abnormal growth in heel bulb/frog

[Victoria]

My mare has excessive frog growth in the heel bulb/frog area of her back hoof. My vet thinks it is a keratoma. He's shaved it off before (it slowly grows back) but wants to remove it completely and cauterize the area.
My farrier wants to take her to Nebraska (we're in ND) to a surgical clinic there and have it removed. I'm not sure I want her that far away but am worried that it may be more than my vets here can handle. She is five now and it has been getting bigger over the past three years. She has never been lame on it. It has never been x-rayed. It is hard and feels just like frog. There appears to be a strong blood supply to the area also.
I want to start trail riding with her and am worried about infection and permanent damage if it is removed but fear that it will only get bigger and harder to remove as time passes.
Any thought/suggestions are welcome.
Thank you,
Vicky

[Gary_Miller]

I think you only have two choices here. One, take the advise of your vet and farrier and have it removed. Or, two, leave it there and just keep having it trimmed back all the time.

My problem with this is you don't seem to trust your vet or your farriers diagnoses and solution. If you not sure that they are right get a second opion. It obvious there is a problem and yes it could cause perminint damage, any medical procedure can. But something has to be done and you as the owner is the only one who can make the choice.

As Dr. Laura would say, "Now go do the right thing."

Good luck
Gary

[Ronald Aalders]

Hi Vicky,

Hopefully one of the vets here will jump in on this one. My guess would be the horse damaged the frog at any one time and healing of it kind of got out of control creating this big bulge.

If you can have it trimmed easily, like Gary says you could leave it and just keep trimming it back. But before you decide on that be sure what exactly is going on!

If keeping it under control (what you intend to do with the horse is a consideration here too) is a problem, have it removed. Every medical procedure will have inherent risks, like shoeing by the way. But if your only worry is the hole it will leave, that would not stop me from having it removed.



Ronald Aalders

[Jeanie Connors]

I agree to first, before doing anything, to find out what it is or what is causing it. Can it be biopsied? A keratoma is a tumor (right?), so a significant blood supply and presistently returning and growing certainly does point in that direction, but you need to be sure.

If it is a tumor, cutting it down when it gets large doesn't mean it won't start growing further up inside :( , sadly. There are many aspects to consider and talk with your vet, or another vet, about before deciding on a course of action. Risks to either approach, too (leave it or remove it).

[Victoria]

I had this growth removed. It is not a keratoma, it is not a canker, it is a 'corn'. There was no drainage after it was removed. She never limped on it after removal or favored that foot. We don't know if it will come back or not.
Thanks for everyone's replys. I do feel better after having it removed and knowing for sure what it is/was.

[Ronald Aalders]

Hi Vicky,


Could you post 'after' pics too?

I'ld like to see them.

Thanks,


Ronald Aalders

[Victoria]

I will have to do that when my farrier takes her shoe off. He put a shoe on with a 'gel' for cushion to the area. You can't see the area now.
Vicky