Lamb with abcess between toes

luvmypets

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I’ve worked with sheep for awhile and Ive never really seen something like this. This is one of our new bottle lambs and I noticed he was favoring his one foot when we brought him home. The next morning I could immediatly see his foot was swollen and that there is some kind of ball between his toes. To me it looks like an abcess and feels like its filled with fluid but other then lancing it I dont know where to start. I haven’t touched the injury besides examining him but it seems to have grown signifigantly. I also dont have the right tools on hand for draining it if I need too. Any ideas on what to do? Im trying to avoid the vet if I can.

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Baymule

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All I know about that is that sheep have a gland of some sort between their toes. It can plug up and get infected, but I don't know what to do for it. I'll do a Google search.



 

luvmypets

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Interesting bay. While this could be the case I have put quite a bit of pressure with no luck(and an unhappy lamb) but maybe the small scabs are covering it up.
 

Beekissed

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luvmypets

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Well I spent a good while trying different ways to help unclog his pores but nothing happened.
 

thistlebloom

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My gelding got an abcess in his hoof and was dead lame. My farrier suggested an epsom salt compress. I bought the gel epsom salt and applied it thick on the sole of his hoof then wrapped in a baby disposable diaper (from my neighbor) and thoroughly duct taped on. It erupted and started draining in a day if I remember correctly. You could probably accomplish the same thing with regular ES made into a thick slurry.
 

purplequeenvt

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Well I spent a good while trying different ways to help unclog his pores but nothing happened.

Did you try pulling on the little hairs sticking out of the gland? That sometimes helps. You may not get a “gush” of stuff coming out, but it usually helps unclog the gland.
 
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