What is a hoof abscess?
Abscess (pus in the foot)
A foot abscess develops when bacteria gain entry to the soft
tissues of the foot and find favourable conditions to multiply.
This may occur as a result of penetration to the hoof capsule
which allows dirt and bacteria to enter the corium. |
Examples of how this may happen include standing on a nail, by the
wedging open of a crack in the capsule or by dirt tracking up into
the soft tissues.
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When
the soft tissue becomes infected by bacteria, the body responds by
pouring more tissue fluid and sending white blood cells into the
affected area to fight infection.
Pus is the debris created by the battle between the bacteria and
the white blood cells. It is made up of dead and dying white
cells, bacteria and tissue fluid. |
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The build up of pus within the hoof capsule creates pressure and
is extremely painful. |
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