Chewie was off & on last week, and his behavior should've gotten my attention better. Monday, he was wormed. Tuesday, he was "off" - a little limp in his front left foot. I wasn't sure if he was really lame, or just lazy. So since I didn't feel any hot joints, I rode him through it, about 45 minutes total of work. Wednesday, he was limping again - day off. Thursday, he was good, so we rode hard, over an hour of hard work, an hour walk-out (lots of cavaletti work, and about 15 passes over cavaletti's followed by a crossrail, at trot & canter). Friday, he was slow & lethargic. I figured it was from Thursday, as a hard day like that usually does wear him out as that's not normal "work" for him at my riding level. We worked for about 20 minutes Friday, then called it a night.
Saturday, at 6:45am, I loaded him in a heavy rainstorm, headed to Austin for a lesson (hadn't had one in three weeks, so I was anxious to get there). Got slowed by thunderstorms, and finally arrived around 9:45am. Tacked, began lunging,,, EW! Big limp at the trot! I felt so bad having loaded & hauled him just to have him lame. Told instructor, she came to watch lunge. We felt all joints, and front left knee was hot. Put him in a stall, and rode a lesson horse (another post about this, too).
Got to the vet (about 20 minutes from instructor), with a planned appointment for vaccinations. She and about 7 other people felt his legs, and didn't feel heat on the knee. They did a hoof-test, and found it! He almost pulled that hoof out of her hand, which isn't like him unless he's "owie".
The treatment?? Soak 10mins per day in epsom salt & water, apply ichthamol, cotton, vetwrap, and ducttape. Repeat until change in lameness.
Any experiences or suggestions ya'll would like to offer on abcesses & treatment?
Word of the week - Abcess!
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