Hoof Abscesses in Horses

Updated September 16, 2024 | By: Danvers Child, Certified Journeyman Farrier and Hoof Health Consultant for SmartPak

Hoof abscesses, often seen in wet environments, are a debilitating and potentially life-threatening issue that should never be treated as routine.

Signs and Symptoms of an Abscess

Resulting from a bacterial infection within the hoof capsule, an abscess generally causes a horse to have an acute lameness. In fact, horses experiencing an abscess may present with such sudden, severe, and profound lameness that people may think they have a broken leg.

The classic symptoms of a hoof abscess include:

• A horse that is unwilling or unable to bear weight on the affected leg.
• An increased level of heat in the hoof.
• An elevated or “bounding” digital pulse.
• In some cases, there may be swelling at the coronary band, which could extend into the pastern area.

Overview of Hoof Abscesses by Farrier Danvers Child

Watch this video overview of abscesses by SmartPak's Hoof Health Consultant, Danvers Child, CJF.

What Causes a Hoof Abscess?

Although the hoof provides a barrier against the elements, it’s not impermeable. The hoof wall is about 24% to 30% moisture-based, with the moisture levels changing constantly as the horse’s environment changes. Examples of environmental changes include moving your horse from their stall filled with dry shavings to a muddy paddock or going from a sand arena to the wash stall for a bath. These fluctuations in moisture level multiply the number of opportunities for bacteria to enter the hoof capsule.

Any break or disruption in the hoof wall, white line, or sole can potentially allow contaminates (like dirt, manure, urine, etc.) to work into live tissue and establish a bacterial pocket. Cracks in the wall or bars, flares, puncture wounds, seedy toe, severe thrush, folded or neglected bars, and old nail holes all provide opportunistic pathways for contaminants to gain access to sensitive live tissue and potentially result in an abscess.

Abscesses most often originate on the solar surface of the hoof (bottom of the foot that’s against the ground), primarily in the white line (the junction of the wall and sole, where the sensitive and insensitive tissues attach). The white line not only extends from the toe to the heels, but also follows along the bars and terminates near the apex of the frog.

Abscessation from Growth to Eruption

Due to the relatively high moisture content of the hooves and the constant fluctuation in moisture level, contaminates that enter the hoof can occasionally get trapped or sealed off within the capsule, creating pockets of bacteria. In such cases, an extremely localized infection is established, with the hoof acting almost as if it were an organic petri dish, providing an environment for the bacteria to flourish and grow.

Following the Path of Least Resistance

As the pocket develops, the exudate or pus within the bacterial pocket attempts to expand. This creates severe pressure in the area as the infection seeks an outlet or vent. In doing so, it migrates or moves and follows the path of least resistance until it eventually erupts.

Recovery Time

Unfortunately, this can result in a long, painful process. As the pocket migrates and moves into different areas, it may stall briefly to build more pressure, or it may find an area where it runs laterally. The path of least resistance is not always fast, and in some cases (especially where the abscess runs laterally and undermines the sole), an untreated abscess can take not just days, but weeks, to resolve.

Ask the Vet Video on How Abscesses Develop and Rupture

Watch as Danvers explains how long it takes for a hoof abscess to burst.

Treating an Abscess in a Horse’s Hoof

Most farriers and veterinarians prefer to intervene early and attempt to treat the problem as quickly as possible. After using diagnostics to isolate the specific problem area, the practitioner will typically make a small opening in the bottom of the foot for drainage. Once the drain or vent is opened, the foot can be soaked and/or poulticed to help draw the remaining infection from the pocket or affected area.

Unfortunately, the hooves don’t heal in a traditional sense like a wound on the skin. instead, they must re-grow or re-generate. So, although the abscess has been fixed, there remains an opening or “fault” within the hoof. This opening will quickly begin to cornify and harden, especially with the application of topical hardening and toughening agents.

Nevertheless, there’s a remaining fault, which offers an opportunity for re-infection. It’s often necessary to protect this area and/or to continue a treatment protocol that involves regular cleaning, packing, and bandaging as you wait for the new hoof to grow. An abscess vented from the bottom will resolve more quickly than one that’s allowed to vent at the coronary band.

When to Call the Vet

It’s always best to involve your veterinarian when an abscess presents, and this is especially true with horses that do not improve with treatment, as well as those who have repeated or recurring abscesses. These signs could indicate a more serious condition such as laminitis, fracture, sequestration, or a keratoma.

While radiographs and other advanced diagnostics are not a common first approach when diagnosing an abscess, they are a valuable tool that your vet may opt for to learn more about the cause and its severity. Another important reason for veterinary intervention is to ensure that your horse is current on tetanus vaccinations and boosters. Due to the acute pain associated with many hoof abscesses, your vet may administer some type of pain medication.

Tips for Supporting Hoof Health

Although it’s impossible to completely prevent the chance of an abscess, there are some simple steps owners can take to support healthy hooves. Regular maintenance, moisture control, and good nutrition and supplementation can all contribute to overall better hoof health.

• Regular maintenance by a qualified farrier is one of the absolute best ways to avoid an abscess. Regularly scheduled trimming keeps the hoof tidy and minimizes flares, stretched white lines, seedy toes, folded bars, and other flaws that provide pathways for bacteria to invade the hoof capsule.
• Although regulating moisture can be difficult, controlling turn out times, avoiding excessive bathing, removing manure and soiled spots, and using hoof sealants can be useful.
• When using topical hoof products, the use of a sealant, rather than a hydrating or oil-based product, is generally a wise choice. Likewise, using a moisture-regulating product like Keratex Hoof Hardener can be useful, especially when horses are constantly shifting environments.
• Finally, good nutrition and supplementation are paramount to solid hoof health, as well as overall well-being. Hoof supplements can enhance the overall integrity of the hoof capsule, helping you and your farrier maintain a quality hoof.

Ask the Farrier Video on Recurring Abscesses in Horses

Watch this video if you have a horse that seems to have reoccurring abscesses in the same area or spot of their hoof.