Treatment of a keratoma in a Clydesdale horse.

The research article discusses the successful treatment of a keratoma in a Clydesdale horse. The keratoma, which caused recurring infection, was surgically removed and treated with antibiotics and pain relief medication. After the treatment, the horse’s hoof fully healed and the horse gradually returned to regular activity.

Introduction

• Keratoma is a benign growth that occurs below the horn of the hoof and extends into the sensitive areas causing pain and lameness in horses. It can be caused by a number of factors including injury or infection. This research focuses on a case study where a six-year-old Clydesdale gelding was diagnosed with recurrent ‘pus in the foot’, a symptom associated with keratoma.

Treatment Procedure

• The horse was surgically treated for the keratoma through a method called the inverted ‘V’ dorsal wall hoof resection. In this method, a shape of an inverted ‘V’ was cut into the hoof wall up to 2 cm distal to the coronary band (the junction between the horse’s skin and its hoof).
• This involved removing the keratoma and affected tissues, thereby allowing proper dressing and treatment of the affected region.

Post-Treatment Care

• After the surgery, the horse’s foot was bandaged and the horse was shod to protect the hoof and help it heal.
• Additionally, the horse was treated with antibiotics to prevent any further infection and phenylbutazone, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, to help with the pain.

Outcome

• The treatment was successful as the dorsal hoof wall regrew completely after the excision of the keratoma.
• The horse gradually began to return to full work, suggesting that its foot had fully healed from the surgery and the animal had recovered from the keratoma.

Significance

• This research offers important insight into the process of diagnosing and treating keratomas in horses, particularly in Clydesdale horses.
• The successful outcome of the treatment suggests that surgical intervention coupled with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory therapy can effectively treat keratomas in horses and enable return to normal activity.