It seems every September Blue develops an abscess in his right hoof. When he was barely hobbling around on three legs I called the vet to come out and have a look at him. She pulled his shoe and used the hoof testers and confirmed ,yet again, it was an abscess. She also took a Cushing's blood test on him, he’s now 22 yrs. old, and that came back negative and within range for this time of year. So that was a good outcome. In the meantime I had to soak his foot everyday for a few hours and then I put an animalintex on it and vet-wrapped it and then put a boot on him. He stayed in or wandered around close to the barn while I was mucking stalls and doing the barn chores. This lasted for three days until he was feeling good enough to trot the fence and call for the rest of the herd that had deserted him. I finally just let him out with them. He’d do a lot less damage to himself if he just stood around grazing with the herd than making himself crazy trotting and calling them. It all worked out fine, he knew enough to take it easy. Blue is a bit of a drama queen when he’s injured so I’m sure once he reached the herd he told them just how miserable he was feeling and berated them for flat- leaving him in his hour of need.
The vet showed me a good trick for soaking his foot. Most of you probably know about this but in case you don’t here goes: You use an old IV bag (the vet gave me a few) put cotton in the bottom, then warm water about half way full, then Epsom Salt and Betadine. Shake it up, put the hoof in long ways and pleat/fold it over in the back then tape it up with some very sticky vet tape. Leave the hoof soak for a few hours and remove it. Then animalintex, vet wrap and a boot. It works wonders in a few days. I also had to stop giving him his Equiox until the abscess blew out because that or Bute would slow down the healing process. Here are some pictures of the hoof soaking:
 |
| This worked really well |
Quote for Today
Give a horse what he needs and he will give you his heart in
return.
That is genius. I use a hoof boot for the same purpose but I like this.
ReplyDeleteThis is much easier than the boot or a bucket and it stays on for a few hours without the hassle.
DeleteI’ve seen that method before but never used it - definitely looks like a great way to manage the abscess! Glad he’s on the mend and that he’s back with his herd. And oh, what gorgeous color you’re having!
ReplyDeleteHi billie,
Deletewe're having some nice color but strangely the leaves are falling even the ones that haven't turned color yet. Wonder what that means for the coming winter.
Very smart. I hadn't seen that. My friend's horse just had a bad founder with abscesses, and I went to her barn every few days to wrap it. I used a green gel that I found at our barn store--epson salt poultice--and packed the sole, then a gauze pad to capture the puss, and then a series of vet wrap, vet tape, and duct tape. Sounds like Blue's situation is much simpler with just a single abscess--no laminitis. I wonder why it always happens in autumn. BTW, we had snow today. Can you believe it? Earliest snow in 90 years.
ReplyDeleteNot snow already! Yikes! I like the Animalintex for wrapping the foot. It's easy and works wonders. Hope your friends horse is healing, you were a huge help to her.
DeleteGlad Blue is improving, and excellent that he isn't cushingoid. Val has had a series of abscesses this year - I will try that IV bag hack in the future - thanks for the tip. :D
ReplyDeleteWell I hope Val doesn't need it at all but if he does it's easy enough. Blue just stood in his stall and ate from the hay net until I took it off. Can't really walk around with it on.
DeletePacking feet........ Ugh..... Hope he's back on the mend!
ReplyDeleteHe's pretty much back to normal.
DeleteI have never heard of the old IV bag before, learn something new everyday! Glad he is feeling better.
ReplyDeleteHe is feeling better. Good to hear from you!
DeleteAbscesses are such a pain, both for the poor horse and us! So glad you've found a niche that works and that Blue is feeling better. We went from summer to full-blown Autumn seemingly overnight...downright cold overnight temps, but with bright blue skies and sunshine by day - although they say we're holding at about 10 degrees below average for the time of year. Makes me wonder if we're in for a hard and cold winter? We haven't had a hard winter for several years or more, so I guess we're due. Good to hear from you Arlyne!
ReplyDeleteHi Lori, good to hear from you! It's starting to feel like Autumn around here now. The trees haven't all turned yet but they're starting to. I heard we're in for a hard winter but you just don't know until you get the weather. I don't have a lot of faith in weather forecasters. It just is what it is day by day. Blue is doing much better thanks.
DeleteHave not heard of using an IV bag, thanks for sharing. You are always a wealth of information! Glad Blue is back with the others. It's better for them IMO, unless they are really bad. Your Fall photo is absolutely stunning, no doubt the view is even more so in person. I wouldn't get anything done at your place, other then soaking in all the beauty that surrounds you!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks it is pretty here especially in the Autumn. Unfortunately, there's not much time to sit back and enjoy the view as you well know with your own farm. The work never ends and I never seem to catch up with all that needs to be done.
Delete