Bright Futures Farm is an equine charity whose primary focus is off the track Thoroughbreds...horses that can no longer race due to disinterest or injury.  Our dedication has grown to include horses that are difficult to find homes for...older horses that are unwanted after their "useful years" are over, and older stallions that cannot be gelded due to the risk of complications.

We are always in need of foster homes.  When you foster a horse you help us save one more from harm.  Fostering expenses are tax-deductible.  If you have room, please ask us about our foster program.

Gordy's Frog

Gordy, July 2008

Gordy is a bay Thoroughbred gelding, born in 1979.  In September 2008 he developed what I thought was thrush in his LF frog.  My vet and farrier drew the same conclusion.  We treated for thrush for about six weeks with no success then I noticed a hole in the frog and a "channel" from the point of the frog to the central sulcus culminating at the buttress of the heel bulbs.  The hole quickly became a very painful "growth".  The growth was approximately 1/2 inch round and resembled proud flesh. 

In early November, Gordy went to Cleveland Equine Clinic where Dr. Ron Genovse removed the growth and  cauterized the area.  The area was covered with copper sulfate crystals, an iodine soaked gauze pad, cotton padding, and pressure wrapped.  This procedure was to be repeated every day for two weeks, then if no change, every other day for two more weeks, then he was to be re-checked.   The growth and some adjacent tissue was sent for biopsy, as we thought it could be cancer.  The histology report indicated a bacterial infection.

In 30 days, there was a discharge of pus from the open wound and a thin layer of "tissue/frog" over the wound.  It was a putrid smell, and we were back to changing the pressure wrap daily for two weeks.  If no improvement, he was to be re-checked. 

In two weeks, the growth was back...this time, it was approximately 1 1/2 inches long, following the shape of the frog, approximately 3/4 inch wide, and when Dr. Genovese removed it, we found that it was about 1 inch deep.  This was a much more invasive wound than before.  Again, the area was cauterized and the tissue sample sent for biopsy.  This time the biopsy came back with results "consistent with canker".

1/7/09 In this photo you can see that the wound extends upward into the area between the heel bulbs

We changed the protocol to treatment with crushed metranidazol tablets, gauze, cotton and a pressure wrap.  Daily changes for two weeks, then a recheck by my local vet.  After two weeks, the area was noticeably different...healing nicely..., so I was advised to change the dressing every three days for two weeks.  After a subsequent re-check, we are now changing the dressing once a week until the area is completely healed.    Gordy has been sound on the foot since the middle of January.  There is new frog growth and the foot looks  healthy again.

1/29/09 In this photo you can see that the size of the open wound has diminished dramatically.

2/27/09 In this photo, you can see the new frog growth over the former open wound, and this is the only area left to heal.  The "channel" that was originally eaten away from bacteria has already grown new frog.  This area is no longer tender to touch and Gordy is now walking soundly.  We will continue to perform weekly bandage changes until the area has been completely covered with new frog growth. 

I'm posting this information as canker does not always take on the appearance of cauliflower, as many photos will indicate.  Canker is a bacterial infection that can look just like the photos below.  If your horse has what appears to be thrush, and you can't eliminate it within a few weeks with thrush buster or an equivalent product, please have your vet look at it...it could be a bacterial infection similar to Gordy's.  If left untreated, or mistreated, the bacterial infection will eventually eat away the foot to the point that the horse must be euthanized. 

Thank you to Lucille Matte for putting me in touch with Keith Caughran, Keith Caughran, Dr. Genovse, Amos Lee, Amanda Turner and Gordy (for putting up with the treatment for five months). 

Amos, my farrier and Amanda, my vet have donated their time once every two weeks for the last six weeks to follow up with Gordy's progress.