TEXAS VET NEWS By Dr. Bob Judd, DVM and the Texas Farm Bureau Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network

Those of you with horses may have heard of the disease canker but may not know exactly what it is.  Canker is a disease of the frog in the horse’s hoof that appears initially as a white or yellow growth at the frog.  It is sometimes mistaken for thrush, which is another disease of the sole area.  However, thrush causes a loss of tissue while canker is a growth of abnormal tissue.  If not treated, canker can spread from the frog to other areas of the sole.  Although canker is considered by many to be caused when horses are kept in a wet and unhygienic environment, it is possible for canker to develop in horses kept in good environments. 

The white or yellow tissue that is growing out of the frog generally has a necrotic smell, is easily abraded and bleeds, and is painful to the horse.  Because other conditions can appear similar to canker, it is important for your vet to take a biopsy to make sure this is the problem.  Treatment of the disease can be difficult and many topical products have been used without success.  Dr Steve O’Grady, a vet that limits his practice to podiatry, indicates this tissue must be removed surgically for healing to occur.  Surgical removal can be performed under general anesthesia or with the horse standing with nerve blocks.  The surgery can be performed by either removing the tissue with a scalpel and then freezing the tissue, or using electrocautery.  Surgery must be aggressive and remove all the affected tissue.  After care is critical in that for 6 to 8 weeks the horse’s foot must be kept completely dry and packed with a combination of antibiotics.  If you think your horse may have canker, consult your vet as this condition requires specialized treatment.    

Date Published: 4/16/2007 11:26:00 AM