Quittor is a severe foot infection involving the lateral cartilage. It causes significant chronic pain and requires aggressive treatment to resolve and restore welfare.
Quittor is a severely painful condition that causes chronic lameness and persistent infection. Horses with quittor experience ongoing pain from both the primary infection and the inflammatory response involving the sensitive structures of the foot. The repeated flare-ups with discharge and lameness create a welfare situation that worsens progressively without surgical intervention. Post-surgical recovery requires prolonged box rest and wound management that is stressful and restrictive for horses. Early recognition and aggressive treatment offer the best welfare outcomes, though some horses with extensive cartilage necrosis face a guarded prognosis for return to comfortable function.