Quittor
Quittor is a chronic inflammation of the cartilage of the pedal bone characterized by death of the cartilage and one or more sinus tracts extending from the diseased cartilage through the skin. It is seldom encountered today but once was common in working draft horses.
In most cases, injury to the coronet or pastern introduces infection into the deep tissues, forming a pus-filled sore called an abscess. Quittor may also occur after a penetrating wound through the sole. The first sign is an inflammatory swelling over the cartilage, followed by the formation of abscesses. During the inflammatory stage, lameness occurs.
Surgery to remove the diseased tissue and cartilage is usually successful. Drug treatment without surgery is likely to fail. Without treatment and drainage the cartilage will die, and abscesses will recur and extend to deep structures, leading to longterm lameness. If damage is extensive and the distal phalangeal joint has been invaded, the outlook for recovery is unfavorable.