[hil529]

Is there anything I can do to prevent abscesses? Im talking like suppliments or things. Is there anything out there that actually works that helps prevent the formation of abscesses and just have generally sounder feet?

My guy has not so great feet, but they are not horrible. However, I am now loosing an abscess battle that I need to win! I have never had my horse abscess before (although I have handled the care of a good few) so I am sort of at a loss.

My fields are on the dryer side. They have been a bit harder lately with no rain but in the past week it has really gotten much better. it is never muddy. I didnt have a problem until early July. Now its just insane. This is his 3rd abscess since July 6th!! I take care of his feet. They get picked every day (sometimes twice) he gets kerotex gel every other day unless it is really dry out, then he gets it every 4 days. I have been told to put him on venice turpentine on the soles of his feet. Does that really work?

Also, his most recent one (today) blew through the top of his foot! It is really sore to the touch. How exactly do I go about caring for that. I cannot pack or poultice it obviously b/c its on the top of his foot. Do i just try to wrap it to keep it clean? let it go with just soakings?


I need some insight here. Please and Thank you!!

[PeggySue]

I had a chronic abcessing horse until I changed farriers and to a ration balancer...

if they aer being caused by the hard ground and bruising there is not alot you can do

[Dusty1979]

Fortunately, I haven't had much experience with abscesses. The couple I've had were minor and broke out at the coronary band.

You could put some icthamol salve on the area. Since the abscess broke, it was ripe and should be well on it's way to healing.

Is your farrier paring out an excessive amount of sole when trimming your horse? If the sole in being thinned too much, this will predispose your horse to developing an abscess through bruising.

I hear your frustration. This has to be very upsetting just when you thought you were going to be able to start riding again. I hope you can get to the bottom of what is causing these abscesses in your horse.

[4horsem0m]

What is his diet, and what do his feet look like, got any photos?

I haven't had an abscess with my horses in 4 years (since having horses) *knocks on wood* I thought I had an abscess, but looking back I believe he bruised his sole instead.

[hil529]

His feet were in rotten shape when we got him. His racing toes were never corrected so he had no heal and way too much foot. none of his feet were even, just not a great job. MY farrier has done wonders with him. He really doesnt touch his sole as it is so sensitive. He took out a good bit on his one foot when we found the abscess b/c of the way is foot is it was pinching all the sensitive tissue from the abscess. That is really it. But that is nearly all better now. This is a whole different foot!

his diet has been the same since he came off the track at 2 (he is now coming 6), or so I was told. He is on Strategy and beet pulp with a multi vitamin and a joint supplement. I totally forget how much weight wise as it hasnt changed. I use the standard plastic scoops and he gets 1 1/4 of strategy and then 1/3 dry beet (of course I soak it before feeding, but measuring it out before hand. I will try to figure out exactly how much to give you a better idea.

and frustrating is defiantly an understatement!

[Faith04]

my poor little foal got her first abscess at age 3 months!!

Here's an extract from a horse herbal book by Victoria Ferguson, I use a lot of her remedies/herb and they are really very helpful.


Horses prone to thrush, seedy toe and abscesses ae usually lacking adequate copper in their diet. This can be rectified by feeding rosehips granuals at the rate of 2 tablespoons twice daily for an average sized horse as well as Australian Seaweed.
Calcium and silica are also important minerals for the health of the hoof. HIgh grade dolomite fed at the rate of 1 tablespoon twice daily for the average sized horse provides calcium and a little silica. Oats and millet are very high in silica.

Hope this helps a little. It's by no means a quick fix but it will definately help for the long tearm.

[AintNoSaint]

Talking supplements - Farrier's Formula. http://www.lifedatalabs.com/index.php?act=farriersformula〈=us
Has always been recommended to me by farriers.

[JBandRio]

Chronic abcessing is generally due to either poor hoof form, chronic mild laminitis, a diet lacking in sufficient nutrients, or a diet too high in sugars (Strategy is about 25% NSC, on the higher end, though certainly not the highest out there). The other usual suspects are poor environmental management, but that does not sound like the case at all here.

[BonnieM]

Send a PM to Sue B. She helped me (last summer) with a diet for my JR who was battling canker/abcesses & generally unhealthy feet. We put him on a ration balancer, flax seed, rice bran, vitamin E and a high quality hoof supplement (in addition to pasture and quality hay). He was amazingly improved in 6 months, and his feet are in wonderful shape/condition now. I am continuing with her suggestions.

BonnieM

[sarahhowen]

Hi Hil529, sorry to hear that you are having issues, I to have a TB mare that is prone to abscessing and at the moment she is currently off with one. Your question is one that I asked my vet when she came out last and she advised that some horses are just more prone to them than other (great help isn't it) my mare is as she has terribly turned in front feet although she is never lame on them other than the occasional abscess. My vet did, however, recommend feeding her Biotin as it promotes healthy hoof growth it should help her in the recovery stages. Do you poultice your chaps affected areas when he get an abscess?

When you say the current one blew through the top of the foot, do you mean the coronet band? is so I would still poultice it, wrapping the whole foot with vetrap and then Gaffa tape or duct tape over the top (ensuring that Neither are not to tight!)

This is one post I will certainly keep watching as it is a problem quite close to my own heart!