Hi sally,

Abscess tends to be only one foot, seems to come on overnight, pounding pulse in only that foot, will make the horse 3-legged lame and can be worse than any bout of laminitis. Sometimes there is swelling in the pastern/fetlock.

As awful as it is to watch, the best thing to do with an abscess is to poultice or soak to help draw it out. Numotizine is a good one:

http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=4fa01f0e-3a8a-4ffe-a694-ab474ac070cf

Any NSAIDs that you use for pain (which may not work anyway) will only slow down and prolong the process. Movement can be helpful to get it mobilized and draining. Once it bursts the pain relief is usually immediate.

Lavinia, Dante, George Too and Peanut
Jan 05, RI
EC Support Team