I have recently taken on a rescue of a Belgian with severe canker. The canker invaded the laminae and debridement left large voids on the underside of the hooves. Farrier wants to pack the hoof, and shoe with a pad. Is this a viable option or should something like this be soaked and repacked daily? I was going to call him and see if we can get the hoof trimmed down well and do the packing with a hoof boot, in lieu of a shoe, so that we can monitor it. I just fear that by leaving a shoe on, and if the canker grows or more infection begins, that the packing material placed under a pad will cause pressure and pain. What's your thoughts on this? And, can anyone steer me in the right direction to find HUGE hoof boots?

I would recommend shoeing this horse with a straight bar and hospital plate. This will allow you to have a removable solid plate that protects better than any pad or boot, and you can change dressing regularly. It is an easy shoe to make, just have the farrier make a straight bar, and drill and tap 4 holes, one on each heel and both sides of the toe. Place the shoe on a plate of steel and cut the steel to match the shoe. Drill 4 holes in the plate, nail on the shoe, and bolt the plate into place. There is a method of making a one-bolt hospital plate. It is covered in my book.

I have at large Oldenborg horse here in Denmark, and we have tried several things, without any luck. To my knowledge there are some horses that recover after cutting down the bad tissue, but with my horse and some others I know of, it does not help. Next week a specialist, who is educated in the States, will have the solution, and I will gladly give you some responses. I found some more information on theHorse.com

We've done two debridement surgeries so far, without much luck. Primarily due to the fact that this horse is quite the jerk when it comes to his feet, and often hurts his handlers when trying to apply topicals. The hospital plates were done, but quickly removed and not replaced, as it's hard enough to get his feet for 10 seconds, even harder to try to do anything with a wrench. This is getting ridiculous. I'm frustrated, about $3000 poorer, and what makes this all worse, is that aside from his feet issues, he's a great horse. I need a way to get this horse treatment that doesn't involve hospital plates. Can someone recommend a soak that might help, or custom hoof boots that we may be able to put a medicated pad in the sole and have those left on? I need something that will get him treated, but save my body. Please help!

Hi. I've had two really severe cases of canker. I applied a mixture of betadine and sugar mixed into a paste form. Apply that to the affected area twice daily, but remember to clean it with some peroxide beforehand. You should see results within 2 to 3 weeks.
Hope that it will help you.

I have had a visit from a farrier educated on Cornell University, NY. by Mike Wildenstein CFJ, FWCF.
This seems to work!!! I have a friend here in DK who had tried surgery twice and only this treatment has worked.
We treat every 2nd day. The soak is a light mixture of clorine and vinegar in a lot of water. You need just to have your horse to put his foot in a bucket with a little of this mixture, and the steam kills the bacteria in the hoof. I also have a large plastic bag, I tie arround his leg.
My friend's horse is now cured!!
For better instruction you are welcome to contact me on