[Hazelwood Flock]

My best (sod's law) shearling ram had an abscess in his back right foot just above the outer claw. I consulted the vet who prescribed tylan for 5 days plus metacam for the pain which I duly gave him. The abscess continued to grow, and I could stand it no more so ran the ram in to the surgery. The locum vet lanced the abscess, and drained the pus, prescribing pen/strep and more metacam. That was 5 days ago with little improvement, I am having to sqeeze yet more pus from his foot every other day as the wound scabs and it swells again. Is there anything I can flush out the pus with? I'm keeping up the AB cover, but until the inner foot stops producing pus it will never heal....help!

[Blinkers]

Oh poor Finigan - he must be pretty miserable with that thing still throbbing away in his leg.   What about a poultice?    I used one on a ewe lamb some years ago who had a mystery pusy foot for weeks - and it eventually drew everything out.   I taped it on with good old Vetwrap.
 

[jaykay]

I usually flush abscesses with salt water, a teaspoon of salt to a pint of warm water.

[Sbom]

You need some hydrogen peroxide, you can buy it from the chemist. Mix it as it says and syringe it into the abscess, it will fizz all the goo out and clean at the same time. We use it with the horses it's great stuff. Don't tell the chemist it's for an animal though, they can be abit funny about it!

[MarvinH]

Out of intrest what would you tell the chemist the hydrogen peroxide is for?

[jaykay]

Dyeing hair blonde 

[Sbom]

Well when I went I had no idea what it was so I read the bottle and it said it was used to treat bed sores! My back up plan if they asked was I was buying it for my Nana! It was on the shelf and no one asked-luckily. I think it's the 10% solution, only a few pounds and it lasts for ages.

[kaz]

You can get  a ready made poultice from your farm suppliers normally it is in a sheet and you cut to size and then wrap the self clinging bandage to keep in place.  This draws the poison out quite quickly. Keep changing until no sign of poison coming out of wound. I used this with really good results on a lamb that had a nasty abscess on the side of his leg directly above his hoof about 3 years ago.

[SteveHants]

Out of intrest what would you tell the chemist the hydrogen peroxide is for?

Home-made detonator? No?

[Sbom]

Think I'd rather say that than admit I had bedsores!

[YorkshireLass]

Is there a thorn/foreign body still stuck in there perhaps?

[Hazelwood Flock]

I've salt water bathed it again, but seems to be bunging up as fast as I clear it. Fortunately Henry is a patient chap, but he is getting fed up with it now!

[funkyfish]

I'd agree with poultice - it used to be called Animalintex or something? will draw out pus and ant foreign body if present.

[Bramblecot]

Hi HW,  Did it start before the floods - maybe someting nasty lurking in the water?  The chemist in Bridders will not sell you anything if they know it is for animals.  but they do have something called 'drawing paste' to be used as a poultice.  I have some at home if you need it.  Or I can always do the dumb blonde act for you if you need anything bought

[kaz]

I'd agree with poultice - it used to be called Animalintex or something? will draw out pus and ant foreign body if present.

That's the stuff. Couldn't remember the name without going into the med cabinet. It will really draw out the pus. I found that my lamb had run something quite nasty into its leg and the poultice worked a treat.