When there's a change in seasons from autumn to winter; the warmth and the heat will be replaced with the cold and wet of winter. Any sudden and impactful weather change brings new concerns for our horses. One such concern from the causation of the wet conditions of the winter is – A hoof abscess.
What is a hoof abscess?
A hoof abscess occurs when bacteria is trapped between the sensitive lamina of the hoof wall or the hoof sole. The clearest indication of hoof access is the expulsion of clear, cloudy, white pus. The expulsion of pus is caused by a build up of pressure from the bacteria within the hoof. The build up of bacteria will place excess pressure on the hoof wall; therefore, causing your horse to be lame.
What can cause a hoof abscess?
A hoof abscess can be caused by many factors, such as standing in wet mud, wet shavings, standing in manure for too long, neglectful hoof cleaning, and neglectful thrush treatment. Horses with weaker hooves, such as those whose hooves may be brittle and unable to hold shoes for a whole shoeing cycle, are more susceptible to a hoof abscess. In addition, horses with tough hooves, if exposed to excess moisture for an extended period - such as that of soiled stalls, muddy paddocks, or excessively wet grass - will also be susceptible to hoof access.
Signs of a hoof abscess:
A hoof abscess may take days to develop within the hoof, however; an indication that the abscess has reached its peak is often overnight three-legged lameness within your horse. At this point, your horse will begin to outwardly express great signs of discomfort and typically will refuse to move unless necessary, to prevent themselves from feeling excess pain. If your horse wears shoes, often you may not be able to see the abscess, as it may be under the shoe. However, in many cases, one might be able to smell the abscess. The smell of an abscess is foul; it's a very distinct sent of sulfuric ammonia
What to do if your horse has a hoof abscess?
Firstly, you and your vet will need to examine the location and severity of the abscess. If the abscess has not popped yet, your vet may accelerate the healing process by lancing the abscess to release the pus. In most cases, taking off the shoe on the affected hoof is recommended to allow the hoof to flex naturally. This extra one to two centimetres of flexion in the hoof will allow the pus from the abscess to be expelled much more quickly.
In either case, whether the shoe needs to be removed or not, the next step would be to apply a layer of hoof packing, or liquid liniment. This will take down the inflammation, dry out the hoof, and draw out the bacteria from the abscess. However, your vet may advise against a packing of liquid liniment and opt for a packing of cotton such as Millsoft. Millsoft will act as a drying agent to the hoof as well as a cushioning layer to your horse therefore keeping the hoof dry as well as alleviating some of the pain your horse may be feeling. In either case, it is strongly recommended to pack your horse’s hoof, to accelerate the healing process. A roll of Rapz® Eazy Tear Bandage can be used to wrap around the sole of the hoof to secure the packing in place. Once the Rapz® is in place, wrap the hoof once more with waterproof tape such as W Tape. Ensure that the bandage will stay in place and will not be damaged by the elements. Adding Bandesive on top of the Rapz®Eazy Tear Bandage and waterproof tape will ensure the bandage stays in place. With consistent treatment and maintaining a dry environment for your horse, the abscess will resolve itself within two to three days.
The most important factor to aid in the healing of an abscess is maintaining a dry environment for your horse. Whether that be a dry sand paddock or a dry shaving within the stall, the hoof mustn't be exposed to excess moisture once the abscess has burst. , as a burst abscess causes a great risk for further bacterial infection. That is why it is highly recommended to keep the hoof both packed and wrapped to prevent any additional bacteria contamination of the hoof.
A clear indication that the abscess has been resolved is the absence of the foul smell and your horse will no longer be lame or look in discomfort.
How to lower the risk of a hoof abscess?
It is important to note that excessively wet conditions caused by the winter months will lead to an over exposure of moisture to your horse’s hoof. Therefore, it is advised within the wetter months, to apply hoof oil to your horses’ hooves to create a protective barrier between the hoof and the exterior moisture variables. Thrush, if not treated correctly or neglected, can lead to a hoof abscess due to the build up of bacteria. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure your horse’s hooves are cleaned and apply a thrush remedy. Thrush remedies are dual action in the fact that once applied they will fight the bacteria build up in the frog, as well as aid in drying out the hoof. Often a horse can be susceptible to hoof abscesses, even when all preventative measures on keeping the hoof dry are taken. Some horses have very sensitive feet caused by multiple variables from their diet and their shoeing, to their genetic predisposition. This may be the case for some horses who may be experiencing other medical conditions such as Cushing’s, laminitis, navicular disease, or those who are metabolic, amongst various other conditions. In such cases, this may allow the manifestation of an abscess. If this is the case, you may need to speak to your equine vet about making changes to your horse’s diet or supplementing with medication. However, the identification and treatment process for an abscess for horses who may bear them, more often is the same.
