How to Cure Shoe Boils in Horses

A shoe boil refers to the inflammation of the bursal sac on a horse's elbow; it is caused when the horse lies down and the horseshoe rubs against the elbow. Surgery is usually ineffective, because the elbow is constantly moving. Untreated boils cause the horse a great deal of pain, impair mobility and are frequently infected. Shoe boils are often treated -- and prevented from reoccurring -- with non-surgical measures.

Things You'll Need

  • Shoe boil ring
  • Hay
  • Straw
  • Water
  • Needle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Buckle a shoe-boil ring around the horse's pastern. This acts as a guard, and prevents the horseshoe from rubbing against the elbow when the horse lies down. A shoe-boil ring prevents the injury from happening in the first place. It prevents the boil from worsening if it has already formed.

    • 2

      Add more bedding to your horse's stable. This acts as a spacer between the elbow and the shoe. This is known as a deep-litter bedding system. Build up to 18 inches of bedding to provide extra cushioning. The elbow and shoe have less contact with one another, giving the boil a chance to heal.

    • 3

      Apply cold water to the area. Cold water washes -- followed by aseptic aspiration -- is often successful. Consult a vet for the correct way to perform aseptic aspiration, which involves using a needle to burst the boil. Vets typically recommend administering an injection of a corticosteroid to reduce the size of a boil.