Veterinarians have the ability to provide analgesia/pain relief, antibiotics as needed, and ensure the horse is up to date on tetanus prophylaxis.” Farriers are typically very good at localizing and draining hoof abscesses however, veterinarians should be, as well. RELATED CONTENT | At a Glance: Hoof Abscesses (Free Download)īurns adds, “It is a gray area for a lot of people, but it is my opinion that the first call should be to the veterinarian for a suspected abscess just like any and all lameness issues. He says he has no problem with experienced farriers treating mild abscesses but emphasizes the importance of involving a veterinarian if the abscess is too deep within the hoof for the farrier to access and treat comfortably, if the farrier can’t find the abscess, or if there’s minimal to no improvement within a few days. Once the abscess drains, much like a pimple, pain and lameness typically resolve quickly.īecause most owners see their farriers every four to eight weeks, Lesser says, many call them when they suspect an abscess. “If you don’t realize an abscess could be on the table, a lot of owners worry their horse has broken a leg, but the vast majority are abscesses.”īurns says affected horses generally have an obvious digital pulse (bounding in the artery along the side and back of the pastern and fetlock) and show resentment when you apply hoof testers.

“Abscesses usually present as acute, non-weight-bearing, or severe lameness,” Lesser says. It’s a little pocket of infection (and, once the body responds, white blood cells and other inflammatory mediators) that can be incredibly painful when it’s trapped and applying pressure within the rigid hoof capsule. Think of a hoof abscess as a zit in your horse’s foot. Hoof Abscesses 101īefore we delve into chronic abscesses, it’s important to understand how a “normal” abscess works. Travis Burns, CJF, TE, EE, FWCF, chief of farrier services at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine’s Equine Podiatry Service, in Blacksburg, Virginia, and Craig Lesser, DVM, CF, a podiatrist at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, share the most important things owners should know when dealing with chronic abscesses. We consulted two horse hoof experts to answer these questions and more. Why do some abscesses heal quickly while others linger? Why are some one-off occurrences while others keep coming back? And why do most resolve without complications, whereas a pesky few turn into potentially life-threatening issues? But in some cases abscesses can become just as frustrating and costly as their more serious counterparts. A quick prep is all that is needed on the hooves prior to application.In most cases hoof abscesses resolve completely without the time, expense, complications, and varied prognoses that can accompany other causes of severe lameness in horses, such as fractures or soft-tissue injuries. Of course, your horse will need to be fairly patient to stand quietly with soaking boots or your form of soaking equipment for 20-30 minutes to let the solution penetrate. No, it's not difficult to apply a hoof soak. It is recommended prior to commencing any other topical treatments to ensure you are working on a hoof that has had a thorough clean with a topical solution. Is it beneficial for all hoof ailments OR just a thorough cleanse? Especially beneficial in cases such as Seedy Toe, White Line Disease, Thrush, Abscess (during and after eruption), fungal and bacterial infections, canker, softening hooves and clearing debris prior trimming etc. Soaking horses hooves in an effective but mild solution helps rid the hoof and all the 'nooks and crannies' of debris and also allows the liquid to penetrate into those areas which are really difficult to attend to, even with the correct tools on hand.

Clean trax hoof before and after