Abscess

[Maes Seren]

Abscesses are an area which im quite weak in, having never had to deal with them before.

Obviously get the shoe pulled off, and stick a hot poultice on, but what if the horse had to live out in a field? Couldnt be stabled?

Would a boot be suitable to hold the abscess in place? Over a period of 12hrs ish?

[Blonde Donkey]

aren't there boots taht you can get like poultice boots
i don't much about them either will have a look

[kateflashy]

i used to put post office money bags on as well then an equiboot they seemed to stay on

[Maes Seren]

Any boot better than the other? Like theres the easyboot or whatever its called, and then theres the more clothy type ones

[Maes Seren]

This
www.derbyhouse.co.uk/prodshow.asp?id=2040&a=srch
www.derbyhouse.co.uk/prodshow.asp?id=1377&cat=2&scats=51,61

or this

www.robinsonsequestrian.co.uk/product_details.asp?ID=2369

For a turned out horse...

[trojanwarrior]

I'm a great believer in turning a horse out if its got an abcess. I think it helps to drain it. I usually put the poultice on & bandage it either using gamgee or a nappy with some vetwrap. I then put a silage tape 'square' like a patch and pop some tape around the edges of the 'square'. This helps to keep the dressing clean & dry. I then pop a boot on similar to the Easysoaker & turn my horse out. You do need to check that your horse is happy with a welly on its hoof & that it can't get it off before turning it into the field. I'd then keep the welly on until the hoof had hardened.

[Maes Seren]

Ok thanks, so the easysoaker would be the better bet out of those boots?

Silage tape? Is that similar to gaffatape?

Am off out tomorrow hunting for a boot for Eddie, hes got a rather large crack up the back of his hoof, which looks to me very much like an abscess. Given where it is, i have no plans on pulling the shoe off as its not going to interfere (other than maybe the dressing) and i have loads of animalintex and vet wrap, so will take a bottle full of boiling water up to the stables tomorrow (by the time i get there it'll be chilled to the right temp)

Eds had over reach boots etc on, but he wasnt keen on having his foot in a bucket earlier today, so i ended up crouched down with the hose on it for about 30mins running hibiscrub over it! Fortunately hes pretty ameinable, so stood there quite happily with his weight down that leg toe facing backwards, quite literally with his coronet on the ground, without a fuss! ;D

[trojanwarrior]

I'd go for the Easysoaker. Warrior won't let me tub his foot but I can soak it in his welly. Before you go shopping, put his hoof on some paper & draw round it as close to the hoof as poss, cut it out & you have a template to pop into a boot to try it for size. Remember to allow for dressing, so if the template's a tight fit then you may need a bigger size. Also, when you try it on him, put his foot in a plastic bag (if he'll let you) before putting it in the boot so its kept clean should you need to take it back.

Silage tape is the black stuff that farmers use to patch up their bales. You can get it in rolls & is about 2.5 - 3 inches wide & is very sticky, waterproof & quite hardwearing.

[Maes Seren]

Thanks, youve been a great help, off to buy a boot in a bit for the little King!

Eddie will let me get a bag round his foot, ive played around alot with him before. The only thing hes objected too, is pigs and tubbing apparently!!!

Should be erm, interesting with my dad here too, he doesnt understand the concept of it needing looking after, his response this morning was 'oh its raining so you wont be able to do anything with Eds foot!' Quickly told him that Ed would be stood in the barn if necessary to get it sorted!

[Becca]

seems like you seem sorted now but i just popped bernies boa boot over his poultice when he went out for a few hours then brought him in a took it off as they rub if on for too long and he's such a lump he wears through umptine layers of gaffer tape

[Maes Seren]

Aww bless. Weve had to order a boot in, the only one they can get is the bag type, and she reckons he should be ok with that on 24hrs (dressing changed twice a day) but will be in on thurs so theyve given me a heavy duty rug bag (white, like really thick paper bags) which is waterproof for the time being.

[haffyfan]

Only just noticed this sorry.....when Murph has had his I have polticed it, bandaged, duck taped then put it in a carrier and stuck his hoof boots on. He has lived out like this for weeks on end as even when not polticed I would still bag and boot to stop any muck/infection getting in.
(The bag is because hoof boots have to be able to drain water out riding but I have never found a poltice boot yet that stays on and the easy boots metal bits are nasty!)