Clinical and biochemical parameters of blood serum in case of arrow rot in horses

Abstract

Diseases of the distal limbs in horses are widespread and can be caused by a variety of factors. The most common causes of hoof problems are mechanical stress, which leads to the formation of cracks, bruises, and ecchymosis of the underlying skin. Infection, as a cause, leads to the development of frog rot, resulting in lameness. Frog rot in horses is one of the most common problems, for which a variety of treatments have been proposed. Therefore, our focus was on frog rot and the development of diagnostic methods and techniques. The aim of the study was to investigate changes in clinical and biochemical blood parameters in horses diagnosed with frog rot. Two groups of Warmblood horses were selected for the study in 2025 at equestrian centers in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. The first group (control) included 8 healthy horses, and the second (test group) included 8 horses diagnosed with frog rot. The animals were kept under identical conditions. Clinical and biochemical blood serum analysis was performed, using standard profiles. The study showed that no significant differences in clinical and biochemical blood parameters were found in either healthy animals or those with frog rot. These data indicate that in warmblood horses diagnosed with frog rot, clinical and biochemical blood parameters are within normal limits. Frog rot in horses is a localized process.