly, grassy pasture with one other horse....in addition the lower area of the pasture is pretty chopped up by their hooves and is thus muddy too. The area between the paddock and the pasture is very muddy including manure too. The paddock has an overhang shelter and is dry with a tiny, gravel-type/crushed-type of lime (hope I'm making sense here). During inclement wet weather she is stalled in a 12 x 12 stall. I use Woody Pet pelleted bedding but I only keep a thin layer of bedding in her stall. I don't like sifting thru alot to keep it clean. Besides, I think it's healthier for her that way too.
Should I use an ichmatol? drawing salve on this stuff to see what happens? If so, how do I really use this stuff? I have a jar of the ichmatol so that's no problem. How do I use it as drawing salve? Just smear it on and leave it? Smear it on, leave it and then clean it off?
Anything else I should do to help treat this hoof?
Currently I am cleaning it out with a brush, then rinsing with water, and sticking a dry cotton ball in the hole to keep dirt/etc out of it. Read in the posts that drying out a hole too fast with Iodine and other stuff isn't the best route to go.
Thanks for any advice or help any of you can provide...let me know if I ought to have her seen by our vet as well,
Sania

[TE Couch]

I went back and read your first post and now this one - I am not convinced your horse has an abcess - this would typically have been very painful - you can sometimes find little black pockets where an abcess may have been absorbed - can you post a photo - sounds more like fungus and bacteria eating the white line to me.
TE

[Double C Forge]

It sounds like dirt has gotten down into the white line area? If so then we all see that. It is pretty common. Just dig it out best you can w/out going to deep. Couch is right. An abcess would be very painful normally. Pictures would be more beneficial.

IMO, No. Lime will not cause abcesses. I have used it regualrly in stalls for years. I have friends that run a training facility and have used it in stalls for 35 plus years and the stalls are stripped completely every 3 or 4 days and then a little lime is put down before bedding.

Chris Clark

[GreyMare]

Going out to the barn later and will take pixs of this particular hoof. Will take pixs of the areas I've carved out and will try to get a pix of the black stuff I'm seeing.
IF this is stuff eating at the white line...that I would assume I'm looking at WLD? :( If so, what is the best treatment and/or what should I have done about this?
Based on what I've read WLD is worse than having an abscess. What causes WLD anyway? Do I need a vet to come out for this?
Later with pictures,
Sania

[Double C Forge]

This will be some good reading for you........

http://www.horseshoes.com/advice/whitelinedisease/whitelinediseaseindex.htm

Chris

[GreyMare]

I was going to show a number of pixs of this hoof but am limited to file size on this forum. If you want more pix...I certainly have them...just let me know. Meanwhile attached is the hole I have made to clean out the black stuff and I also tried to show the black stuff that still remains that extends up under the V at the back of the hoof (junction of bars and seat of corn?).

Please let me know how I should proceed with this possible WLD in this mare's hoof. I'm really at a loss...but will still read the website that's been posted for me to read regarding more WLD information.

Thanks much,
Sania

[Gary Hill]

Looks to me like it was a corn that final blew out. The heels of this foot look a little long and the heels look a tad contracted so that is why the corn was there in the first place. Good Luck! Gary

[Donnie Walker]

I concur. It appears to be the result of a corn. I've attached a photo of a toe abscess, if it goes through. The area in question is 1/8" deep after trim.

[GreyMare]

I hope when you looked at the pix that you realized that the opening was done to dig out the darker stuff which is seen under the V toward the back of the bar. But the area that is dug out was all blackish when the farrier opened it.
OK...if this is a corn...what now? I am working with the farrier to get the heels lowered (just wished he'd back up the toe at the same time but he won't).
What do I do with a corn on her foot? Is this something that resulted with the long toe/low heel configuration? Will this resolve on its own as I work toward getting her heels lowered and toes backed up?
What now?
Thanks,
Sania

[Gary Hill]

Sania, in your pictures you posted you don't show the toe or the whole foot. Looking at the heels where the bars meet at the back of the foot, the heels look to be almost a 1/4 inch too long ,and you can see where the heels are pinching the frog, so contraction is the next problem. Tell your farrier to trim to the widest point of the frog and just rasp the toe of the foot from the ground like he's rolling the toe. That will help with the breakover! Good Luck! Gary

[GreyMare]

Gary...Here's some pixs of what I think you wanted to see. Front, Side and Sole pictures.
--Sania

[Gary Hill]

Seeing your horse has been barefoot, there is the chance that it might have been a puncture wound or deep bruise of some kind? Your first pictures didn't show enough of the hoof to see old nail holes, so I was thinking the corn was caused by pressure of the shoe being fit too tight. I still think the heels are alittle too long even tho it's a hind foot it does seem to be a bit narrow and the quarters are quite straight. A little roll to the toe wouldn't hurt anything either! Good Luck! Gary