My horse has an abscess on his face?

Question

This is the second time my horse has gotten an abscess on his face. His face gets really swollen and hard and has only a tiny hole where it drains. What causes this & do you have any suggestions as to caring for this? Has anyone else had this happen?

No need to call me an irresponsible horse owner. This has just happened and he is not in any severe pain. I have talked to the vet and they said if it got any worse they would come out. I was just curious if anyone else has had this issue. I love my horse more than anything and he is very well cared for.

Answer 1

An abscess is usually from a wound that has healed over on top but not underneath it eventually comes to the surface and ruptures.
Mix up some epson salts like you were going to soak your feet, dunk a washcloth in it and do warm compressions on your horses face atleast twice a day. This will help draw out the infection.

Sometimes it has to be lanced, have all the dead tissue cut out and have a drain placed in for it to properly heal.

Especially since this is the second time this has happened I would have a vet check it out. Most likely she will need antibiotics as well.

Answer 2

If the second time your horse has gotten this, I would take blood test and search for any allergians as well. biopsies or culture tests.

Does it have simularities to strangles by any chance?

I would be concerned if his face got really swollen. Then his air way is at risk while you are not around. I would have the vet take a look and drain it. At the same time, medicate it to what it is diagnoised with.

I have had strangles, purpura (secondary strangles, fatel if not taken care of asap) and abscess in the hoof/legs.

"The cause of most skin abscesses is usually a closed-over puncture wound where foreign matter, such as dirt or a splinter, has penetrated the skin. Abscesses under the jaw are often caused by an internal infection or disease such as strangles. Internal abscesses also occur on the liver, lungs, and other areas and are usually associated with generalized bacterial infections."
http://www.todayshorse.com/Articles/SkinConditionsandHomeopathy.htm

I would give you more info but I know that is a lot to read from me. lol so, best to google it and read up on it on Equine skin condition sites and also have a vet take a look at it.

My oldest gelding got one in his hoof wall and it was painful for awhile. I just got him trimmed a week prior. so, I am sure that is why. I just soaked his hoof in warm water two times a day and walk him lightly. Mostly let him do his own walking since we have the land and he and the other's roam

Answer 3

Well depending on where the abscess is and how often does this happen. When you say abscess, does it get a big knot and then drain or what. There is so much more info I need. If you would like to send me more info maybe I can help you so much more I'm not a vet but have been around horses all my life and know alot about [e-mail]

Answer 4

Just to add to some of of the other good replies - antibiotics have their place, though I generally try to avoid them where possible... but if the vet prescribes them, they know better.... anyhow, back on track... I use vitamin c powder - available at most good stock feed outlets. Horses do produce their own, but their bodies also have to cope with modern crap just like ours do i.e. exhaust, etc., and I've found vit c very useful in boosting their own supply whenever my horses are sick (colds, etc.), travelling a lot, and any time they get a wound of any sort. It really helps speed the healing and wards off infection.
About a tablespoon per day in the feed usually does the job, depending on the size of the horse.
I successfully healed a horse who had an abcess behind her eye and an old hock injury that flared up at the same time. I assisted the vet when it was first noticed - the eye lid was lanced, she was given antibiotics for a week, then it flared up again. Boy was she sick of being needled!! That's when I started adding the vit c to her feed.
I'm not at all saying replace what the vet prescribes, but give it a go on top of keeping it clean, without torturing your horse try gently keeping the drain hole open, and following vetinary advice.
Oh, and yes horses do injure themselves. Don't feel bad, see if you can find what caused it. It may be something as simple as a sharp grass-seed or a splinter off a stable door. ...and (sticking up for you, here) not everyone has a vet 5 minutes away... we have one vet for a 100km radius, so sometimes, unless it's life threatening the wait can be a week or so. Arm yourself with as much first aid knowlege as you can get your mitts on, there are loads of vetinary first-aid type books and natural therapy books you could have on standby, just in case you can't get a vet straight away.
Good luck!

Answer 5

Abscess On The Face

Answer 6

Our horses came down with a strep virus that abscessed from under their jaws we just made sure they drained out completly and applied nitrofurazone to keep the opening clean. Try to keep it bug free too. If it's up on his face he might be rubbing and nicking the skin but making such a tiny hole that it plugs right away and becomes an infection. Good luck

Answer 7

I agree with Kate. I would just like to add that things can happen to any horse owner no matter how responsible you are. You may want to try giving him an injection of penicillian if he is in pain. If the salt soak doesnt work, then call your vet. He will probably put him on an antibiotic to relieve the infection.

Answer 8

Well instead of being a repsonsible horse owner/lover and calling a vet immediately instead of letting the poor horse be in pain and actually taking care of the problem and getting the horse a real and proper diagnosis and exam and medication, ask a bunch of strangers on the internet who are not vets!

SIDE NOTE TO THE POSER: If you had an abcess on your face, you think it would not hurt and you would not be in pain? lol. The horse can't tell you it's in pain now can it?

Answer 9

An abcess is an infection - usually from a minor wound or insect bite. You can put a warm compress on it to help it along. Keep flies off him with a fly hood, so you don't end up with maggots. Also, check his stall and other areas for nails or sharp things sticking out that he might have nicked himself on.

Answer 10

Call a vet