Hoof Infection

Question
Hello, I have a 7 year old warmblood mare who has been  battling an infection in her 3 of hooves (back two are the worst) for serveral months. I've been told she has thrush, but I am starting to think she could have canker. I've been treating her feet with many different products (thrush busters, white lighting, hoof magic.,...you name it and I've probably tried it) and they have much gotten better, but she still has deep cracks in her heel. He frogs are intact now, but I can't seem to make her heels closeup. Do you think this is canker? And if so, is there an antibotic I should be using to treat it?

Answer
Hi Lisa .. while I can't tell without actually seeing a photo or the hooves, themselves, my guess would be that you are battling a yeast infection that must not only be treated locally but systemically, as well. This means the lowest sugar diet you can possibly give based on the free choice amounts of low-sugar forage/hay. There is a website that can help with the forage information: http://www.safergrass.org

I would also recommend a homeopathic consult or evaluation to determine what would heal her own system. There are a number of remedies that would give remarkable results but determining which one is correct for her own system is the key to success.

Locally I would soak some cotton with either Grapefruit Seed Extract mixed with Calendula Oil and pack the cotton into the cracks. The GSE will fight the yeast and the Calendula will promote rapid tissue healing.

Along with these recommendations I would want to make sure that the hooves are properly trimmed. Impecable balancing and leveling with making sure of a heel-first landing and toes that are correct length so the heel can widen as much as the hooves are naturally inclined to do.

In addition, hand walking the horse on a firm, level surface such as a tarred road would be indicated. Do this on a daily basis for about 10 or 20 mins. Or, riding her daily on dry, firm ground would also highly benefit the condition you are describing.

Canker produces growths that resemble cauliflower and are extremely painful for the horse. The following quotations are taken from The Principles of Horseshoeing (P3), by Doug Butler, Phd, CJF, FWCF, and coauthored by Jacob Butler, CJF, page 519, Chapter 39: Diseases of the Horse's Foot

"Canker, unguilysis, or hoof cancer, is a chronic hypertrophy (vegetative growth) or pododermatitis of the sensitive frog.  Rarely, the sensitive sole is also affected.  The frog has a ragged and oily appearance.  The frog grows so out of shape that it appears neoplastic (tumorous).  There is no longer a clear demarcation between sensitive and horny frog.  The loosely organized keratinized cells look like disconnected finger-like projections."

"Hoof cancer is caused by constant contact of strong ammonia compounds.  These substances irritate the sensitive structures and cause benign and possibly malignant growths to be produced.  Prevention consists of regular stall and hoof cleaning."

If you are seeing these growths then I *would* suspect canker. I would, in that case, recommend that you contact your vet and your farrier and work with them as a team to remediate the situation.

Hope this has been helpful to you!
:) -- Gwen