Farriers! I have a question! (Keratex Hoof Hardener)

[WildGooseChase]

If you are a hoof care professional, I have a question for you!

It was recently brought to my attention that Keratex Hoof Hardener, which is a staple in my grooming tote, contains formaldehyde/formalin. SDS Here I did a little research, but I am having difficulty understanding how this works. Keratex claims that it helps linkage on a molecular level. They also claim that farriers have used formaldehyde/formalin for decades.

Have I just been blind to it this whole time? How safe is a product like this? The product does work in my opinion, but I don’t want to recommend it or use it myself if there is an issue with using the product long term, or if it’s possibly not safe to use for us humans.

[Tha_Ridge]

I wouldn’t think the amount of formaldehyde in Keratex is going to create any long-term exposure risks. Most living beings produce small amounts of it naturally anyhow. It’s also used in many hair straightening treatments, which function similarly—it binds keratin, thus smoothing hair.

[JB]

Don’t eat it, drink it, paint it on your skin, etc

Formaldehyde is also in Durasole, and its sole (heehee) intent is to start linking tissue together to create a harder and stronger sole, and reduce sole shedding so it can build up to some degree

Penetration of anything doesn’t go very far into hoof tissue, unlike skin. A couple mm is about it. Meaning, it’s not going to be getting into the bloodstream.

[wildlifer]

JB is right about just using basic, obvious precautions. I use the brush & have never even gotten any on me (& I am very clumsy), but if you are exceedingly worried, you could use gloves.

Just being around small amounts of formalin is not dangerous to the average person. I work with formalin quite a lot, since as a biologist, we preserve specimens in it, & have colleagues at our natural sciences museum, which has many collections, so we are pretty well versed in its handling & risks. Small concentrations of formalin are even used as a routine health treatment in fish hatcheries, so just like water itself, it’s all about dosage.

In short, it’s always good to educate yourself & check out the SDS, especially if you have any special health risks. If you do have special risks, you can always ask your doctor as well. But outside of that, I would not be worried about keratex use or recommending it to others.

[BayMoose]

Not a hoof care professional, but it basically works by joining the different parts of amino acids together creating a stronger bond between them. It’s adsorption in a hoof is probably pretty minimal, but I always tell people to wear gloves and work in a well ventilated area. I work with it a lot as a biologist, and have developed a sensitivity to it such that even being around an open bottle is enough to give me a rash and a massive headache so I work with it in a fume hood as much as possible. Not sure how common this is in the general population, I have an above average exposure level.

[WildGooseChase]

My sister and her husband are both PhD’s in cellular and molecular biology, I didn’t even think to ask them until your comment. Thank you for sharing your experience with it!

[WildGooseChase]

I’ve always used gloves thankfully. Just force of habit to protect the compromised skin on my hands.

I am in some barefoot and other hoof rehab groups on FB and it’s been mentioned there that it is horrible to use because of the formalin. By both crazy barefoot trimmers, and shoers lol

[Trot_On]

I did manage to flick a bit of Keratex in my eye during a discussion with my horse about standing still during application. I immediately flooded my eye with water, and it soon started to feel very dry, but no problems with vision. I did go to the ER with all the printed info on Keratex.

Their treatment was simply thoroughly washing the eye and gave me some soothing eye drops. They said it would not damage my eye, even though for a day it felt like it was drying up and shrinking. They mentioned that it was a good thing it was not household bleach as bleach will cause blindness and damage to the eye. A follow up with the eye doctor confirmed no harm had been done to the eye, I still do use Keratex Hoof Hardner occasionally when needed, making sure I put on the safety glasses first.

[wildlifer]

Wait, you mean someone said something extreme on fb?! Just making fun of fb, not you. If you have compromised skin, gloves sound like a reasonable precaution, I think you have got it covered!

[Hippolyta]

They tell us to flood/rinse eyes at the eyewash for 20 minutes after a splash. Then you go to the ER and they rinse it some more.

[shoer76]

The old staples that work… formalin, weed killer (copper sulfate) and DMSO.

[Feathered_Feet]

DMSO hardens a hoof? I had no idea!

[ltmac]

Not sure if this directly answers your question as I’m not a farrier and can’t speak to the safety aspect.

For years, my routine hoof care was Absorbine Hooflex (primarily on the coronary band and then over the whole hoof wall) after every ride with weekly applications of Keratex (mostly during the hotter, drier months and applied on the nail holes and then the lower hoof wall) and Thrush Buster.

After my horse developed white line early last year and he was being shod by a podiatrist (CJF, DVM) for approximately four months, I was instructed to use Kevlar Tuff Hoof Guard (or Tuff Stuff if I were to run out of the Kevlar Tuff, as Tuff Stuff is sold in the local farm shops) instead of Keratex and to use it as often as possible. My horse and I are eventers and he is turned out almost 24/7, so his hooves are constantly wet and dry. His hooves have - knock on wood - never looked better since this change!

[WildGooseChase]

Copper sulfate is now not being used citing its level of causticity. It kills good tissue too. I don’t use it. I also don’t use DMSO in a non clinical setting as it carries whatever is on the surface of the skin/hair into the skin.

I use the Keratex, which contains Formalin, as needed, with PPE and make sure I allow it to dry completely before putting the horse away.

[Hippolyta]

@ltmac

I was instructed to use Kevlar Tuff Hoof Guard

My farrier uses this.

[EventerAJ]

@Hippolyta

@ltmac

I was instructed to use Kevlar Tuff Hoof Guard

My farrier uses this.

My farrier uses it too, sometimes he mixes with thrushbuster or other antimicrobial.

Many years ago, at multiple farriers’ suggestion, I switched from Keratex to Kevlar Tuff. I used it religiously, as I had done with Keratex. I was pleased to use it, as it seemed like a good product as a moisture barrier. Unfortunately, after 4-6 weeks, my horse’s feet looked worse: cracking at the nail holes, chipping, loosening nails. I went back to Keratex 5-6x per week, and after a few weeks the horse’s feet were improved back to pre-Kevlar quality. I notice a big difference with regular Keratex and without (if I run out and don’t use it for a few weeks). One or two applications of Keratex isn’t effective, but daily use for weeks/months adds up and does create a stronger, more resilient hoof wall around the nail holes. In addition to good nutrition and environmental management of course.

Since then, I will use Kevlar Tuff as a show hoof polish, especially as there may be extra baths involved during a competition weekend. However, I won’t replace my normal Keratex usage ever again. (I am aware that Keratex can’t really penetrate the Kevlar Tuff for a couple days until the sheen wears off).

[Hippolyta]

Our farrier puts the kevlar on after a trim/shoes. He said he does it for horses that would be getting a lot of washes or are in the wet conditions. I am not sure if he recommends it for frequent use, or if he does, how often. Next time i see him I am going to ask.