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Canker in Horses

Alt. Names: Equine Canker, Canker of the Hoof, Hoof Canker

Seek veterinary advice if you suspect this disease.

Definition of Canker in Horses

Canker is an unusual condition of the horse’s foot that affects the frog, bars, and sole. The name comes from the early belief that the condition was of a cancerous nature. However, to the best of our knowledge, canker is an anaerobic (grows in the absence of oxygen) infection in the superficial epithelium of the hoof (the outermost tissues, which produce the horn).
The causative bacterium is unknown, but some researchers have suggested the organism is a part of the Bacteroides species.

Symptoms of Canker in Horses

  • Swelling
  • Soft and Crumbly
  • Foul Smell
  • Bleeding
  • Bumps
  • Fluid Discharge
  • Deformed
  • Fur loss around Hoof
  • Lameness

Common in

  • Draft Horses

Treatment of Canker in Horses

Your veterinary surgeon will thoroughly clean the sole, sulci and frog, debriding and curetting (removing) all abnormal, dead and infected tissues, under general anaesthesia, if necessary. The clean wound is then packed with sterile gauze soaked in an antiseptic solution (e.g. dilute povidone-iodine) and the foot is bandaged.
The horse will often require treatment with antibiotics. Tetanus antitoxin must be given, if the horse is not fully vaccinated up to date or if vaccination status cannot be confirmed.
Afterwards, you must ensure clean, dry stable conditions and the bandage and antiseptic gauze pack must be changed every 2-3 days until there is no more discharge and the tissues appear healthy and healing. The horse must be kept out of wet and muddy conditions until the wound is completely healed.
Treatment for canker may be prolonged and in some cases, a total resolution is extremely difficult to achieve.

Prevention of Canker in Horses

Canker can be avoided by good stable management, and regular foot care and inspection. You should stable your horse in clean dry conditions and you should exercise your horse regularly. Horses’ feet should be picked out before and after exercise and when brought in from a muddy field. Your horses’ hooves should be regularly trimmed and shod to avoid the development of long heel conformation and to keep the frog healthy.

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