Casper, quarter horse with chronic hock lesions

SPECIES: Horse
BREED: Quarter Horse
GENDER: Male
AGE: 13 years
NAME: Casper

Clinical case

  • Admitted due to the presence of chronic hock wounds caused by a walking problem.
  • The owners report difficulty in taking up position and a tendency to give way on the carpal bones that are swollen.
  • Topical treatments with RHD cream without evident clinical improvement.
  • At the time of starting therapy, the left hock was affected by a lesion of approximately 1.5 x 1.5 cm, the right hock had no lesions but the skin was very thin.

Therapeutic protocol

  • MLS® Laser Therapy with M-VET device: 5 treatments approximately 3 days apart. 
  • «Traumatic wound» points program.
  • Locally, daily applications of Triticum vulgare and phenoxyethanol (ointment) and protection.

Results

  • The lesion on the left hock closed quickly and then healed completely; the skin on the right hock thickened quickly.
  • The hair began to grow back on the area affected by the lesions on both hocks.
  • After 6 months there were no recurrences of the wounds

By Dr Alice Faoro, private practitioner, San Foca (Pordenone) - Italy