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  Discussion on Canker problem
Author Message
Member:
Boomer

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 24, 2006 - 12:33 pm:

I don't know what to do any more. Initially when Lady Ambrosia arrived home, we thought it was mud fever, or scratches. There was one, little spot just above her coronet band on her hind leg that has a little white sock (naturally). She arrived at the end of January, the area became progressively worse. She was on TMP's for eight weeks. We tried cortisone cream. We tried straight providone iodine sprayed directly on the area. We have tried bleach water. We tried Novalsan. The articles/informatoin sited above are exactly what I have been reading and while they make so much sense, this case is bizarre and different. Finally, after having to heavily sedate Lady A. in order to LANCE off one of the scabs (no, they do not just come off easily, but must be cut), a sample was sent to UC Davis for histology. It returned as canker. We initially treated her for scratches, then a staphyloccocal infection (staph), and now canker. But it isn't on the sole of the hoof; that's the weird part. Still, it has been diagnosed as canker. So I recommended to the vet that we try the Metronidazole, orally and/or topically. He said we could try, but that this isn't the "canker" the article referred to and probably would be a waste of money. Like hooti4me in the "Scratches" thread, Lady Ambrosia won't let me mess with that leg any more. In fact, if I even bend down near her, she lifts that leg as though I am torturing her and then quickly moves away. My hoof trimmer, who is amazing, cannot even get Lady Ambrosia to stand without falling so we can trim her hind hooves. I simply cannot get the scabs off. I suppose if I could get a boot on her and soak it, perhaps they would soften enough to pull off. Instead, we are trying something completely alternative. Sweet Chel worked her magic and brought us some Melaleuca oil, the purest of tea tree oils from Australia. Instead of putting it on directly, since the area is pretty much pure scabs, I mixed the Melaleuca oil, along with emu oil (a conduit, like DMSO, that carries whatever is with it, deeper into the system) and baby oil (basically mineral oil). I thought if we could soften it and get that Melaleuca oil in there, which is an incredible antifungal, perhaps we would see results. The jury is still out. Lady A. isn't lame, but I wouldn't say she is sound. Our trimmer actually believes she probably broke her cannon bone at some point and that it is still trying to slough the "foreign objects" or broken splinters/shreads of bone.

If anyone has any more suggestions or help, I greatly appreciate all input, even if it is a repeat of what I have posted. We are looking at nine months now, and I forgot to mention above that it has spread to the other hind leg, a perfectly dark, non-white leg. It is already worse than the initial presentation of the white-socked leg. We have actually had the whole thing down to bare skin, albeit yellow/pussy/bloody/proud flesh-looking skin; and the scabs just return and proliferate. I am at a loss, and believe it or not, so is the vet.
Member:
Boomer

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 24, 2006 - 12:35 pm:

This is for a foster horse I have been fostering since January for a rescue organization..
Member:
Topaz121

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 24, 2006 - 4:04 pm:

Hi Patricia,

I have always used pure manuka honey on any bacterial infections and open wounds/proud flesh for my boy, it has huge antibacterial and healing properties and and is well known for this in New Zealand. Hope this helps.....
Member:
Kathleen

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 25, 2006 - 12:04 am:

Can you post pictures of the legs?
Kathleen
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 25, 2006 - 6:50 am:

Patricia, can you post the UC Davis histopath report in it's entirety and I too would be interested in photos. Also I would like a more complete history on each treatment and how long each of the treatments were used and how they were applied.
DrO
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