How to Treat an Abscess on a Horse

An abscess in a horse can occur from a number of things, including an infected bruise, a foreign object penetrating the hoof or improper trimming or shoeing. Abscesses are treatable and should cause only temporary lameness in a horse. Learn how to safely treat an abscess on a horse by following these steps.

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine if your horse truly has an abscess or just a bruised hoof. Use a hoof knife to clean the sole of the hoof. Gently scrape off the top layers of the sole to check for bruising. With an abscess, there should be an area of bruising or an actual puncture where an object has penetrated the hoof. Hoof testers can also be used to pinpoint a bruised area on the hoof.

    • 2

      Soak the horse's foot in a bucket of warm water and Epsom salts. The water should be very warm but not too hot. Do this at least once daily for a few days. The horse should actually seem more lame as the days go by. The abscess should eventually move to the surface of the sole or hoof wall.

    • 3

      Pare gently into the sole of the hoof if an abscess is apparent. Draining the abscess here is better than having it travel up to the hoof wall, causing more damage. Dig gently with a clean hoof knife only after soaking and cleaning the entire hoof.

    • 4

      Observe the hoof and keep it cleaned. The horse should not appear lame once the abscess has opened and drained since the pressure will be relieved. Keep the area clean so it doesn't become infected.