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  Discussion on Chronic Abscesses?
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Member:
dr3ssag3

Posted on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 - 3:41 pm:

My mare Contessa has yet another hoof abscess. This makes 3 in the past year, and I wonder if they're just becoming more common place. I've had Contessa for 10 years, and despite being in a few abscess friendly environments, she'd never had an abscess until last year. To make the situation more frustrating, she's in an immaculately cleaned stall with a mud-free run that's mucked out daily. Is there a pattern I should be worried about or anything I can do to prevent more abscesses?
Thanks,
Dawn
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Feb 20, 2009 - 9:29 pm:

Hello Dawn,
I do think that 3 abscesses in a year is odd and there are several possibilities. Check out the article Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Hoof Abscesses, Bruises, and Gravels it discusses possible predisposing causes.
DrO
Member:
dr3ssag3

Posted on Friday, Feb 20, 2009 - 11:27 pm:

I need to correct myself. As of today it's four abscesses, ocurring in different feet. I went so far as to physically create a timeline with all of Contessa's non-routine veterinary issues. As far as abscesses go, the first was in the Left Hind, in October '07, then in the Left Front, March '08, Right Front in December '08 and Left Hind again this week.

I'm curious to know if there's something going on systemically as the abscesses are occurring in different feet. I should also mention that in August of '07 I posted about a mysterious swelling in front of her udder; my vet drew fluid from it that showed a fungus and/or colitis (I have to check my records to be sure but they're at the barn). From then, she started developing allergies, and is currently receiving immunotherapy shots. She's on a maintenance dosage at the moment; she began doing immunotherapy in August of '08.

Contessa is in otherwise good health. She receives Adeptus Nimble Mega Nutrient along with a biotin/methionine supplement, probiotics, Omega 3 fatty acids, lo-nsc grain (LMF stage 1), and 2 grams of bute daily. I also have been using thrush remedy once weekly as a preventative measure. So much for that idea. :-(

My shoer says that she's seeing quite a few abscesses as winters here in the northwest are rather soggy, but I can't shake the feeling that there's something more to this.

(And I just realized I posted this under the wrong topic. I apologize for this.)
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Feb 21, 2009 - 10:37 am:

No Dawn solar abscesses tend to local events of the feet as described in the article I references above. Though probably not applicable to your horse, Cushings horses tend to abscess but this is mostly due to conditions of the sole like the seedy toe from chronic foundering.
DrO
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