D is still not right

[bevbob]

Oh glad theres an improvement, hope you get your trimmer out soon too.

[DalesLady]

Glad to hear it!

I can't see what harm a poultice will do either.

Duck tape - I used to think it was duct as well, - you can also get elephant tape! I thinkk duck refers to its waterproofability

[harveydales]

lol Thanks Penny, I always wondered why it was called duck tape!

So glad D is less foot sore, what a relief. I hope Jane is with you this afternoon.

[leannwithconnie]

Sorry to hear about D Linda...hope the foot trimmer turns up today for her. It's terribel when you keep getting conflicting advice.

[dalesponyrider]

Still no word from my foot trimmer and I just can't get through to anything other than her answerphone. I've got to ring the vet with a report tomorrow and I haven't had her feet trimmed yet! Ahhhhhhh!

[SuzieP]

Oh no!! That's not like Jane is it? Maybe she's having her baby.....??

[dalesponyrider]

Spoken to Jane. She is coming out on Friday now. She doesn't want to do what the vet wants, she has a totally different approach to abscesses. She thinks D shouldn't have been given antibiotics and that it would be wrong to cut the hoof away to find the abscess to drain it. She wants it to come to a head itself, D to be given painkillers and just let the abscess burst out the soft part of the foot at the back by itself. The vet wants her to cut the hoof away to let the abscess drain. They both sound as convincing as each other when I talk to them and I am just getting more and more confused and frustrated as time goes on. I wish I knew what I was doing.

[harveydales]

Oh God Linda, how frustrating and confusing! You must be in complete turmoil. I don't know what to say. All my experiences with foot abscesses have been treated Jane's way but obviously each case must be considered individually. If it can be treated without cutting away a lot of hoof, so much the better but clearly your vet thinks it is necessary. I have read of severe cases needing antibiotics although have never experienced this myself. Why can't things be straightforward?

It sounds like your vet is waiting for the trimmer so you've got til Friday to see how D progresses. Perhaps it is for the best that Jane can't come out til Friday, gives you all more time. I wish I could be of more help and give more support. I've got my fingers crossed that now D is back in her usual routine with you, she will feel reassured, her immune system will kick in and the abscess come to a head quickly on it's own.

Thinking of you

[zeldalithgow]

My books say that giving ABs can lead to grumbling abcesses that reoccur and another says that making a medium sized hole is better than a large hole which can lead to more pain.

In very severe cases Metronidazole is injected into the drainage hole daily for 2-4 days

[lucydales]

Glad Jane rang, Linda.

I don't know what to advise either. My only experience of abscesses was when D was with me and my vet didn't recommend ABs and only cut a small amount of hoof back where it had erupted so it could be poulticed (which I did for about 2 weeks until Jane came out to trim and she said it looked all right and to just keep adding the eucalyptus - D was sound at that time and charging about like a good one).

I think I would worry about removing too much hoof structure, and would be more inclined to follow the pain-killers route.

Andy Beck (one of the best ethologists I've found) has just reported on one of his herd who got an abscess that he "kept on with his exercise regime and that the abscess burst out and the hoof returned to good health". He said that "the traditional method would have been to cut the foot open to release the poison and then rested the horse, but then the circulation would have been poor and the chances and rate of healing greatly reduced." This makes sense to me in that in the wild horses will get abscesses, but if they stop moving they die, so they have evolved to keep moving and still get better.

The only thing I can say, Linda, is look at it logically, and do whatever you think makes the most sense to you. It is also a credit to your relationship with D that she trusts you to do things for her. Please don't under estimate what that pony thinks of you!!

Big hugs to you, D and Joe.

Oh yes! Put your nurses hat on!! What do they do for abscesses in people?? Steve had a tooth abscess which they gave him lots of courses of ABs for for over 6 months but which kept coming back. He finally had the tooth out at hospital which drained the abscess properly and it all healed up quickly.

[emmadales]

How is d doing now ?

[carolinec]

All this conflicting advice just sounds so confusing Linda.
I'm so sorry that D is so poorly, neither of you deserve this bad luck.

[dalesponyrider]

D is quite comfortable at the moment. I can only hope she stays that way but she was like this before I went on holiday. I thought she was sound and dandy, then she went down hopping lame again. It keeps coming back. Hopefully Jane will be able to tell me on Friday if we are winning or not. I am poulticing it still with disposable nappies and hot bran. D is very patient about it all and doesn't seem to mind standing her foot in a washing up bowl full of hot water for me!

[nars]

It must be really difficult for you when your trimmer and vet disagree. I feel for you. Poor D. All I can say is follow your instinct on this one.

[harveydales]

I'm glad D is feeling more comfortable again. I'm sure both the poulticing and having her Mum around is helping. It is such a worry and horrible to see them in pain and not know what to do for the best. Hopefully Jane will be able to put your mind at rest.

Thinking of you both and sending healing vibes. xxxx