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Thrush in Horses Hooves
Thrush In Horses Hooves
In this article we will cover thrush in horses hooves. Thrush is a condition that affects the horse’s frog and surrounding areas such as the lateral groves (commissures) and sulci of the frog. It can also extend to other areas of the hoof, such as the bulbs.
Thrush is characterised by a dark discharge and an unpleasant smell from the affected area.
In short, it is an infestation of these areas by a microbial anaerobic bacteria and/or a combination of bacteria, that affect the frog its surrounds.
Thrush usually does not cause lameness, but if left untreated, it can cause the frog to become atrophied (waste away or shrink) and in neglected cases, lameness can occur.
Trush in horses hooves can be painful to touch in the affected area. In severe cases, the horse’s frog can suffer from infection and bleeding may be present. It has been my experience that horses with deep lateral groves (commissars) such as club feet with atrophied frogs and or sheered heels, may be more susceptible to this complaint.
I believe the reason for this is the similarity that thrush shares with seedy toe. These particular types of feet allow for the anaerobic bacteria to have a place to grow, thus due to the lack of oxygen the bacterial microbe’s flourish.
Common Misconceptions About The Cause Of Thrush In Horses Hooves
It has been suggested that thrush occurs in horses whose feet have not been regularly cared for. Therefore, thrush is usually blamed on:
- Poor stable management e.g. loose boxes that are not regularly cleaned or mucked out
- Lack of exercise
- Horses living in wet, unsanitary conditions
- Lack of regular hoof care e.g. not picking out the hooves
- Irregular shoeing or trimming intervals
However, thrush can occur in horses that are regularly cared for and kept in good conditions as well. This suggests that thrush should not always be thought of as a management or environmental problem.
Thrush can often affect one foot alone, with the other feet being free of the complaint. This may indicate that some horses / feet are more receptable to this complaint than others.
Furthermore, recent research has shown that if the anaerobic bacterium known as Fusobacterium Necrophorum (FN) is present, this bacterium alone will cause thrush; Ref: The Hoof of The Horse by DR Simon Curtis PhD, FWCF, Hon Assoc RVCS
Image 1: Shows bleeding at the affected area.
Image 2: Shows the dark Discolouration of the frog.
Image 3: Shows black discharge from the lateral grove (commissure)
Image 4: Shows the infection of the central sulcus and surrounds
N.B: All photos courtesy of Mr. Chris Gregory CJF FWCF: From Gregorys Text book of Farriery
Treatment For Thrush In Horses Hooves
Thrush in horses hooves can usually be treated by the farrier trimming away the affected area. This exposes the bacteria to oxygen and will kill the anaerobic microbes. This should be followed up by the owner applying a topical ointment between farrier visits and ensuring that the area is cleaned and treated regularly.
There are many topical ointments on the market for the prevention and treatment of thrush, such as Comfort Mix Thrush Treatment or Hoof-it Hoof Hygiene.
Mild cases rarely cause any problems and respond well to treatment. However, severe cases affecting sensitive tissue should be treated like a hoof abscess and may require bar shoes or a treatment plate.
In cases where sensitive or epidermal tissue is exposed, it is prudent to seek assistance from a veterinarian. Usually in such cases, metronidazole paste is prescribed and used in conjunction with a treatment plate.
Please Note: (metronidazole) must be prescribed by your vet.
Above: A removable treatment plate used in conjunction with a bar shoe for a severe case. In this case sensitive tissue was exposed so the treatment plate was adopted as well as metronidazole paste which was prescribed by the attending Veterinarian to normalize the condition.
How To Prevent Thrush In Horses Hooves
The age-old saying prevention is better than cure certainly holds true in this case.
Regularly cleaning out the feet (daily when possible) and regular farrier visits help in the prevention of not only thrush, but also other hoof conditions. This should always be your starting point.
Obviously clean and suitable stabling conditions for the horse, trying to reduce wet muddy conditions were possible, will also play a part in prevention.
When hoof pads are used, I usually use a topical dressing under the pad, between the dental impression material and the hoof as a preventative measure, to ensure the sole and frog are pristine on my return visit.
Above: Example of a preventative topical application on the frog and sole when using horse pads.
Throughout my career as a farrier in Australia, I have not seen many thrush cases due to unsanitary conditions. I am pleased to say however, I have seen this condition in horses with poor foot shape and function, such as club feet with deep lateral groves as well as deep central sulcus’s.
I am sure that dry climates in Australia also help to reduce the cases of thrush, however in a country as large as Australia there are always wet and humid conditions somewhere, and this condition will thrive in such climates.
As I said earlier, thrush does not often occur or cause a big problem and it is very susceptible to treatment if it is present.
I hope this article has shed some light on this condition.
If you have any questions or wish to know more about a particular hoof or horse related problem or topic, send us an email at online.australia@mustad.com and I will try to answer your questions in one of our future blogs.
Until Next Time; All the Best
Dean Lewis AWCF