D is still not right

[dalesponyrider]

While I have been on holiday D's abscess flared up again. This is the third time it has done it and this time she wouldn't let anyone near her foot. Until I came home last night that is. She let me scrub and spray it under a bit of protest but I managed it. Not sure if she if feeling better or if it was just because it was me. She is on antibiotics again and I've got to ring the vet this morning to decide what to do next. He wants my foot trimmer to see her asap but I can't get a reply from her when I ring. If I can't get through before I ring the vet I think he is going to be cross. The other thing would be to get a farrier out but am I likely to get a new farrier at short notice? I think probably not!

Really need some healing vibes for poor D. She isn't very comfortable and I could do with some "successfully getting something organised" vibes for me too! LOL!

[AliandDolly]

oh no poor D i hope she feels better soon sending D a big pain relieving hug and you a big hug. i hope you can get a farrier at short notice especially with it being an abscess

hugs

ali xxx

[harveydales]

Poor D. I'm glad she let you get to the foot at least. Have you texted Jane? Will PM you.

[jec248]

Sorry to read this. Abscess's are really painful. I hope the antibiotics clear it up soon.

Doesn't your vet have a telephone number of a farrier that he can ring in an emergency? I know our vet does.

Hope it is sorted pretty quickly.

[greydales]

Poor D, I am sure she co-operated because it was you Linda and perhaps the ABs have improved things as well. Really if you can't get hold of a farrier it's hardly your fault is it - I'm keeping fingers crossed you can get hold of Jane asap.

[felldale]

Sorry to hear that D is no better. Sending loads of healing vibes for her and for you both....

[DalesLady]

poor D! Any idea at all waht may have caused the abcess yet?

I hope you have some success getting hold of Jane and D is more comfortable soon.

[dalesponyrider]

I have managed to speak to Jane and she is going to try and come out this week. She says to hot bran poultice it, 2 hours at a time, twice a day. Also said antibiotics weren't the best thing.

Spoke to vet, he says he doesn't like poultices, if she is on ABs and it is cut away so it can drain I am best leaving it bare, spraying with Alamycin and leaving her out to walk on it.

I have poulticed it for now but am getting more confused by the day!

[greydales]

No wonder you are confused! I can ask Richard my trimmer for his take on it if you like.

[Debbie]

Its so hard to know what to do for best when you've got the vet telling you one thing, and the farrier another.

Sending you and D both loads of positive healing vibes

[SuzieP]

I'm not surprised you're confused either! I can't see what harm a poultice can do as long as it's not encouraging the infection to proliferate - a bran poultice is an age-old remedy and sometimes these are the best. I can see why the vet thinks walking on it is a good idea as this will encourage the blood flow and hopefully aid drainage.

When Alfie had his abcess on his jaw the vet discouraged ABs early on as he wanted it to drain (and jolly stinky it was too!) and for Alf to try and fight the infection himself. I had to soak cotton wool in the hottest water my hand could bear and hold it onto the abcess until it went cool, then do it again, and again. Alfie loved it! LOL That's poulticing isn't it?

Poor you, Linda. You'll be wanting to do the best for D and getting conflicting advice won't help at all.

Sending lots of healing vibes for D and "organisational" vibes for you.

[zeldalithgow]

No wonder you are confused Linda, I too can't see the harm in a poultice especially if it's only left on for a short while.

I've just had a look in some books, tubbing the foot twice a day with Epsom salts is suggested in one.

Sending lots of healing vibes to D and to you

[harveydales]

How confusing to be given conflicting advice!

Like Sue, I can't see what harm short term poulticing will do providing you ensure the "exit hole" is clear afterwards. It can only help encourage the puss to drain out. I think both Jane and the vet are wanting D to walk about which so that the movement and pressure will encourage the abscess to drain/burst and keeping the foot open to the air is best.

I've been told by both vets and farriers in the past not to give antibiotics when the abscess is already there. When my lot came down with Strangles many years ago, the horses which hadn't formed abscesses were given antibiotics and those which had were left for their own immune system to deal with it. Same when Quest had Seedy Toe some years ago but maybe veterinary thinking has changed and all cases are different.

How is D this morning? It's frustrating that it has turned wet again - I bet it would have cleared up by now had the ground stayed hard and dry.

[bevbob]

Oh poor D, hope she is a bit better soon.
I have heard epsom salts is good for abscesses too, there seems to be a lot of horses with abscesses at our yard too, with all this wet weather its no wonder.

[dalesponyrider]

D isn't so footy this morning. I've not heard from my trimmer yet, she was going to come last night or this afternoon, so I'm not sure if she is coming or not now. I've been poulticing it with hot bran and disposable nappies which seems to work quite well. I'm surprised how well it stays on with duck tape! (I always thought it was called DUCT tape but the packet says DUCK?) D has also been very good at standing in a bowl of hot water. She really is being very good for me. Not sure if that's because she is feeling better or because she trusts me more than anyone else. I'll keep trying my trimmer today and I just hope she comes soon!