Canker

[colouredcob1]

Has anyone ever dealt with canker successfully?!

I have managed to manage it in 1 hoof successfully, however the other 3 heels are becoming very soft/sweaty.
I have the vet coming today to confirm.

Does anyone feed anything to help the immune system?
Horse is not lame.

Horse is very well cared for. Not left on dirty wet bedding, this is a myth.
He is turned out on a dry paddock and his feet are picked at least twice a day.

I believe the hot weather is playing a part in this too as most canker cases seem to be in hot climates like USA. However it is now on the rise this year more than ever in the UK.

Thanks in advance

 

[ester]

There are a couple of good facebook groups if you search 'equine canker' not the busiest but both have lots of people with experience of it.

 

[colouredcob1]

There are a couple of good facebook groups if you search 'equine canker' not the busiest but both have lots of people with experience of it.

Thank you I think I am on them all !! x

 

[PapaverFollis]

Try Red Horse Products Field Paste.

Case at my current yard with PTS being considered (had one foot cut and cauterized but had it in two more feet as well and was looking beyond help) has been turned around with it, I lent them my tub of it and horse is now doing well! I was slightly amazed, vet and farrier really amazed. I think vet went and put an order in straight away!

I guess it might not work for all of them but from witnessing that I'd definitely give it a try.

 

[colouredcob1]

Try Red Horse Products Field Paste.

Case at my current yard with PTS being considered (had one foot cut and cauterized but had it in two more feet as well and was looking beyond help) has been turned around with it, I lent them my tub of it and horse is now doing well! I was slightly amazed, vet and farrier really amazed. I think vet went and put an order in straight away!

I guess it might not work for all of them but from witnessing that I'd definitely give it a try.

Thank you!! Will try anything x

 

[FFAQ]

Yes! A client has a horse that has canker and it improved considerably after cutting out infected tissue and then doing a course of clean trax soaks and applying various red horse products. She also fed eccinatia (not sure on spelling) for the immune system. All that worked really well and he seemed to be completely clear until a few weeks ago when it reared its ugly head again. This cob lives out and fields are poo picked twice a day. Hygiene is definitely not the cause in this case BUT the canker came back when she started stabling him in the day because of the heat. I wonder if reduced movement plays a part, I've definitely seen more thrush over the summer than I did over the winter!

 

[PapaverFollis]

Hygiene is rarely the cause of canker from what I've read. Seems to be an almost tumour like over growth of tissue that then goes necrotic? It's nasty.

 

[ycbm]

If it's true canker there is evidence that it has the same virus as it's cause as sarcoids. I remove sarcoids and canker with copper sulphate. For canker, apply neat crystals every day until it dries up.

 

[colouredcob1]

I have them on order as I've read that somewhere else! Thank you x

 

[maya2008]

I have experience - best outcome for us = competent and experienced vet. Cut back to healthy tissue then copper sulphate paste for frog and steroid cream for heel bulb.

 

[colouredcob1]

I have read up on copper sulphate (and bought some) not sure how you apply??

 

[ycbm]

I have read up on copper sulphate (and bought some) not sure how you apply??

Shove it in the crack dry. If it won't stay, you can mix it with sudocrem to make it stick. Daily until the canker fingers drop off.

 

[colouredcob1]

No canker finger as such just very wet mushy skin. Trying to dry it up

 

[ycbm]

It should go hard and dry quite quickly. Then probably treat once or twice a week to keep it from coming back. Good luck.

 

[maya2008]

Just wondering how it's going? Hope the horse is getting better!

 

[colouredcob1]

He's been on a course of steroids for 10 days which has dried it up! X

 

[ycbm]

He's been on a course of steroids for 10 days which has dried it up! X

That sounds drastic! Why did your vet decide to go for steroids?

 

[colouredcob1]

Expensive but not drastic lol!
His heels started to go soft so steroids treats inside out as its not full blown canker luckily.
Will try work out how to add photos to show you

 

[ycbm]

Did your vet warn you about laminitis risk with steroids? I said drastic because I've seen soggy heels clear up with a number of the things you've been recommended and it seems like your vet went straight for steroids without trying them? Not having a go at you, but steroids are pretty strong drugs with known high risk of triggering laminitis and it seems a bit quick to go for them.

 

[colouredcob1]

Yes. After owning the horse for 12 years I think i know him pretty well.
And no it wasnt the first port of call. We have been battling this for months

 

[ycbm]

And no it wasnt the first port of call. We have been battling this for months

It would have been good to know this and exactly how you had been battling it before we tried to answer your first post, so that we didn't all waste our time.

 

[colouredcob1]

All wasted time..wow
Thanks and i thought this was a nice forum to ask advise..nevermind
Thanks!