User:Kmcaloney/sandbox

= Hoof Abscess' in Horses =

What is a hoof abscess?
A hoof abscess is a small pocket of a bacterial infection within a horses hoof. An abscess can start through a variety of different ways ranging from a stone puncture or a misplaced nail on a shod horse. Either way, when a hole or puncture wound has occurred there is a good possibility of infection. A horse's body reacts to foreign bacteria by producing purulent fluid or pus. As the body creates more and more pus, the pressure of the pocket infection gets more and more painful for the horse. The abscess will search for a way out and commonly bursts at a place of least resistance. We commonly see abscess burst from the coronet band or the bulbs of the heel as this is the softest part of the hoof.

Signs of a Hoof Abscess

 * lameness in one leg or hoof
 * limping or refusing to put weight on a specific hoof
 * heat in the hoof
 * strong pulse in the leg and/or hoof
 * possible swelling up the leg

How to treat an Abscess
When treating an abscess the goal is to draw out the infection and help the "pocket" to burst as quickly as possible. If you catch an abscess early enough you may be able to drain it through the sole of the foot instead of having to wait for it to make its way up the foot to the coronary band or the heel bulbs where it can cause the most damage and pain to the horse. In order to treat an abscess, regardless of how early or late you have caught it, you will need:


 * Bucket
 * Warm water
 * Epsom Salts
 * Poultice Pads or a paste of epsom salts & iodine
 * Diaper or Sheet Cotton
 * Duct Tape

The first thing you will need to do is soak the hoof in warm water and epsom salts, about 3 cups of epsom salts in a bucket. Have the horse stand with his hoof in the mixture for 10-15 minutes. After the soak, dry off the hoof and make sure it is clean. If you have the poultice pads the place the pad on the bottom or sole of the hoof. If you are using the mixture then take your paste (made with iodine and salt) and cover the entire sole of the hoof in it. Next you will need to take the diaper or cotton sheet and place it on top of the poultice or paste. To secure your cotton or diaper, wrap the entire hoof with duct tape to create somewhat of a duct tape boot.

You will need to continue to soak the foot and re-wrap until the abscess bursts. After it has burst, you will see immediate improvement in the soundness of your horse. Continue to soak the foot in epsom salts for a few days after the abscess has burst in order to ensure all the pus has been drained. Once the abscess has burst there is no need to re-wrap the hoof.

Preventing Hoof Abscesses
Although abscesses are quite common, there are many things you can do to help prevent them. In order to prevent an abscess proper and regular hoof care is crucial. You should be picking your horses feet every day or as often as possible as well as picking the hooves before and after any work with your horse. Another vital part of proper hoof care is maintaining a regular trimming schedule and/or shoeing scheduling depending on personal preference of shod or non-shod. You can also apply hoof hardeners or oil to keep the feet at a good moisture balance and help prevent cracks or feet that are too soft. Hoof hardeners such as keratex or hoof conditioners like lanolin can help to keep the feet in perfect condition.

Conditions that may bring on hoof abscesses

 * wet footing or muddy conditions
 * hard or dry footing with little to no moisture

As a horse owner, it is your responsibility to ensure your horses living conditions are up to standards to help him stay healthy and happy. Horses should not be kept in extremely wet or damp stalls or heavy amounts of mud. On the other side of the spectrum, horses should not be kept in hard, dry footing such as packed sand or concrete stalls for an extended amount of time. If your living conditions tend to lean a little to the more damp side, then be sure to counter wet footing conditions with a hoof conditioner. If your living conditions are more dry then use a hoof oil to ensure your horse is getting proper moisture in his feet.