Hyperkeratosis

[ravenstorrough1]

Hi there,

Does anyone have any experience of Hyperkeratosis? My heavy mare has had it on her hocks since I bought her and it got very cracked and started bleeding at one point. All I have managed to do is keep it moisturised with Sudocrem and also tried camrosa - these both maintain but don't improve.

Does anyone know if this can be improved? I don't think the hair will grow back as the bald patches on her hocks have de-pigmented and are pink now. I am trying Eumovate just now (mild steroid cream for excema) but I think it is doing no more than the sudocrem.

Thanks,

[Portia]

Not personally no, sorry :(

Have you tried a web search? There's quite a bit a lot of information re hyperkeratosis and associated chronic progressive lymphodema in heavy horses.
One site suggests treating for mites - http://www.harlequinfarmsgypsyhorses.com/ChronicProgressiveLymphedema.html

Alternately you could try a search here on NR for pig oil and sulphur, quite a few cob owners have found this has helped their horses.

A key question would be why she's developing hyperkeratosis in the first place - might be parasite or local infection triggering the skin growth, would skin scrapings be worthwhile (apologies if you've already done this!). This is another helpful site to give you an overview - http://www.championvet.com/articles/details.asp?aID=94

Hope the above helps

[ravenstorrough1]

As she had this since I bought her, I am at a loss as to what caused/is causing it. It is only the points of her hocks and the only thing I can think of that could be aggravating it is her tail. We now plait her tail out of the way. There is no skin growth though, the whole point of hock is slightly thickened, the hair has fallen out of patches and where the hair has fallen out, the skin has turned pink (instead of dark grey). The hair that is still there on the dark grey patches grows in thick, coarse and wavy? I have done searches and cannot find anything substantial on internet about hyperkeratosis.

However, I am guessing the damage already sustained means that it won't get any better but hoped maybe someone knew of something which could help. I have thought through all explanations i.e. allergy etc but cannot think of anything else which would affect only her hocks? :(

[kturner]

Try talking to the Camarosa people. Had tried everything on the market for sweetitch, and their products seems to be working. His skin has healed and the hair is growing back, it really does what the advert says.

You may have to use an antibiotic if you have infection or sort out parasites, but they do that in conjunction with their cream.

Find them is any mag, or google, sorry mine is at the yard with the phone number.

[ravenstorrough1]

Camrosa hasn't helped and the area isn't infected - seems to be a bit of a lost cause :( Thanks though.