Farrier was out today after past 3 days Perch. being lame on right back. Slight stocking up of affected leg (majority of cannon bone) and notable heat up near coronary band slightly toward lateral side of hoof. He thinks we should snugly wrap cannon bone, carry wrap down to top of hoof (covering coronary band) and wonders if "sweating it" would help? Not sure what's to be used to "sweat" something (never did it before)...but i had been soaking it in warm water and epsom salts in a bucket (have no boot)in the days before he came. Should I continue soaking as before, then rewrap, perhaps with ichthammol applied to coronary band and then leave the wrap and ichthammol on until next soak? Appreciate your opinion and advice.

It does sound like an abscess. If the swelling remains dented after pushing on it with your finger, then it is stall-stocked, and endemic swelling that is happening from a lack of use on that leg. If it does not stay dented, or is extraordinarily hot, I would get a vet out there to look at it. It could be a lot of things at that point from a sprained suspensory ligament to a bowed tendon. I would not wrap if it is stocked up, but I would treat the abscess with soaking, epson salts, and exploratory knifing on the foot where you think the abscess is so that it will drain.

Thank you for your advice. I have been soaking in hot water/epsom salts and applying ichthammol to the coronary band. He is walking on it much better these past few days and will even allow the opposite leg to be lifted for hoof picking w/out trouble. The swelling has gone down, so much so as to be barely imperceptible. However, some heat at the coronary band still remains. I have yet to see any drainage at this point. I will be checking on him again this evening after work. Again, thank you for your response and advice. I did stop wrapping the leg after the second day and have not wrapped it since.

PS - I thought "sweating" was done for aesthetic appeal around the neck/jowel area for show horses?? I had never heard of sweating an area prone to abscess (only simply soaking it).

Happy Holidays to you all!

Just curious, I have been out of the draft business for awhile, but have used "sweating it" before. Wasn't this an old remedy for a bowed tennon? If I remember it was an application of a product called "sweat it" that smelled and felt like Vicks to the tenth power. After application the area was wrapped, but not for support as much as keeping the heat in. We did this to a few horses that were sound within 6 months. Please let me know if I am remembering correctly.

Preston