Keratoma - Your experience / Advice appreciated

CeeBee

CeeBee

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 November 2008
Messages
1,418
Location
Bedfordshire
Visit site
I am in very early stage talks about the possibility of loaning a lovely horse as a light hack/companion. However, he has a keratoma in his hoof. I have not heard of this before and wondered if anyone has experience of this and whether or not it is advisable to take something like this on?
 
Keratomas can be impossible or extremely hard to treat and then over a long time period. To be honest I'd walk away as the chances are this horse will never be sound.
 
Thanks fatpiggy - I haven't found out all the details yet, but believe the horse is happy with light hacking 4 times a week, which is all we are likely to do (if that). I read that keratoma's are benign tumours, but do they grow? Cause pain? Need loads of maintenance (other than perhaps remedial shoeing)?
 
I think I read of a horse that had the keratoma cut out but it just grew back again. TBH I don't know that much about them but surely if it grows inside the hoof it must be displacing or replacing something there, and I can't believe that is painless.

Suggest you google it!
 
I think it depends on the individual horse to be honest Ceebee, my competition horse went intermittently lame in the summer of 2008 and after some field rest and x rays he was no better so was referred to Rossdales equine hospital for further investigation and was diagnosed with having a keratoma. The veterinary surgeon said at the time that Alfie had probably had it a long time and that it had just got to the size where it was beginning to affect his soundness. We had him operated on that autumn and he's now been sound for over 6 months. It's been a very long old journey and we almost lost him. When he was down there we were warned that the best outcome for him would be as a light hack/companion but he is now schooling and back to the level he was at pre lameness. I think if you are happy to take this horse on knowing that the keratoma may develop and grow and cause lameness eventually then i don't see a problem with loaning him. I would be more concerned for you if you wanting to show jump/event this horse but i think some light hacking would probably be quite beneficial for him. How old is heif you don't mind me asking?! ...and how did they find out he had one? Was it diagnosed via MRI?
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think I read of a horse that had the keratoma cut out but it just grew back again. TBH I don't know that much about them but surely if it grows inside the hoof it must be displacing or replacing something there, and I can't believe that is painless.

Suggest you google it!

[/ QUOTE ]

My horses keratoma was situated from the top of his coronary band to his sole and wrapped completely around and inside his pedal bone. It was fascinating to see it on the MRI scan. I believe in some cases they can grow back, if they don't remove all of the tissue during surgery but thankfully my boys hasn't. You would never know he had even had surgery now. I think it depends on who you speak to as regards prognosis of keratomas, there seem to be a lot of horror stories out there and a number of success stories also.
grin.gif
 
I have a mare with a keratoma in a front hoof.
Yes they can be cut out It is hugely expensive and the recovery time is considerable. If not covered on insurance cost is probably prohibitive plus in my case putting a 20 year old through all that isn't fair.
My mare is 20 and the keratoma came to light when xrays were taken for coffin bone arthritis.
The keratoma is on the front of the foot near the top and there is a slight bulge in the hoof wall.
The vet and farrier recommended special shoeing (heartbar shoe to support the foot) and she is on one danilon per day
I think some of this is due to the coffin bone joint arthritis.
The farrier says most keratomas are slow growing and should a crack in the hoof be caused he can deal with that.
On this regime she has been sound for light hacking for about a year and she can do light work in the sand school.
I will be happy to retire her is needs be as I have had her for 18 years.
Not sure I would take one on as their future is unknown.
 
Thanks very much for the replies. I believe the farrier was the first to spot it, but need to ask more questions as what treatment may have been received. The horse is 14.
 
My liveries horse had a masive keratoma in the hind hoof. It was the largest the vets had seen, (golf ball sized). It was removed through the sole of the foot rather than through the hoof wall and he was on box rest for around 6 months and out of work in total for 10 mths. Now, a year later he is back in full work and fully sound. He has hunted, sj and x country and is really enjoying life. She has to be careful with him on wet or hard ground but is sensible and he is fine. There is always the possibility it will re-grow, but so far so good!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top