Horse Abcesses
An abscess is a cavity containing pus, which is a collection of dead cells, bacteria, and other debris resulting from an infection.
As the amount of pus increases, the surrounding tissue becomes more swollen. A skin abscess may appear as an open wound or sore, or as a smooth lump under the skin. The skin surrounding an abscess typically appears pink or red.
A horse abscess can occur for several reasons. The usual cause of a horse abscess is an infection involving bacteria or parasites. Bacteria often enter the body via a wound on the skin surface, for example, a small cut or a foreign object such as a splinter.
A horse abscess is a defensive reaction of the tissue to prevent the spread of infectious materials to other parts of the body.
Horses can develop abscesses on any part of the body, including the hooves.
Can Niagara Equissage help with a horse abscess?
Yes it can.
An abscess in the foot is an internal infection in an area that the horse has to continually bear weight on. Coupled with the fact that of course the hoof cannot swell, horse abscess treatment needs to commence quickly to halt the abscess finding its own exit point – often the coronary band, but of course if it does this, then it has destroyed sensitive foot structures along the way.
Once a drainage hole has been created, Niagara Equissage can help promote swifter elimination of pus as it has a stimulatory effect on lymphatic drainage – the body’s immune/defence mechanism. The horse will be sore and most probably lame and it will be reluctant to move around. The lymphatic system needs muscular movement in order to work efficiently – unlike blood, lymph is not pumped around the body so in these cases Niagara Equissage gives nature a helping hand getting the lymph fluid moving and doing its job. Niagara Equissage effectively and efficiently takes the place of the more traditional methods of treating a foot abscess such as tubbing the foot in Epsom Salts (Epsom Salts act as a drawing agent), or using a poultice (of course you can still apply a poultice as well). Pus being bacteria is a toxin; an alien addition to the body so Niagara Equissage by its very action speeds up the elimination not only of the pus but also any “residual” associated debris.
In the same way, Niagara Equissage is just as effective at aiding the rapid healing of an abscess elsewhere.
Application
Using the Back Pad in conjunction with the Hand Unit will provide a great result very quickly (a medium setting on the Back Pad coupled with a medium/high setting on the Hand Unit). For the foot, apply the tip of the Hand Unit, and for other areas apply either the rubber cup or the complete Unit to the area immediately adjacent to the site of the exit drain and just hold it in place for up to 10 minutes.
A horse usually becomes sound or is dramatically improved within 24 hours but continue to use the Hand Unit for a few days to be sure that all traces of pus are extracted. Likewise for other sites, continue with a daily application for a few days after healing appears to be complete.
Testimonials
See All- “We have used our Niagara Equissage for over two years for a wide variety of injuries, and noticed improvement, and in some cases remarkable improvement in our rehab program. In one instance, there was a very dramatic reduction in the healing time of a fused hock. In another, the healing of a splaced tuber coxae, i.e. “dropped hip”, was considerably improved. Horses acclimate quickly to the treatment and appear to enjoy it.”
- International 3 Day Event Rider
The Brandes Formula really helps to keep my horses feeling 100% on long journeys, and I have also noticed a big improvement in their stamina and focus when I have given it to them before the cross country phase. The AfterAce has improved the freedom of movement in all of my horses this year, and has really aided in their recovery from the stresses of eventing - both products are an important part of competition and daily maintenance for my horses.
- "I use the Niagara Equissage on a regular basis at home and would not dream of going to a show without it. Our horses are athletes and we expect tremendous fitness and performance from them. The Niagara Equissage helps prevent injuries so we can have healthy, comfortable, riding partners. It aids tremendously in the warm up and cool down phases of work. The horses always look forward to their massage time!"
