Still Working On That Abscess
So, I’ve been spending a lot of time with my horse lately. Instead of ropes and carrot sticks and saddles, however, it has involved epsom salts, rubber tubs, lugging hot water, vet wrap and a lot of duct tape.
I noticed that he was just a hair off in his left hind the day before Thanksgiving. It was a minor hitch, so I wasn’t too worried. Three days later, he had a cut above his heel. On closer examination, it was apparent that he had an abscess that burst. It was clean, nothing was seeping, and he was sound. I kept it wrapped for a few days with a drawing agent (for any remaing pus) that the vet had given Dave and Tracie when Marahute had an abscess.
Then it came time to remove the vet wrap and duct tape boot. Saying that Ace was a bad patient is a little bit of an understatement. I was holding him while Dave tried to remove it. It was ok for a few seconds, and then Ace’s foot started flying. Hard and fast is also an understatement. He was relaxed and looked like he was practically asleep on the front half while the back half was kicking wickedly. It took a good half hour, some arena time picking up his feet with ropes, and eventually we got it off. But after that he wouldn’t let us get anywhere near that foot without kicking.
There wasn’t a lot we could do to take care of him when he was trying to kick our heads off. Fortunately, the foot was cool, the cut looked good, and he was sound.
For a few days I fought with him enough to at least keep the cut clean and sprayed. And he started letting me handle it better. Dave and I also discovered during this time that a little smack on the butt was enough to stop that foot from flying. I hardly give him more than a love tap, but he thinks I’ve just taken a huge chunk out of his flesh and immediately behaves himself. I guess it’s a little like a mare who nips her foal to keep him in line. Ace just needs to be reminded that I’m the boss of him and he needs to behave himself. So, since that discovery we’ve had a much better time of taking care of him.
I kept his foot wrapped for a few days with some furazone ointment to encourage the cut to heal to heal. And it was looking really good.
Then Saturday I went to check on him and there was a lot of heat in the foot and he was a little bit off again. Not taking any chances, Ace has been on a five day soaking and wrapping regime, to be followed by an every other day soaking for the rest of the week.
Surprisingly, Ace seems to enjoy having his foot soaked. Once I get his hoof in the tub and the water poured in, he doesn’t budge it for at least twenty minutes. He likes to be groomed, so that’s been a good way to keep us both occupied and to keep him from moving. Last night he even turned himself into a pretzel so that he could get a drink of water without moving his foot. I was soaking his hoof in his stall and the water bucket was hanging back by his shoulder. He shifted his front feet just enough and then bent his head laterally all the way back until he could just reach. And he never moved the soaking foot. And then he did it 3-4 more times. It was funny. And impressive.
Tonight is day 4 of the soaking and wrapping. His foot looks pretty good at this point. I’m really hoping that we are just about out of the water (pun intended) with this and that Ace and I can get back to regular work and health soon.
Hopefully I will soon have survived my first health challenge as a horse owner. It’s awfully nervewracking!
Oh no – the baby is sick. But seriously, that kind of worry feels the same for human and animal loved ones.
Sounds like you’re doing great with him. And you managed to communicate in his language. Plus, no one got hurt — and his condition is improving.
Oh yes, the joys of an abscess. Mine lasted 6 weeks! Soaking. Wrapping. My boy liked the soaking too, but not as much as yours! He’s bendy.
Oh dear…I had hoped that all was well after that post about it poping. How is he doing now? poor pony. And poor you! I know that caring for injuries is part of horses, but you just got him! Couldn’t he wait to get a booboo?
How’s he doing? And how are you doing? Good thoughts and wishes are coming your way.
Hey everyone! Thanks for all the well wishes and commiserating.
Last night was the last night of our planned daily soakings. His foot was completely cool, which was a good sign. The heel looks fine (other than the raw spot from the burst that needs to heal). After soaking, I turned Ace out in the arena to watch him move. It was a little hard to get a normal trot out of him because he was too busy bucky, wheeling, snorting, prancing, galloping, and popping up in the air. I take all of that as a sign that he’s feeling pretty darn good.
Just to be on the safe side, I’ll do a few more soaking sessions every other day and keep it wrapped with some ointment to help it heal. Hopefully we’re at the tail end of this thing now.
Whew! Sounds like he’s feeling so good that he’s feeling frisky. There’s your reward, girl, for a job well done. Still, I’d keep soaking it, too, as well as a careful eye on the thing.
That is definitely the plan! I’m not taking ANY chances, especially with a hoof injury.
I’m pretty impressed by him turning himself inside out to get a drink. Shows how flexible he is and it will be easy for him to bend around your leg when he feels better. You’re really doing a good job taking care of his abscess too. We’ve found that a product called Animalintex is just great for every kind of injury and abscesses. Usually we apply it with the boot and it works wonders. When you get through this you might want to check it out.
Hello, again. I hope Ace is improving everyday. Anyway, I finally my “6 Horse Things About Me” post is finally up at http://thehorseyset.net/1314/6-horsey-things-about-me/.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Just found your site on del.icio.us today and I must say I really like it! Bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later.
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