Equine Thrush Causes and Prevention
Causes of Thrush
High humidity or wet environments predispose horses to thrush. Once the organisms begin dividing in the frog sulci, the stage is set for a progressive invasion and subsequent infection of the frog tissue.
The Importance of Oxygen for Thrush
Blocking oxygen flow to the tissue of the frog and surrounding areas creates an environment for thrush to develop. Oxygen can be blocked to the hoof tissue from packed debris or the application of grease and oils to the hoof.
Strong astringents such as formaldehyde, copper sulfate, and chlorine are caustic to live tissue. These chemicals denature the proteins in the external layer of the hoof and thereby reduce the ability of oxygen to penetrate.
Symptoms of Thrush
The discharge associated with thrush is usually black in color and characteristically has a highly unpleasant odor. Infection of the frog and surrounding tissues often leads to lameness.
Prevention of Thrush
Effective thrush prevention involves a combination of:
- Maintain a clean, dry (but not too dry) environment
- Clean the hooves on a routine basis
- Adequate excercise
- Proper nutrition and supplementation can create denser and healthier frog and sole tissue that is more resistant to infection
- Regularly apply a non-caustic hoof topical or clay to maintain a healthy hoof
Treatment of Thrush
If the horse develops thrush, provide the horse with a clean and dry environment to stand. Clean the bottom of the hoof and frog area by removing any debris and wash the area thoroughly. Do not utilize a thrush remedy that contains caustic chemicals such as turpentine, formaldehyde, copper sulfate, or chlorine. Hoof disinfectants containing iodine are ideal. "Sugardine" treatments utilizing sugar-betadine solutions packed into the frog sulci have been found to be effective in many cases. Surgical debridement of affected tissue is sometimes necessary.
