Hoof abscesses

Abscesses

DEFINITION:

An abscess is an extremely localized infection, which is generally "walled off" within the hoof capsule. There are numerous causes for such infections; however, the primary causes are fungal infections, puncture wounds, and seedy toe. Left unattended, an abscess will migrate up the hoof capsule, following the path of least resistance, until it eventually "blows out" through the hoof wall or, often, at the coronary band.

When a horse has a hoof abscess, it is a pus-filled cavity, the pus consisting of tissue fluid, white blood cells, cell debris, and bacteria. An abscess in a horse's hoof is particularly troublesome, because the sole and hoof wall cannot expand with the buildup of pus. This causes a great deal of pain, and can lead to separation of the sole or hoof wall and the pedal bone, if not treated appropriately. A sole abscess is often the result of a puncture wound of the sole of the hoof, or a sole bruise that becomes infected. A hoof wall abscess, also called "gravel", develops when a tiny particle of dirt or debris works its way into the tissue beneath the hoof wall through the less dense "white line". As the infection develops, it travels up the hoof wall, between the laminae tissue, following a path of least resistance, often breaking out at the coronary band.

Simply put, an abscess is the way a hoof rids itself of dead cells and damaged tissue caused by trauma to the internal structures of the hoof. Much like a boil or pimple, pus forms and festers and sooner or later, out it comes. It can burst through the coronet, the sole, the bulbs, the frog or wherever it finds the easiest path.

SYPMTOMS:

lameness

altered hoof flight pattern

altered hoof landing pattern

black track following line of infection

focused sensitivity concussion sensitivity

PREVENTION: provide clean and debris free environment

TREATMENT:

Abscesses must be opened and drained from the ground surface; otherwise, they will migrate up the hoof capsule, extending the period and the severity of the lameness. Since opening an abscess is an invasive procedure and often involves contact with sensitive tissue, a veterinarian should be contracted to debride the infected area and administer appropriate medications and tetanus vaccines. Treatment varies according to the practitioner, some recommending a complete paring out of the infected and surrounding area, followed by application of a shoe and pad. Others, myself included, prefer a less invasive approach and recommend providing a small drain hole which should be left open for extended drainage and application of medication(s), poultices, and/or soaks. Soak his hoof for 30 minutes a day in warm water and Episom salt. (about 3 tbs. to a hoof boot of water) Within a few days he should be feeling better and you'll probably find an exit hole either in the sole or the coronet, don't be too impatient though a really big abscess might take as long as a week to burst (sometimes even longer).

A compromise approach, which is more troublesome but returns a horse to service more quickly, is to provide a small opening for drainage and medication (Pack absecss hole with betadine on gause, or mix betadine with sugar until it's a paste, then pack in absess hole, and wrap with vet wrap and duck tape). My general recommendation is to treat the area with Betadine or Zenadine (a tamed Iodine) before packing the opening with cotton, soaked in Zenadine or Betadine. The hoof should then be duct taped to ensure that no foreign material enters the infected area. This procedure should be repeated every day until the opening is dry and healing (usually about a one week period). If I suspect the abscess is still active, I'd apply a poultice (I prefer using Animal Lintex) for at least one day prior to the above treatment.

The timetable for complete healing of an abscess varies, if you are concerned that the abscess is not healing as it should or think that you may have misdiagnosed the problem be sure to contact your Hoofcare Specialist for further assistance. Horses who have had laminitis, severe contraction, navicular syndrome or other serious hoof problems may suffer from frequent abscesses for up to two years.

Sometimes a hoof abscess cannot be found, for example if it is deep in the heel/frog/bars region. In this case, rather than cutting away a large part of the sole or frog (it would be a long time before the horse could bear weight on this foot again!), applying bandaging and leaving the horse in a box-as is often done-one should wait until the abscess finds it own way to the outside. Soaking in warm water with Episom salt, which soften the horn, are helpful. The pain will lessen as soon as the pus comes out by the coronary band; however, this can take a few days.

For several days afterward, one should bathe the hoof daily in water with a bit of fruit vinegar. Natural hooves with normal circulation (and therefore good blood supply) are very regenerative.

Wrap It Up!

If you have a foot abscess or any type

of foot injury that needs to be protected,

here is an easy way to keep the medication

in and the bandage on!

Materials Needed:

1. DUCT TAPE

2. SCISSORS

3. GAUZE PAD or 1/2 of a diaper

4. SHEET of PAPER

5. FLAT, DRY SURFACE

5. Pick up the piece of paper with the tape and gauze on top and place on a flat surface next to your horse.

9. After several wraps, extend the tape around the end of the hoof about

3/4 inches.

10. Continue wrapping 5 or 6 more times.

An injury wrapped like this not only keeps all outside elements out of the problem area, it also takes pressure off the sole and provides a padded weight-barring surface that is hard to wear through.