by Aurora Anne Taylor

Created on: August 05, 2010

White Line Disease, frequently called hoof canker, seedy toe,  hoof rot and a host of other things, can strike fear in the hearts of horse owners.  It occurs when the powdery, area between the hard outer hoof and the sensitive laminae of the inner hoof becomes compromised and rots from the ground up, leaving a space between the two.  A horse's hoof consists of the hard, outer layer, a middle layer and an internal layer.  The white line, literally white, can be seen from the bottom of the hoof and is the powdery area that frequently flakes when you clean the hoof and covers the middle area of the hoof.  There are many theories about the cause of White Line Disease, although many experts agree it is probably caused by a fungal invasion of the white line.  It starts when the white line is softened by wet conditions and penetrated by a rock or other foreign object which then leads to erosion of the white powdery substance.  If left untreated, the erosion continues and can cause a horse anything from minor inconvenience to permanent lameness.  Although viewed by  many as a result of poor husbandry and unsanitary conditions, White Line Disease can affect even the best kept horses.    Horses with large, flat soles and those kept in warm, humid climates seem to be most affected.

Symptoms of White Line Disease

You or your farrier may notice this condition in your horse first when the hooves are trimmed or cleaned.  Although the white line area is soft to begin with, it should not disintegrate to the point of leaving holes in the area.  Holes at the toe and along the sides of the hooves should not be present to any extent.  Owners or farriers may first notice what looks like a chip, with a separation between the inner and outer hoof areas.  This indicates the presence of the disease.  If not treated promptly, these areas of missing hoof become larger and can eventually erode the entire outer hoof.    This can lead to problems holding a shoe as there is less and less hoof into which to nail and varying degrees of lameness. 

Treatment for White Line Disease

Treatment for this condition depends upon its severity.  Mild cases where the eroded area is small will often respond to commercial preparations such as Kopertox, or even hydrogen peroxide.  Persistent cases will require more specialized care such as soaking the hoof in a boot filled with two substances that

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