What Are the Treatments for Cankers in Horses?

Cankers in horses can be a serious problem that affects the overall health of the animal. While the effects of cankers can be noticeable, a vigorous diagnosis is needed in order to determine if the animal is suffering from the disease (some early symptoms of canker is often mistaken for thrush). Biopsies are often necessary to make this diagnosis. While cankers can often be difficult to control, there are various treatments to get rid of the infection. The rate of recurrence is minimal once infections are successfully treated.

  1. Definition

    • Cankers in horses are anaerobic infections located in the hoof. Bacteria found in cankers cause an abnormal production of keratin, which is an overgrowth beneath the horn in the horse's hoof.

    Cause

    • Veterinarians are not certain what causes cankers. Many believe that it has a number of pathogenesis. Others believe that trauma might be involved. While cankers are not commonly fatal, some horses have been known to die of the disease. Yet these cases are incredibly rare.

    Features

    • Cankers occur in the sulci part of the hoof. It is composed of a white or gray matter and is moist and spongy. It commonly looks like rotting cauliflower and may have an odor. Canker can spread in living tissue, often without the help of oxygen.

    Treatment

    • Treatment for canker includes performing a superficial debridement on the animal's hoof. This involves removing the horn of the area by trimming the hoof and removing the loose exfoliating sole and all affected areas from the toe or heel. The removal should only be superficial and shouldn't involve drawing blood. Once blood is drawn, the infection will burrow deeper in the the tissue and make it even more difficult to remove. The next treatment is to make sure that the infected area is introduced to air, and kept clean and dry. Antibiotic/microbial medications, such as Metronidazole, can be applied often to the area. This treatment is only effective if the horn is removed first. The superficial debridement is usually performed while the horse is under general or local sedation.

    Effects

    • The effectiveness of these treatments depends on a number of factors. Some horses may respond to the treatment differently. Generally, the healing process can take up to a week or ten days. Sometimes this might take a few months. Cankers have been known to return while the horse is still healing, but once the healing process has been completed, then the rate of recurrence is lowered. Horses who have been treated for canker see little recurrence in the disease during their natural lives.