Rain… Rain… Go Away!
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010Treating Equine Thrush
No sooner does your horse’s corral start to dry out when another storm finds him standing in a bog of mud and manure. With persistent rains, thrush becomes a common problem for our stabled friends.
Caused by anaerobic bacteria, equine thrush is a fungal infection that slowly eats away at a horse’s hoof tissue predominantly in the frog area. In its early stages, thrush is fairly harmless and easily treatable. Left untreated, thrush can cause permanent lameness.
Generally, a hoof afflicted with thrush will display mild discomfort. A black pus-like liquid accompanied by a distinctive odor indicate symptoms which require treatment.
Once you’ve learned to recognize its signs, thrush is fairly simple to cure with inexpensive medications found at your local tack or feed store.
Here are some helpful tips should you find yourself face to face with a stinky, blackened hoof in hand!
- Try to keep areas where your horse stands dry! Check your feed store for bedding products that deter standing water and mud.
- Pick hooves daily to remove dirt and debris. Pay close attention to frog and cleft areas.
- Scheduled trims and shoeing help prevent contracted heels and deep clefts where the thrush bacteria is easy to hide.
Should you find the thrush bacteria lurking in your horse’s hooves, treat the area immediately. The simplest and least expensive alternative to over-the-counter remedies is to use iodine, betadine or chlorine bleach.
Paint or spray solution onto the bottom of your horse’s hooves making sure every possible crevice is permeated. Apply twice daily for up to five days. After this time, the thrush should be gone.
If the thrush does not respond to home care within a week’s time, the horse must be seen by a veterinarian.
Now the good news! Equine thrush is anaerobic which means it cannot survive when exposed to oxygen. This makes prevention a snap! With routine hoof cleaning and preventive stall maintenance, the “Smelly Black Creature” from the mud bogs won’t be taking up residence in your horse’s hooves.