24 hours is all it took for the team at Emeran Park to turn around a common injury that can sideline racehorses.
The first ever miRunners horse, Saganaki, came up with the abscess which put the team to work to ensure a speedy recovery.
“If you don’t have a hoof, you don’t have a racehorse” is a common saying amongst trainers and something as simple as a tiny abscess can make this statement ring true.
An abscess in a horse is much like a human abscess where there is a localised accumulation of pus that causes pain, predominantly from the pressure build up, which is relieved by releasing the pressure and draining the pus.
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Most abscesses begin with bacteria entering interior hoof structures, usually via the sole-wall junction (just inside the hoof wall). Anything that weakens hoof wall/sole integrity can make it easier for bacteria to invade.
In the instance of Saganaki this past week we believe he had a small crack in his hoof which allowed the opportunistic bacteria to invade the hoof and cause an abscess.
Treatment requires cleaning the foot, locating the entry wound (if possible), establishing drainage, softening the hoof capsule via foot soaks and poultices to encourage rupture/drainage, and keeping the foot wrapped and protected from further debris entering which could cause further infection.
Anti-inflammatory medication and pain relief can be used if needed too.
Although foot soaks can be argued to oversoften the foot when an abscess has ruptured, an antiseptic soak is key to resolving any ongoing issue.
Emeran Park clearly applies so much TLC on top of this veterinary treatment that even the temperamental Saganaki feels at ease while recovering. The difference between Saganaki in these two owner reports (above) less than 24 hours apart is phenomenal and is due to the care Emeran Park take with all the horses in their care.
These owner reports also show just how inclusive the owner experience is at miRunners. We don’t want to shy away from presenting any information for owners. Even when it is not a pretty report we want all owners to fully understand and learn about their horses and everything horse ownership can offer.
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If you would like to be part of our inner circle of ownership, units in our two available horses are just $275. Monthly fees are $15 a month for your first unit and $5 for any additional horses. Be quick, as four out of our six horses are already sold out.
