Another Abscess

I've been home sick with a flu bug, so I wasn't able to go out to the barn yesterday. When E went out on Friday with her grandpa J, Curly was not moving at all. Today, however, he was getting around pretty well. When E cleaned out his hooves, she discovered a small puss-filled wound on the fleshy part of his left front heel.

Uncleaned abscess, on the left side at the hairline.

So it appears that what we thought was a pulled muscle was actually an abscess that hadn't come through yet. Now that it is draining, Curly is in much less pain. I put an Epsom salt poultice on the spot for 30 minutes or so to draw out any remaining infection and then flushed out the wound with some Betadine. We'll repeat this process over the next several days.

Vet wrap bandage holding poultice in place

This abscess is soooooo much easier to care for than last winter's. It's in a better spot, not as large and just plan easier to keep clean. He'll be ready to ride again in no time at all!

I suppose I should retract my earlier insult and state that my horse may not be such an idiot after all. :-)

And follow up the retraction by saying that he was actually quite patient during all my ministrations today. What a good boy.