Ask the Vet: Equine Hoof Abscess
Over the last fewweeks of clinical practice, I have had multiple calls from various owners stating their horse was fine when they fed last night, but today, they are non-weight-bearing lame on one of their limbs.
More often than not it turns out to be an abscess within the hoof causing significant pain. Luckily with quick intervention, most horses make a full recovery.
Causes of a foot abscess
Foot abscesses occur when bacteria get trapped between the hoof wall and the sensitive laminae, which connects the coffin bone to the hoof wall. The bacteria usually travel up a small break in the hoof capsule causing pus to form. The pus willbuildup creating anunbearable pressure.
This condition can happen at any time of year, but is most often seen during the wet winter and spring months. The moisture in thegroundcauses the sole to soften allowing easier penetration for bacteria.
is presenting a Lunchtime Lecture Series Wednesdays, through July 29, from noon to 1:15 p.m. Grab your lunch and your device, and join the lecture for a sumptuous conversation with Daniel Lockert, Jenny Matteucci and special guests. For information and tickets, visit https://mendocinomusic.org/events/category/ education/ lecture/.
Mendocino Film Festival Virtual Cinema Series
The Mendocino Film Festival Virtual Cinema Series will be featuring more films in the coming weeks. MFF receives 50 percent of every ticket sold. Two new films will be added to the virtual cinema each week, through July 31. More information and trailers can be found at https://mendocinofilmfestival.org/virtual- cinema-series/.
Grace Hudson Museum reopens with ‘TheWorld of Frida’
After 112 days of being closed, the Grace Hudson Museum reopened on July 8. “The World of Frida” exhibit was organized by Carrie Lederer, Curator of Exhibitions, Bedford Gal
environments during this pandemic.”
The implication is that not every school district has prepared for students’ educational future. While Savage declined to name the dis
Hoof abscesses can also be caused by a nail from a shoe that was placed too close to sensitive tissue or a hoof abnormality that could be congenital or acquired throughan injury. It canalso be caused by a rock or stone bruise that triggers the formation of an abscess after trauma.
Diagnosing a hoof abscess
It usually takes multiple days for an abscess to form, but only becomesnoticeable when the horse becomes extremely lame from the buildup of pressure within the hoof capsule.
It is advised to call your veterinarian to helpwith the diagnosis of a foot abscess. A diagnosis is usuallymadeby your vet takingahistory and performing a clinical exam. Your vet will often evaluate the horse’s locomotion and increased heat and inflammation within the foot and lower leg. The change in blood flow to the area will cause increased and palpable digital pulses in the affected limb.
Palpation at the coronary band, where the hair meets the hoof, or at the heel bulbs can often be sore. Your veterinarian will use hoof teslery, Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek. The exhibit features 62 works of art by national and international contemporary artists paying homage to Kahlo and her legacy. The exhibit runs through Aug. 16.
Grace Hudson Museum hours are now 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Visitors will not be admitted without a facial covering or if they are ill. The Sun House and Gift Shop will remain closed. Admission is FREE for the month of July. The Grace Hudson Museum is located at 431 S. Main St., Ukiah. For more information, call 707- 467-2836 or visit gracehudsonmuseum. org.
Willits Community Theatre online lineup
Willits Community Theatre will be presenting a selection of its popular shows from the past through an online streaming platform.
Subscribers to the platform will be treated to favorite gems from the vast archive of WCT’s videotaped stage performances, including main stage hits, the Speakeasy Monologue presentations, one-act plays by local playwright Don Samson and other delicious performances gems.
The streaming lineup is tricts that he said “are just a little slower to the game,” he underscored the importance of the letter’smessage, which included a list of CTA’s recommendations for moving forward with reopening.
These include not just basic Health Department, Cal- OSHA and CDC guidelines, such as reduced class size and district-provided ters to help locate the exact location of the foot abscess. They may also want to use an x-ray to help determine abscess location within the foot and to help confirm their suspected diagnosis.
Treatment
Abscesses often choose to take the path of least resistance to rupture out. This could be out through the solar surface or out at the coronet band or heel bulbs. The foot usually needs to be soaked with drawing agents such as Epsom salts and betadine solution to help draw the pus from the foot.
The foot should be wrapped with a poultice drawing agent 24 hours a daytohelpdrawtheexudates out. There aremany products that can be purchased over the counter that work well at drawing. There is therareoccasion that your veterinarian may need to intervene to surgically open up the abscess to establish drainage.
If an abscess is left untreated it can cause damage to the structures within the foot such as the coffin bone or laminae. Once drainage is established it is important to keep the foot dry and clean until the hoof can heal and harden back up. Your veterinarian may prescribe antischeduled to run through December, according to Producer Mike A’Dair. The schedule for July includes: “Speakeasy One” July 17; “Fore Plays, Fore Real”, four one-act plays by playwright Don Samson on July 17; “Love Letters” by playwright A.R. Gurney and starring Kelly Kesey and Rod Grainger, streaming from 5 p.m., Friday, July 24 until 4 p.m., Saturday, July 25. Unless otherwise noted, all selections will be available indefinitely for streaming.
For more information on the schedule of shows and how to subscribe for viewing, visit Fans of Willits Community Theatre at its new website: wctperformingartscenter.org.
Fridays at Five!
Even though the SFJAZZ Center continues to be dark for the immediate future, their goal in bringing enjoyment to their Members and patrons through music continues to be their focus. Available free to current SFJAZZ Members or through a one-month, “$5 Fridays at Five” digital membership, this weekly series features exclusive footage from some of the most memorable SFJAZZ concerts from the past few years.
From Arts Council of Mendocino County
essential protective equipment, but also creation of protocols for illness, daily cleaning and disinfecting and fully-paid COVID-19 FMLA leave.
The CTA’s requests also include educational planning that recognizes inequities thatmay be increased during the pandemic.
“Providing a one-size-fitsinflammatories and antibiotics if they deem necessary and depending if other structures within the foot are involved.
Prevention
Routine hoof care will help protect your horse from experiencing an abscess. This includes; cleaning their feet out regularly to remove rocks and to check for foreign bodies. It also includes regular trimming to help leave an appropriate amount of sole for protection and to maintain proper balance. This may also include putting shoes on your horse or placing boots on feet when riding for extra protection.
If you suspect an abscess you should contact your veterinarian for an appointment to help intervene early for the best possible outcome.
Did you know that the Arts Council of Mendocino County has a COVID-19 Resources and Response Page? If your inbox is like ours, it’s full of reflections, news, responses, pleas, surveys, CARES ACT information — and the list goes on. We are gathering the links and information that may be of use and organizing everything in one place at the ACMC Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources and Response Center. Each week will feature a new project. The Mendocino County Arts Council can be reached at 707- 463-2727 or artsmendocino.org.
California Arts Council updates
The latest California Arts Council updates, plus important links and resources for California artists, cultural workers and creatives on the coronavirus pandemic can be found by visiting their website at cac.ca.gov/. all plan will not ensure equitable access but will only serve to lead some students further behind. We call for plans to have multiple options that will allow academic and social-emotional growth for all students.” The letter goes in- depth into what those plansmight look like, again noting that union bargaining issues at play would be needed to negotiated sooner rather than later.
Finally, the letter addresses the community’s role to adequately fund education. The California Teacher’s Association recommends passage of Proposition 15, the Schools and Communities Firstmeasure in the November election, in part to stem educational cuts likely to be exacerbated by Coronavirus’s impact on the coming school year.
Savage says the takeaway from this letter should be that “we want tomake sure our students, staff and communities are safe,” and it requires advance planning and union negotiations to do so.