Hoof Abscess
A hoof abscess is an infection within the hoof capsule that can cause considerable pain and lameness.
Cause
A hoof abscess can occur for a number of reasons:
- Direct puncture from an object such as a nail.
- Incorrect shoeing
- Poor hoof management such as shoes being left on for too long.
- A hoof crack
- Grit penetrating the wall of a shod or barefoot horse.
Symptoms
The horse will often show various symptoms which can include:
- Lameness, which can be constant or intermittent. In severe cases the horse will not want to place any weight on the infected hoof.
- Heat and swelling down the back of the lower leg, similar to that of a tendon or deep bruising injury.
- Heat around the hoof wall.
- Digital pulse is lower leg is often raised and strong.
- There may be heat and a raised area around the coronary band. In some cases the abscess will burst out of this area.
Treatment
A qualified veterinarian or farrier
should be called to find the location of the abscess with hoof pincers. Once the area is located they will usually pare a hole in the sole of the hoof or cororonary band to allow the infection to drain out. Then a poultice should be applied.
Applying A Poultice
First of all ensure that you have all the equipment that you will need; bucket and small clean scrubbing brush (nail brushes are good) to thoroughly wash the area, clean sterile bowl for the poultice, boiling water, animalintex poultice, veterinary gamgee, vetwrap, protective over boot.
To put on a poultice:
- Cut a piece of poultice suitable for the area and place in a clean bowl and cover with boiling water.
- Cut a piece of veterinary gamgee large enough to completely cover the poultice, this will act to provide an insulating layer around the poultice and adds a bit of protection to help keep the area clean.
- Thoroughly wash and scrub the area with an antiseptic wash such as hibiscub or salt solution.
- Then take out the poultice and squeeze away any excess water and ensure that the poultice is not too hot, then place over the area of the abscess.
- Place your veterinary gamgee over the top of the poultice.
- Bandage around the area using vetwrap to hold the poultice and gamgee in place.
- Place your horses hoof into a poultice boot which will further help to keep the area clean and can help prevent horses who like to chew bandages from removing the poultice altogether.
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