Horse on a horse | petmd

By SecretWuff 6 Min Read

What is a horse thrush?

Thrush is a common condition in horse hooves; Anaerobic (It does not need to grow to avoid needing oxygen) Bacteria, if left untreated, can invade sensitive tissues in the feet. This can lead to long-term infections la la line. Horse thrush is the inside and outside of frogs, especially Collateral (center groove while adjacent to the triangular frog) and/or Central groove (Crench between heels).

Symptoms of horse thrush

Typical signs of thrush are:

  • Foul smell discharge

  • Watery or oily discharge (often black)

  • The kindness of the frog region

  • Cracks or deep pockets extending to the bulbs of the heel

  • Loss of frog shape and integrity

  • Soft/brushable sole

  • la la line

Causes of horse thrush

Horse thrush is most common in wet and geographical regions. Thrush thrusts thrive in wet, dark, non-oxygenated environments. Wet conditions promote the thrush environment, but that is not the only cause.

Unhealthy hooves can also cause the formation of thrush. Standing horses (such as food stalls) do not move naturally throughout the day, so they do not promote good blood flow to the hoof.

Hoove care and maintenance can also be attributed to the cause of thrush. Maintain excellent hoof care by having it Regular maintenance from the Farier will help promote balanced, supportive hooves. A balanced hoof allows for better movement/activity, which leads to good blood flow and overall health of the hoof.

How a vet diagnoses thrush on horses

Veterinarians can diagnose horse thrush based on the history of the horse’s feet and physical examination. Veterinarians can test pain along different areas of the hoof using a tool called hoof tester. Thrush is primarily recognizable due to its black excretion and foul odor. Your vet may ask you:

  • How often do you clean your horse’s hooves?

  • What does your horse’s daily activities look like?

  • Is he standing at a food stall or has he been found out in the meadows and paddocks for exercise?

  • How often does your horse see Fariar?

Treatment of horse thrush

Treatment of horse thrush depends on the severity of the case. Veterinarians and farmers cut out areas that allow for unhealthy frogs, hoofs, or bacteria to be captured. If the thrush is mild, treatment may consist of daily washes of the hoof and commercial/over-local treatment of the thrush on the affected area (OTC) topical treatment.

If you are not responding to moderate to severe thrush cases or OTC products, more advanced treatment by a veterinarian may be required. This may include more severe manifestation of infected areas (cutting), prescription drugs, antibiotics, and hospital plates applied to hoofs. Tetanus shot.

In all cases of thrush, new care management practices may need to be implemented to protect the horse from wet or muddy ground. Cleaning and drying the hoofs is extremely important for treating thrush in horses.

Over-the-counter treatments for horse thrush include:

Horse Thrush Recovery and Management

Thrush recovery depends on the severity of the case. Mild cases may show improvement within a week of daily cleaning and treatment. More serious cases can take months for frogs and hoofs to grow healthy tissue. If left untreated, the horse’s thrush will look like this:

Prevention of horse thrush

You can prevent horse thrush by:

  • Daily cleaning of horse hooves

  • Keep your horse in a clean environment that is free of moisture, mud, or fertilizer.

  • Keep your horse on a regular hoof trimming/farier schedule

  • Keep your horse active with daily exercise to promote healthy hooves

Horse cigarette fragment

How serious is horse thrush?

Thrush is generally mild and can be solved with counter thrush products and excellent hoof management. If left untreated, thrush can become a serious problem and lead to the La line.

Is thrush painful for horses?

If left untreated, horse thrush can be painful and causes damage to frogs, hoofs and heels.

reference

  1. Judd B. American Equestrian. Hoof Help: Thrush. June 2020.

  2. Paul Pion DVM, Spadafori G. Veterinary Partner. Horse hooves. August 2017.

  3. Fabbs, Taylor. Michigan State University Expansion. Prevent and treat thrush in horses. 2019.

Featured Image: istock.com/photography-wildlife-de


It was written

Jennifer Rice, DVM, CVSMT

Veterinarian

Dr. Jennifer Rice is a 2017 graduate of Purdue’s School of Veterinary Medicine and specializes in horses. After graduating…


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