Transdermal carbon dioxide may accelerate hoof growth in healthy, sound horses in a short-term, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

The research suggests that the use of transdermal carbon dioxide (CO2) could potentially accelerate hoof growth in horses, based on a short-term clinical trial.

Overview of the Study

• This research was conducted as a prospective, randomized, blinded, crossover study involving 14 Warmblood mares.
• These mares were randomly divided into two treatment groups: one treated with CO2 and the other with room air. The application was done transdermally, that is, it penetrated through the skin to affect the hoof growth.
• The treatment was done on the front feet of the horses, with exposure either to room air or CO2, for 30 minutes, three times per week. After five weeks, the treatment groups were switched.

Measurement and Analysis

• Hoof growth was carefully measured on the dorsal midline and the quarters of each front foot at the beginning, middle, and end of the study. The process involved the assessment of distance from the coronary band to lines made on the hoof wall.
• The percentage of change in length at each location relative to baseline was evaluated at five weeks and ten weeks.
• Nonparametric analyses were used to evaluate the changes.

Findings

• All treatments were successfully administered. The study found that the CO2-treated hooves showed increased growth compared to the hooves treated with room air. Specifically, the left front medial and right front lateral regions of the hooves showed significant increases in growth at the 5-week point.
• It’s important to mention that the mechanism through which this treatment affects hoof growth is currently unclear.

Conclusion and Future Scope

• The research concludes that repeated, noninvasive transdermal application of CO2 might potentially speed up hoof growth in normal horses over a 5-week treatment period.
• However, further studies are still needed to fully understand the mechanism and potential effects of this treatment. This opens up the potential for future research in this area to further confirm or refine the current findings as well as explore the underlying processes through which carbon dioxide affects hoof growth.