Foot abscess often occurs when horses experience varying ground conditions between dry and soft or muddy. There is evidence that horses that are unshod are more prone to this condition particularly near the white line when there are cracks in the wall of the hoof.
Horses with foot abscesses can be mildly lame initially but this may progress to non-weight bearing as the abscess grows. The abscess can sometimes self-drain and then reseal and grow again producing lameness that varies in severity.
Diagnosis A hoof affected by this condition will often be hot and sensitive to pressure. The leg above the hoof may be swollen, particularly if the abscess has started to drain. The drainage point is often along the edge of the hoof (coronary band).
There may be a dark spot or a crack visible near the white line on the bottom of the hoof indicating where the abscess has drained. This tract can be explored by our veterinary team with a hoof knife and will run towards the centre of the hoof.
X-rays can be helpful too, especially if there is a foreign object in the hoof, or in rare cases when the bacteria produce gas. Horses with hoof abscess may or may not respond to nerve blocks.
Treatment You could probably write a whole textbook on foot abscess treatment as there are many levels of severity and complications.
In straightforward cases, we will make a narrow hole to establish drainage of the abscess and also to allow a poultice to be applied to help the pus drain effectively. A narrow hole will help your horse start using the hoof quicker after the infection has been treated.
Poultices are relatively easy to use these days, rather than the old, large wads of cotton wool with venus turps and thick bandages to keep it in place. These days poulticing for a week is much easier, as long as the feet stay dry.
When re-examining at the end of the week, the horse should no longer be lame. The whole process may need to be repeated if the hole has sealed up too soon and infection re-establishes. When this treatment is successful, the whole can be plugged with betadine-soaked cotton wool until a farrier can shoe the horse and cover the hole with a breathable packing. |