Canker

[Suzanne CB]

Hi There, I’m looking for any advice/experiences with canker. My poor boy (and poor me!) have been battling with this in all 4 feet since Feb this year. Just when I think we’re on top of it, it comes back with vengeance. Currently treating with Iodine/surgical spirit mix. He is turned out on dry days only, mucked out twice daily, ridden only on roads on dry days etc. My vet seems to be against topical treatments. He’s been trough debridement on 3 out of his four feet. He was shod today with bleeding experienced in all feet. Pic of worst foot attached.

 

[Quigleyandme]

A friend successfully treated this in her mare with Leovet Frog Medic. It isn’t expensive so may be worth a try? I have also read good things about Red Horse (?) Field Paste and their other hoof products on this forum.

 

[Quigleyandme]

Paradoxically, I was just speaking to my farrier who recommends a sounds like benzoil peroxide solution and a paste made of metronidazole (sic) and water-tight bandaging or use of a WoofWear hoof sock thing. Sorry to be so approximate but he gets very animated and talks extremely fast. He was a bit puzzled your vet doesn’t rate topicals because as far as he is aware debridement, cleanliness and dryness, topical applications and bandaging are the only treatments. Good luck.

 

[Iznurgle]

I know a riding school pony with canker, and he gets an application of purple foot spray each day to keep it at bay, but @Quigleyandme I'll be looking into Frog Medic, thanks for dropping it in the thread!

 

[Gloi]

Poor you and your horse. I hope you manage a good outcome. I have only come across one case but sadly the vet did not manage to cure it

 

[PoppyAnderson]

I'd go back to basics to improve the quality of the whole hoof. Re-visit the diet. Low sugar or alfalfa and a good quality hoof supplement (eqimins, pro earth or forage first). Treat topically with Red Horse products. I keep mine barefoot and find it improves pretty much all hooves, so you could look at that, using hoof boots if needed.

 

[Pippin and Poppy]

Hi There, I’m looking for any advice/experiences with canker. My poor boy (and poor me!) have been battling with this in all 4 feet since Feb this year. Just when I think we’re on top of it, it comes back with vengeance. Currently treating with Iodine/surgical spirit mix. He is turned out on dry days only, mucked out twice daily, ridden only on roads on dry days etc. My vet seems to be against topical treatments. He’s been trough debridement on 3 out of his four feet. He was shod today with bleeding experienced in all feet. Pic of worst foot attached.

Hi
Sorry for my late reply. Just wanted to share that I got rid of canker (vet diagnosed) with a product called Purple Mash that I imported from America. It was comparatively expensive but the vet's approach wasn't working. Mare was very lame. It was awkward to apply as the foot has to be wrapped and the product held in place. I can't remember for how long as this was 7 years ago. I think it was 2-ish weeks. I wrapped in cling film, then duct tape, then booted. This had to be redone every 4/5 days - again sorry can't remember exact timings. It worked. Mare returned to living out 24/7. She is barefoot and benefits from dry summers because the frogs get good stimulation. The same company also sold a small bottle of product to paint on frogs, which you allow to dry but you don't wrap. I've used this through two Winters when her frogs looked iffy, only applying after she'd had a trim. She has come through the last 3 winters with no sign of canker, but I am always looking out for it. Purple Mash a completely safe and natural product and although purple, is not the same as 'purple spray'.
Best wishes for you and your horse.

 

[Pippin and Poppy]

Sorry that's Purple Mush!!! not mash

 

[Pippin and Poppy]

Apologies for messing up post!

 

[PapaverFollis]

Red Horse Field Paste is worth a try. I've seen a bad case cleared up with it.

 

[horselover11]

I worked at an equine vet practice and we had a nasty case of canker in two front feet. I remember it was treated by using specially created hospital plate shoes. They have a bottom that screwed into place. Twice daily changes of iodine and metronidazole soaked swabs alternatively. Whilst also treating with systemic antibiotics, Bute and oral steroids. Once the horse was comfortable enough and the owner happy to do the remaining soaked swab treatment the horse went home with the hospital plate on and had twice weekly vet visits. Once the canker cleared up the vet then had the farrier apply a heart bar shoe to help support the frog as new horn grew.
It was a positive outcome with the canker completely clearing up in both front feet and with no reoccurrence over the following two years I worked at the practice.

