Home Current News News Archive Shop/Advertise Ridecamp Classified Events Learn/AERC
Endurance.Net Home Ridecamp Archives
ridecamp@endurance.net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]

[RC] abscess in rear hoof - Paul Bendzunas

Without seeing the hoof its difficult to say what to do but I'll tell you what I have done. Is the drain hole in the sole or the wall of the hoof? If its in the wall down low you can keep treating it and let it grow out. In the sole you have the problem of dirt getting packed in and re-infecting it. The problem with sealing it is you have to be sure that it is clean before sealing. Use a syringe and flush a lot with sterile water or a mild antiseptic solution, 1/4 bleach 3/4 water works well also. Then flush with alcohol (wood alcohol or any that doesn't have oil in it,not rubbing alcohol) or acetone. I use an air hose (I have a portable tank) with a needle attachment to dry it. It's right about now the horse will insist on putting it"s foot down so do it on a clean surface.The hole can be plugged with an epoxy such as hoof bond.
The catch 22 is if there is a foreign body in there that caused the abscess it could still be there and re-infect.It wont drain because you sealed it and you're back where you started.
Only had one really hard case of an abscess at the toe. Was working with a vet did this procedure and it got infected again. We took radio graphs to try and figure it out but nothing showed up.Took the horse to the vet school at the University of GA and they said the coffin bone had become infected and they could do a procedure that would cost $1800 or the horse should be put down.Of course the owner had no money. Oreo ( a B+W paint) wasn't in so much pain that he couldn't put his foot down so we convinced the owner to let us try to save him.Finally ended up excising an area 3/4 inch wide half way up the hoof then flushing it 2X a day with anti-biotic for 3 weeks until we were convinced the infection was gone. Then sealed it with hoof bond with mesh like you repair fiberglass and put a shoe on with clips to keep the hoof from spreading. Finally after 8 months the hoof has grown out, he is sound and being worked.




Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com
The most personalized portal on the Web!