draining abscess care
 

My mare has a draining abscess on the LF toe area. It broke out at the coronary band 2 days ago. Also there is a small hole on the sole at the toe area. A clean hoof nail probing the hole reveals a void above. The mare is pawing with that hoof, so probably the dirt from her clean stall is going up into that hole. I'm soaking 2x/day with epsom salts, bute 1g/x2/day. She is almost sound again. Stall confinement. One vet said to put Kopertox in the hole and on the coronary band wound. Another said use dilute iodine. Internet search says wrap with a diaper and animalintex. It seems to me that the hole should be plugged so that dirt can't get into the hoof. My questions to you experts...What would you recommend in this situation? I'd like to get a shoe on this hoof soon, how is the hole treated since it would be covered? Does the sole grow to cover the hole again? Does the void regenerate and fill, or does it grow down from the coronary band? How do I plug the hole, stuff it with cotton soaked in iodine? Pine tar? Do I plug the entire void? Thanks in advance for your expertise.

Re: draining abscess care
 

I would go with the treatment that the vets recommend. The areas that you are concerned about at this point in time donot poise a problem. What I would do is using a dropper if the opening at the coronet bang is near the band itself, and get some iodine or whatever in it. This will help to kill any bacteria that may have entered. I have seen them from the size of a dime to a fifty cent piece. When the opening in question reaches about an inch or so down, I will clean it up alittle in appearance and make sure that no bacteria is present.

As for the void, I if you were to put a shoe on in the near future, you might be surprised. If the foot was long enough, it might come off. The farrier will know. If not, when the shoe cover the void a medicated hoof packing can be used to fill in the void. This helps tp rid the area of bacteria and create a haelthier enviornment. In a couple of shoeings, it will disappear as the foot is trimmed. It willnot regenerate but the foot will grow from the top down and eventually it gives way as it is trimmed.

I caution though, that the farrier clean it out alittle before packing it. I have seen seedy toe go left untreated and it goes right up the laminae and next thing you know you are resecting a hoof to rid yourself of fungus.

Good Luck!
tony

Re: draining abscess care
 

I would soak this hoof in whitelightning,vinegar solution in a bag to let the gas kill all the yucky stuff, then use some Quatermaster in the hole and a little cotton to keep the s**T out. The Quartermaster is great stuff........... a little goes a long way, :)

Re: draining abscess care
 

Quartermaster? Sounds like chewing tobacco, but I'm guessing it isn't. What is it?
An update... Shoes were put on today. The sole hole was opened more and tincture of iodine syringed in, which leaked out at the coronary band, which the mare licked off and flehmened at. The hole was plugged with a blue-green wax and the shoe nailed on. The drainage had stopped yesterday. Will see how it goes. My plan is to clean and squirt some dilute iodine on the coronary wound and hope for the best.
PS It sure was a nice sound hearing those shoes on the rocks. She had been barefoot, tender, and abscessing for three months.

Re: draining abscess care
 

Quartermaster is used for treating cows with mastitis. Hence the name used in the 4 quarters of the udder. It is pennicellin / dihydrostrepticmicin , in an oily base. Absolutely fabolus for deep sulcus thrush. It has a syringe like plastic tip which can be inserted into the crack and administered. A little will go a long way. ................Ken

Re: draining abscess care
 

I'm no vet or farrier, but I have used "hydrogen peroxide" to keep abscess holes clean and it seems to kill all bacteria and speed up the healing process somewhat. Just another option, and it's cheap to buy at the local drugstore.

Re: draining abscess care
 

Sounds like your farrier did the right thing. The blue green wax sounds like karetex medicated wax, it works good as a plug and it also kills bacteria and fungus.

Re: draining abscess care
 

Ah, a medicated wax! I like that.