Spring is Here! Watch Out for Horse Hoof Abscesses

Dr. Foss treating a horse abscess this spring

Spring brings many things. One of them is hoof abscesses. Check your horses daily for limping and lameness. Hoof abscesses can creep up over a short time and can make your horse very sore. Call your vet and make an appointment right away if you notice your horse limping for more than one day, or if your horse refuses to put weight on a leg. The following instructions are written for treating hoof abscess that have been seen by Dr. Mike Foss, DVM.

Please consult with your veterinarian prior to treating any lameness yourself.

Hoof Abscess Care

1) Soak hoof with warm Epson Salts ( ½ cup to ½ gallon of water) twice daily until the limping stops. Then soak once daily for 3 more days.

2) After soaking, pack the hoof with Sugardyne. Sugardyne is made with sugar and betadine solution mixed together to a make a thick paste. Wrap sole of hoof with duct tape and apply an Easy Boot to protect the hoof. Keep the duct tape on the hoof, not over the coronet band.

3) Once the limping stops, the hoof needs to be protected with the Easy Boot and packed with the Sugardyne for 2 more weeks. Change the packing every 2-3 days. Check with your veterinarian for any changes to these instructions.

4) Antibiotics are sometimes used. In your horse’s case, consult your veterinarian about using antibiotics.

5) Make sure Tetanus vaccine is current within the last 6 months.

6) Anti-inflammatory medications are often used. In your horse’s case, consult your veterinarian about using anti-inflammatory medications.
7) Consult your veterinarian if the limping does not go away after 7 days or if it returns.

Hood River Alpine Vet Open House 2009

Hood River Alpine Veterinary Hospital welcomes children young and old to this year’s annual open house. Come tour our facilities inside and out, as we show you everything from our laboratory to our surgery suite. Our staff will be giving guided tours and explaining what we do here and the importance of veterinary medicine for all household pets and livestock. Your children will learn about how to prevent dental disease in your family pet by regular tooth brushing. We will show fun and interesting x-rays, where your children can see what puppies inside a pregnant dog look like, as well as more unusual x-rays, such as a fish hook in the tummy of a curious puppy. The Skamania County 4-H Cat club “C.I.A” will be giving cat showing demonstrations. The highlight of the visit is a free time for the kids to meet the various friendly animals we will have visiting for the day. This year will include a menagerie of donkeys, horses, cows, and alpacas, as well as our most popular attraction: baby chicks, ducklings, and goslings. After each child sanitizes their hands, a small snack will be provided. Last year 500 kids grades 1-2 came to our open house. Let’s see if we can break that record! Groups small and large are welcome. Or, come by yourself and we’ll send you in with another group. Please call to schedule a time to take the tour. The date is 5/8/09 and the hours are 9am to 2pm. We will be closed 12-1pm for staff lunch. Our clinic phone number is (541) 386-6658.