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A sugar poultice is used in treating wounds to a horse's feet and legs. A poultice maintains constant moisture and medication without damaging the hoof, draws fluid out of the wound and allows the abscess to fully drain and dry up. Sugar is an excellent antibacterial and anti-fungal, and re-establishes healthy pH balance to effected tissue. The combination of sugar and Betadine is referred to as "sugardine." Sugar draws the infection out of the wound and keeps the flesh from dying, and the Betadine fights the infection. Applying a sugar poultice is highly effective in treating equine wounds, resulting in…
Alternatively soaking a hoof in warm water and Epsom salts and then packing the hoof with a drawing poultice, such as Ichthammol, are common methods used to help draw an abscess out of a horse's hoof. Packing the hoof allows the Ichthammol to remain in constant contact with the hoof, but avoids the softening of the hoof wall that can be caused by continuous soaking.
A gravel is an infection that starts at the bottom of the foot. The infection works its way up between the white line and the hoof wall to the top of hoof, bursting at the coronary band. It can take a few days to a few weeks for the infection to work its way through the hoof. The whole process is very painful and the horse will become very lame. Many times people believe that the horse has injured itself much more than just a having a gravel because there is heat and swelling. The tell-tale sign that it is…
Hoof injuries are one of the most challenging aspects of horse ownership. Horses spend the majority of their time standing up, and an open hoof wound can make it difficult for the horse to move normally. A number of methods exist to treat hoof wounds, although one of the simplest, and least expensive, involves disposable baby diapers and a roll of duct tape.
Farriers and veterinarians use a sweat wrap to trap heat on a horse's inflamed legs. The sweat wrap combines the use of a heating agent or liniment with layers of cellophane, quilting and bandages. On the other hand, a poultice is left exposed to the air as much as possible while keeping the poultice on the horse's limb. The two treatments use different means to treat similar injuries, but can be combined as well.
Pete Ramey, author of "Making Natural Hoof Care Work," describes the equine sole as "the first line of defense between the horse and the ground." Over time, the sole calluses into a very dense material, with the purpose of protecting the underside of the hoof. Abnormal hoof wear, inappropriate trimming of the sole and wet living conditions all can lead to soft soles, often translating to foot soreness. Left unchecked, soft soles can lead to bruises and abscesses. Deb Greenough, a second generation farrier and former world champion bareback rider, recommends a simple, yet effective, solution for hardening soft soles:…
Cat bites frequently become infected, since cats' pointy teeth create puncture wounds that may inject bacteria into muscle tissues. Areas bitten by cats will swell and leak fluid. Epsom salt has natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties, and it will absorb moisture from a bite to help it dry out. A solution of Epsom salt has a mild antiseptic effect but is not concentrated enough to penetrate a cat bite. An Epsom salt paste would be more beneficial.
A hoof abscess is an infection in the hoof that causes pain and leads to lameness. Horses that have a history of seedy toe (a separation of the hoof wall from the sole) due to chronic lameness are prone to abscesses; however, any horse is susceptible. An abscess is not life threatening; but if not treated, it can become worse and lead to serious hoof problems.
Horses have retained a strong, wild survival instinct that sets them apart from other domesticated animals. This instinct in the horse can work against the owner during shoeing, but if an owner can assert their authority the shoeing process becomes safer and simpler. Horses rely upon a social hierarchy within the herd. In times of food shortage, or limited space, horses will battle each other. Once a winner is decided, the violence subsides; it rarely erupts again unless a particular horse disagrees with its status. An owner can train a horse to respect her as a dominant herd member by…
An abscess can stop a horse in his tracks, causing severe pain in the hoof. The abscess is an infection and can be cut open by a veterinarian or farrier if it is close to the sole of the foot to relieve the pressure, but that is not always the case. If the abscess is higher up in the hoof and cannot be cut out, the foot may be soaked in Epsom salts to draw out the fluids, but it will take time to heal. The abscess will ultimately run its course by moving up the hoof and making an…
When a horse of any age is diagnosed with intermittent colic, further examination may be necessary, especially when feces do not pass after treatment for colic. A perirectal abscess can cause blockage and dyschezia.
Epsom salts, also known as magnesium sulfate, can be bought fairly inexpensively at drug stores. They are used in humans mostly as laxatives and an anti-inflammatory agent, but in horses, they are mostly used to help feet. They are also used as a supplement for horses, but this has to be done very carefully, because too much magnesium sulfate can be detrimental.
A coronary hoof abscess is a dangerous bacterial infection that is often developed by a horse following an injury to the coronary, which is located where the hoof meets the skin. Some signs of a coronary hoof abscess are cuts or bleeding at the infection site, heat or swelling present along the coronary band, the horse refusing to put much weight on the injured leg and restlessness or moodiness. Any changes in your horse's behavior are cause for a medical examination. Since the coronary is responsible for the growth of the hoof, any abscess located there must be treated immediately.…
When it comes to caring for a major equine injury, few things are as simple and as effective as Epsom salts. Primarily magnesium, the crystals could easily be grown at home using just basic chemistry principles. Epsom salts are an essential part of any horse owner's tack box.
When it comes to lameness in our horses, there are a myriad of possible causes, but most lameness occurs in the hoof. Fortunately, many cases of unsoundness have simple and common causes, and of these cases, a large percentage are caused by hoof abscesses. If you're out looking for guidelines on diagnosing abscesses, you probably already know what you're looking for. Gone are the days of taking the lame horses out behind the barn. Armed with a little knowledge and a common sense approach, you can be the catalyst that gets your lame horse on the road to recovery.
Everyone has an opinion on how to treat horses for hoof abscesses. The old cowboys and lifetime horse aficionados swear by soaking. Today's contemporary farriers suggest that soaking may not be the best idea, as it softens the hoof to the point of displacing the coffin bone and causing navicular disease. But whatever stance you take on the issue, the bottom line is your horse is lame and that infection must come out. An abscess occurs when a foreign object, commonly a nail, a rock, or any number of other sharp matter, punctures either the soft tissue of the frog…
A hoof abscess is an inflammation of the tissues in the hoof. Pus between the structures of the hoof causes pressure and swelling; causing the horse to experience lameness in the infected hoof. Abscesses are common in horses transitioning from shoes to bare feet. While the horse was wearing shoes, the hoof was unable to rid itself of bacteria. After the shoes have been removed, impurities that have long been trapped inside the hoof are able to drain, this drainage takes the form of the abscess. Though an abscess can be worrisome, it is a sign that the horse's hoof…
An abscess in a horse can occur from a number of things, including an infected bruise, a foreign object penetrating the hoof or improper trimming or shoeing. Abscesses are treatable and should cause only temporary lameness in a horse. Learn how to safely treat an abscess on a horse by following these steps.
Checking the digital pulse helps evaluate pain and inflammation in foot and hoof. Finding the pulse at your horse's foot takes experience and expertise, but most people can learn the basics with some practice.