 

[confusedmum]

Sorry to add a negative to post but my horse battled for 2 years with it in all 4 feet
He had every treatment going debridement, iodine, steroids, screws and plates everything kept immaculately clean and dry with me making a 200 mile trip to vets every 5 weeks for remedial shoeing and trimming
Every time we thought we’d got on top of it only lasted a few weeks before they started to deteriorate again
Last straw was when the farrier tried to gently trim his frogs behind and there was blood everywhere the frogs were just complete mush under the surface poor horse was in so much pain he was PTS there and then on vets advice
I’m not disagreeing that there are success stories but of the two horses being treated at the hospital at the same time both were PTS
It’s a horrible horrible disease and I feel for anyone battling with it

 

[Gloi]

Sorry to add a negative to post but my horse battled for 2 years with it in all 4 feet
He had every treatment going debridement, iodine, steroids, screws and plates everything kept immaculately clean and dry with me making a 200 mile trip to vets every 5 weeks for remedial shoeing and trimming
Every time we thought we’d got on top of it only lasted a few weeks before they started to deteriorate again
Last straw was when the farrier tried to gently trim his frogs behind and there was blood everywhere the frogs were just complete mush under the surface poor horse was in so much pain he was PTS there and then on vets advice
I’m not disagreeing that there are success stories but of the two horses being treated at the hospital at the same time both were PTS
It’s a horrible horrible disease and I feel for anyone battling with it

Sadly the horse I mentioned earlier in the thread was also pts because of it.

 

[Suzanne CB]

Thanks everyone for your replies. The vet has mentioned Purple Mush. We’ve just been through second debridement but this time under a General Anaesthetic but he also had laser surgery by a specialist from Newmarket. We’re 3 weeks post-op and are bandaging feet every other day with crushed metrozondine & canestan cream to the frogs and applying Keratex hood hardener to the soles. Vet is pleased with progress so far. My horse is a superstar and only 11 so I’m throwing everything I have at it whilst I can afford to do so. Insurance money went on first debridement unfortunately. However, it does seem to be a very debilitating disease to treat so really hoping for a positive outcome.

 

[Gloi]

Thanks everyone for your replies. The vet has mentioned Purple Mush. We’ve just been through second debridement but this time under a General Anaesthetic but he also had laser surgery by a specialist from Newmarket. We’re 3 weeks post-op and are bandaging feet every other day with crushed metrozondine & canestan cream to the frogs and applying Keratex hood hardener to the soles. Vet is pleased with progress so far. My horse is a superstar and only 11 so I’m throwing everything I have at it whilst I can afford to do so. Insurance money went on first debridement unfortunately. However, it does seem to be a very debilitating disease to treat so really hoping for a positive outcome.

I wish you all the best , it's a horrible thing but hopefully treatments have much improved since I saw it.

 

[NR88]

The Hedgewick Essentials Facebook page has not long put up a post showing a cured canker case that used their products. It might be worth a look.

Good luck

 

[Oliomi]

Hi There, I’m looking for any advice/experiences with canker. My poor boy (and poor me!) have been battling with this in all 4 feet since Feb this year. Just when I think we’re on top of it, it comes back with vengeance. Currently treating with Iodine/surgical spirit mix. He is turned out on dry days only, mucked out twice daily, ridden only on roads on dry days etc. My vet seems to be against topical treatments. He’s been trough debridement on 3 out of his four feet. He was shod today with bleeding experienced in all feet. Pic of worst foot attached.

My warmblood had canker a few years ago a very good vet at a very well known Kent practice advised that he never found debridement to work and suggested I soaked his feet in virkon x. I did this religiously for 10 mins a foot every 2-3 days and sprayed with the blue antibiotic vet spray (not purple spray). Once the canker was under control I reduced the soaking to once a week. I now don’t soak but instead spray his feet every other day with bactokill. I haven’t had a re-occurance! My horse is now 26 and has had cushings for the last 8/9yrs and lives out 24/7/365.

I hope this helps x

 

[Regandal]

There is topical metronidazole gel available, save you crushing the tablets. Fingers crossed that your horse recovers.

 

[Shay]

My lovely old boy struggled with Canker last winter. He did die - but not becuase of it. He had a massive anurysm (can't spell that..) and just dropped. Anyway - I digress. Purple Mush was highly reccommended but I found it impossible to import. For a long while we used a mix of iodine, surgical spirit and metronidazole. But the best impact I had was from somethign called "Farnham Wonder dust". Vet said with Chronic canker sometimes it is just a case of switching treatements from time to time a nothing will work long term. The body just gets used to it.