In the Pacific Northwest our pastures are quite muddy much of the time. For years mud has been used therapeutically as a poultice because it can soften the hoof. Because of this softening mud also causes the most common hoof problem we see. During the winter and spring veterinarians may see, several hoof abscesses weekly! Typically these horses are on pasture at least part of the day, but the condition is also seen in stabled horses. The problem although slow in forming, appears suddenly. This is true with many horse ailments; we may have a hard time understanding how a chronic problem has made itself known in what appears a rapid onset. I think an easy way to understand it would be to imagine a leak into a bathtub with the drain closed. This leaky faucet may drip for a long time without any consequences but one morning you will wake up with a flood on your floor. Similarly, hoof abscesses or infections form over a long period of time. The mud, feces, and water soften the hoof and help a crack form. These cracks can be very thin, a hair's thickness or less, and usually imperceptible to the eye. Once a crack is present there is a break in the natural protective barrier of the hoof, and bacteria, which are normally found everywhere, (and in much greater numbers in dirty stalls) invade. These bacteria can live within the hoof without any outward sign but when the crack seals up the horse will definitely let you know there is a problem!

The problem is one of pressure buildup. As the bacteria multiply they occupy more and more space. As the tiny pocket grows with bacteria, the body recognizes the foreign invaders and through the blood circulation sends white blood cells (WBC) to combat the infection. When WBC's accumulate we know this as pus. So, the build-up of more and more bacteria along with pus forms an abscess. This abscess is at first sore and hot but as it continues to grow it literally bursts at its seams and the pus migrates through sensitive uninfected tissue. This pressure and migration causes a tremendous amount of pain. Just think of how painful a pimple (subcutaneous abscess) can be; now imagine a pimple on your heel and add a thousand pounds! It's easy to understand why horses with hoof abscesses are lame. In fact, they are so sore that they can make a horse "broken bone lame" or non weightbearing on the limb in question. Few things besides fractures cause as severe a lameness.

Often an abscess is thought by owners to be a coronary band injury. This happens because as an abscess migrates it naturally seeks the easiest path to release the pus. Frequently the horses sole and especially the hoof wall are too hard to allow migration and as a consequence the area of least resistance is the coronary band.

The treatment for a hoof abscess involves opening the abscess, allowing it to drain, and cleanliness to prevent the opening from becoming re-infected. Paring or peeling open an abscess is the most rapid and effective treatment. If an abscess is suspected yet difficult to find, soaking the foot in hot water and epsom salt and followed by a clay based poultice between soaks is helpful in softening the foot and making it easier for an abscess to surface. Antibiotics are usually not indicated for hoof abscesses as their penetration into the hoof wall and sole is limited due to the poor circulation to these areas. The major exception to this is if an abscess is suspected of migrating into the foot, in this case antibiotics are essential. Keeping current on tetanus vaccination is also a must. For a more detailed description of treatments including soaks, poultices, and antibiotics please see the page on our web site about Hoof Abscess Aftercare.

Treatment for a hoof abscess, although usually not an emergency, does require prompt attention. Frequently when veterinarians are called out to examine hoof abscesses the initial complaint is thought to be shoulder lameness. Foot pain causes horses to carry their legs in such a way that it is often confused with shoulder pain. It is useful to remember that hoof and foot problems are many times more common than shoulder pain and any lameness of 2 or more days duration should be quickly attended to. A hoof abscess, if unresolved, can lead to a much more serious bone infection in a short time.

Now to address the title of this article, namely, hoof care in the Pacific Northwest. The best way to deal with a hoof abscess is to prevent it. This is easily accomplished by following good hygiene, basic horsemanship and hoof care principles. These include picking out the sole and frog at least once daily, and before and after every use of the horse. Clean stalls are also a necessity and they should be cleaned of all wet bedding and manure at least once daily. Urine and feces act to soften the foot and supply the needed bacteria. Thankfully this condition appears to be somewhat seasonal and is more prevalent after it has rained for a while (February - June). One final observation, this condition is almost never seen in stabled and pastured horses that receive daily foot care and spend their stall time on clean bedding.

In addition to daily hoof hygiene, horses also need routine maintenance by a farrier. Feet that are neglected can suffer from severe cracks, often requiring months to heal, and may never heal if not attended to. Unbalanced feet can lead to permanent arthritis and other long lasting lameness. Sometimes hooves can be soft, flaky, or shell like and require more than regular maintenance. Many supplements and dressings are available for the hoof and are often very helpful in returning the hoof to health. Supplements containing methionine, biotin, and zinc help build strong healthy hooves. The author has found 100% methionine supplements to be adequate on many occasions. Hoof dressings can be found in many forms and can be very helpful in restoring moisture and resiliency to the hoof, this author has found preparations with pine tar as well as lanolin helpful in certain circumstances.