365 Days in Horse Country –Treating Thrush
While we
all welcome spring, it also beckons the mess that comes after a long
winter. If your paddocks are anything
like mine, they are a muddy mess as a result of the melting snow and the
thawing ground. These conditions are
ideal for the growth of anaerobic bacteria and fungi; and why we see an increase
in the instance of thrush cases during the wet spring months.
Thrush is a common bacterial, and sometimes fungal, infection that occurs on the hoof of a horse, specifically in the region of the frog. The bacteria occur naturally in the environment, especially in wet, muddy, or unsanitary conditions. Horses with deep clefts, or narrow or contracted heels are more at-risk of developing thrush. Horses with thrush, or those at risk for contracting it, are best kept in a dry, clean environment. In general, thrush is relatively easy to treat, although it can easily return and it can take up to a year for a fully healthy frog to regrow after a severe infection.
Thrush infections are easily identifiable, usually by the presence of a distinct odor (akin to a hair clogged drain) when picking out the feet. Additionally, the areas of the hoof that are infected will be black in color (even on a dark-horned hoof), and will easily break or crumble when scraped with a hoof pick. When picking the hooves around infected areas, the differences between healthy and infected tissues can be easily distinguished, and are evidenced by white/gray tissue (healthy frog) surrounding a dark, smelly area (infected area).
Most horses do not become lame if infected with thrush. However, if left untreated, the infection may migrate deeper into the sensitive parts of the hoof, resulting in lameness. At this advanced stage of infection, your horse may react with sensitivity to having its feet picked out and there may be the presence of blood in the affected area as well.
As always, prevention is the best medicine and daily hoof care the best way to mitigate thrush infections. Take special care to properly clean out the two collateral grooves and the central sulcus on a daily basis, so as to prevent infections. Infections do happen however, even among the most regimented of us. When infections occur, there are a number of remedies available to us; both home and commercial ones. Not all remedies are created equally though, and some can even cause more harm than good; particularly some of the home-spun varieties. Among some of the more effective home remedies however are; hoof packing with sugardine (a combination of sugar and Betadine) and the application of powdered aspirin on the affected area. My favourite home remedy however, and the one that I have had the most success with, is the application of equal parts of Listerine and apple cider vinegar. After cleaning out my horse’s hooves, I apply this mixture to the sole of the foot using a spray bottle. I am amazed at how quickly it clears up infections, sometimes with only one or two applications. One home remedy that should, under no circumstances, ever be used, is the bleach (even when diluted). Bleach is caustic and will only serve to damage the surrounding healthy tissues, thereby exacerbating the problem. For the best results, and before applying any treatments, be they home or commercial remedies; ensure that the hoof is thoroughly scrubbed clean with warm water and a mild detergent.
Always consult with your trusted veterinarian when in doubt about the severity of the infection, or how best to proceed with treating it.
Michael