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Identifying, Curing and Avoiding Thrush in Horse's and Pony's Hooves
Thrush is a common problem, especially when rainy weather persists. It can become painful and debilitating for your horse or pony if left untreated. Learn to recognize the signs, how to cure it yourself with inexpensive products and how to avoid occurrences of thrush.
What is Thrush?
Hoof thrush is found in the underside of the hoof and can affect the clefts, sole and frog. It’s not known whether thrush is caused by a bacteria or a fungus, but the condition is more likely to occur in the damp oxygen-less areas of a hoof that are often tightly packed with dirt and manure. In the early stages it is harmless, but left untreated it can cause hoof damage and lameness.
What causes thrush?
It’s not known whether thrush is caused by a bacteria or a fungus but most agree that it persists in the soil. There is also speculation that the organism responsible exists in the horse itself. It thrives in damp anaerobic conditions—areas that don’t get oxygen, like the clefts of your horses’ hooves. A hoof filled with moist dirt and manure is susceptible to thrush. You may not notice thrush during very dry weather, but when wetter weather persists, the infection may increase.
How do I know my horse has thrush?
You will quickly recognize thrush if you find a black, moist, foul smelling substance when you clean out the hooves. The thrush will likely be hiding in the deeper areas of the cleft. The smell of thrush is unmistakable. As you clean the hoof the black substance will scrape out but leave dark staining.
How can thrush be avoided?
Regular, frequent cleaning helps to remove the damp dirt and manure from the hooves, allows air (oxygen) to get into the affected areas, and helps keep the foot drier.
* Keep the areas your horse stands in clean and dry. Remove manure, soiled bedding and spoiled hay.
* Regular trimming helps overall hoof health. Proper trimming and shoeing helps prevent under-run or contracted heels and deep clefts where it is easier for thrush bacteria to hide.
* Talk to your farrier. He or she can make recommendations and help you develop a strategy to keep your horse’s hooves healthy.
How does thrush affect the horse?
A small amount of thrush is fairly harmless and easily treatable in the early stages. The visible signs are the black tarry, odorous substance in the hooves. Left untreated however, it can erode the hoof to the point where the horse becomes permanently lame.
How can thrush be cured?
If you find your horse has thrush and it has not advanced to the point of making your horse lame thrush is relatively simple to clear up.
There are many products that claim to cure thrush on the shelves of every store that sells equine supplies. Some are more effective than others. The simplest and least expensive is to buy a bottle of iodine or betadine solution.
1. Make sure the areas where your horse stands, whether under a favorite tree or in a stall, are dry and clean. A bit of morning dew or moist soil around the water trough helps keep hooves moist--too much can cause problems.
2. Pick out all the dirt and debris from the bottom of the hooves with a hoof pick. Pay close attention to cleaning the deeper areas of the clefts.
3. Scrub the area with a stiff brush to remove as much dirt and thrush residue as possible.
Be careful not to brush too harshly over the heel and frog.
4. Paint or spray the iodine solution onto the bottom of your horse’s hooves. Be very sure that the solution penetrates every possible crevice and surface.
5. Repeat this for up to five days. After this time, the thrush should be gone. Continue to keep your horse’s living quarters clean and dry.
You will may find recommendations to use chlorine bleach, copper napthenate or sulfate, or hydrogen peroxide as well as other caustic solutions. Although these are traditional cures each has its downfall. Either they will stain—hands, clothing, or hair coat, or the product may burn healthy foot or skin tissue. (With daily cleaning, the condition will be unlikely to advance to the point of damaging the hoof.)
What if home treatment doesnt work?
If the thrush does not respond to home care within a week the horse must be seen by an equine veterinarian. Advanced cases where there is evidence of hoof damage, and/or the horse is lame must be seen by a veterinarian and will require the recommendations and services of a trained farrier.
Thrush is a common problem, especially when rainy weather persists. It can become painful and debilitating for your horse or pony if left untreated. Learn to recognize the signs, how to cure it yourself with inexpensive products and how to avoid occurrences of thrush.
What is Thrush?
Hoof thrush is found in the underside of the hoof and can affect the clefts, sole and frog. It’s not known whether thrush is caused by a bacteria or a fungus, but the condition is more likely to occur in the damp oxygen-less areas of a hoof that are often tightly packed with dirt and manure. In the early stages it is harmless, but left untreated it can cause hoof damage and lameness.
What causes thrush?
It’s not known whether thrush is caused by a bacteria or a fungus but most agree that it persists in the soil. There is also speculation that the organism responsible exists in the horse itself. It thrives in damp anaerobic conditions—areas that don’t get oxygen, like the clefts of your horses’ hooves. A hoof filled with moist dirt and manure is susceptible to thrush. You may not notice thrush during very dry weather, but when wetter weather persists, the infection may increase.
How do I know my horse has thrush?
You will quickly recognize thrush if you find a black, moist, foul smelling substance when you clean out the hooves. The thrush will likely be hiding in the deeper areas of the cleft. The smell of thrush is unmistakable. As you clean the hoof the black substance will scrape out but leave dark staining.
How can thrush be avoided?
Regular, frequent cleaning helps to remove the damp dirt and manure from the hooves, allows air (oxygen) to get into the affected areas, and helps keep the foot drier.
* Keep the areas your horse stands in clean and dry. Remove manure, soiled bedding and spoiled hay.
* Regular trimming helps overall hoof health. Proper trimming and shoeing helps prevent under-run or contracted heels and deep clefts where it is easier for thrush bacteria to hide.
* Talk to your farrier. He or she can make recommendations and help you develop a strategy to keep your horse’s hooves healthy.
How does thrush affect the horse?
A small amount of thrush is fairly harmless and easily treatable in the early stages. The visible signs are the black tarry, odorous substance in the hooves. Left untreated however, it can erode the hoof to the point where the horse becomes permanently lame.
How can thrush be cured?
If you find your horse has thrush and it has not advanced to the point of making your horse lame thrush is relatively simple to clear up.
There are many products that claim to cure thrush on the shelves of every store that sells equine supplies. Some are more effective than others. The simplest and least expensive is to buy a bottle of iodine or betadine solution.
1. Make sure the areas where your horse stands, whether under a favorite tree or in a stall, are dry and clean. A bit of morning dew or moist soil around the water trough helps keep hooves moist--too much can cause problems.
2. Pick out all the dirt and debris from the bottom of the hooves with a hoof pick. Pay close attention to cleaning the deeper areas of the clefts.
3. Scrub the area with a stiff brush to remove as much dirt and thrush residue as possible.
Be careful not to brush too harshly over the heel and frog.
4. Paint or spray the iodine solution onto the bottom of your horse’s hooves. Be very sure that the solution penetrates every possible crevice and surface.
5. Repeat this for up to five days. After this time, the thrush should be gone. Continue to keep your horse’s living quarters clean and dry.
You will may find recommendations to use chlorine bleach, copper napthenate or sulfate, or hydrogen peroxide as well as other caustic solutions. Although these are traditional cures each has its downfall. Either they will stain—hands, clothing, or hair coat, or the product may burn healthy foot or skin tissue. (With daily cleaning, the condition will be unlikely to advance to the point of damaging the hoof.)
What if home treatment doesnt work?
If the thrush does not respond to home care within a week the horse must be seen by an equine veterinarian. Advanced cases where there is evidence of hoof damage, and/or the horse is lame must be seen by a veterinarian and will require the recommendations and services of a trained farrier.