Use of a topical disinfectant as part of a hoof care programme for horses with diseases of the hoof capsule

Veterinary Record (2004) 154, 647-652

S.A. Kempson BSc, PhD,
Department of Preclinical Veterinary Studies
Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,
University of Edinburgh,
Summerhall, Edinburgh
EH9 1QH

R. Robb AWCF,
35 Easthouses Road,
Dalkeith, Midlothian
EH22 4EB

Summary

Twenty-three horses with persistent hoof horn defects were treated topically with a hoof disinfectant as part of a hoof care program for a year. The active ingredients of the dressing were a poloaximer-iodine complex, ethylenediamine dihydriodide, isopropyl alcohol and propylene glycol. Hoof trimmings were taken at the start of the study and every six weeks, and examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. At the beginning of the study all the horn samples contained large numbers of bacteria, and samples from eight of the horses also had fungal hyphae intermingled with the bacteria. After the application of the hoof disinfectant and adjustments to their diet, there were rapid improvements in the gross appearance of the feet of all the horses; some of them improved within two to three weeks and by 12 weeks the horn quality of all the horses had greatly improved. 

	Infected hoof wall before treatment with Life Data Hoof Disinfectant Photo provided by Dr. Susan Kempson
	Six weeks after treatment there are no bacteria in the intercellular spaces. Photo provided by Dr. Susan Kempson

Copies of the full paper are available on request.

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