Equine Keratoma (Hoof Tumor)

Seek veterinary advice before applying any treatment.

A keratoma is a rare benign tumour of the inner layer of the hoof wall cells which forms inside a horse’s foot. As the tumour slowly grows, it expands and separates the hoof wall laminae, causing pain and lameness. The tumour grows downwards because space for growth is restricted inside the rigid hoof structure.

Keratomas tend to develop more commonly at the toes and any of the feet may be affected. Two forms of keratoma are recognised: Cylindrical shaped keratomas, which run in the hoof wall directly towards the sole and more discrete ‘spherical’ shaped keratomas, most often towards the toe.

Symptoms

Treatment

The tumour and overlying hoof wall requires surgical removal, under local or general anaesthesia, as required by the individual case. The surgical wound is then packed with sterile gauze soaked in antiseptic solution and the foot is bandaged. The horse is treated with antibiotics, active against both aerobic and anaerobic bacterial infections. Thereafter, the bandage and antiseptic gauze pack are changed every 2-3 days until a layer of dry protective cornified laminae has formed.

The affected foot is shod with a full-bar shoe with clips on either side of the hoof wound to help stabilise the hoof wall defect. The horse is kept in clean, dry conditions until the wound is completely healed.

Prevention

Being a tumor, methods of prevention are unknown, but injury to or inflammation of the coronary band should be rapidly and efficiently treated.

How Happie can help you manage your horse's health

Digital health management offers numerous benefits in modern equine healthcare.

With the Happie Horse App, you can track symptom patterns and body values, such as Temperature, Pulse and Respiration. Allowing you to notice abnormal changes in body and behaviour early on, leading to more successful treatments.

The Happie symptom checker allows you to add all of your horse's abnormal symptoms in order to present potential causes and diseases.

A hoof abscess in horses is a localized accumulation of pus within the hoof capsule, often causing severe lameness and tenderness.

Hoof Diseases

Hoof Abcess in Horses

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Diseases

Bruised Sole in Horses

Seek veterinary advice if you suspect this disease.

A bruised sole in horses is a condition where the horse’s sole becomes tender and painful due to trauma or injury, often resulting in inflammation and discomfort.