How to treat a hoof abscess?

June 05, 2024

We have all heard the old saying 'no hoof, no horse' and with wet weather we have been experiencing of late, our Vets have seen an increase in the occurrence of hoof abscesses.

You can never be too prepared when it comes to caring for your horse. With this in mind, we have put together a Foot Abscess Poultice Pack which is available on our website.

Great to have onhand in your tack room.

All bandages are individually wrapped for easy storage.

Our pack includes:

✅️2 x Animalintex Poultice Dressings (209mm x 406mm)

✅️4 x Elastic Adhesive Bandages (7.5cm x 2.7m)

✅️4 x Cohesive Stretched Bandages (10cm x4.5m)

Foot pain is one of the commonest causes of lameness in the horse. The most frequent cause of equine foot pain is pus in the hoof, which is properly called a sub-solar abscess. This is particularly common during a wet winter, when moisture, dirt and bacteria track up through tiny cracks in the hoof. Infection then rapidly develops, with a build-up of pus within the confines of the hoof, which is extremely painful for the horse.

Signs of abscess in the horse's hoof In the early stages of an infection there may only be a slight lameness. However, this condition may progress to the point at which the horse is so sore, it will not put the foot to the ground – it is literally hopping lame.

Other signs include:

Increased heat in the foot – the affected hoof may feel hotter than the others

Increased pulse – feel it at the side of the fetlock

Pain and discomfort

Swelling up the leg, which may be mistaken for a tendon injury

Pus discharging from the coronary band.

If the abscess is not drained from the bottom of the foot, it will often burst out from the coronary band