How to Treat Thrush in a Horse

Thrush in a horse is an infection caused by fungus growing in dirty stalls or wet, muddy grounds. Thrush normally affects the frog of the hoof and appears as a moist, black discharge. The hoof will have a very strong, rotten odor. Thrush is easy to get rid of if proper treatment is followed. Learn how to treat thrush in a horse by following these steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Clean your horse's hooves every day. Remove as much of the black thrush as you can. If there is a large amount, use a stiff brush and warm, soapy water to help get rid of the thrush.
2. Move the horse to a dry area. Thrush can worsen if the horse stands in a damp, moist or wet area. Put him in a dry pasture or stall. Keep stalls very dry and clean, adding fresh bedding daily.
3. Soak the entire hoof with strong (7 percent) iodine. Repeat this every day after cleaning the hoof. Using strong iodine too long may cause the hoof to dry excessively. Use the iodine until the black thrush is no longer visible, and the rotten smell is gone.
4. Keep the horse's stall and pasture area as dry as possible to prevent the thrush from recurring. If this is not possible, as in rainy conditions, allow the horse to stand in a dry area at least part of the day.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use bleach or peroxide on your horse's hooves. This can burn sensitive areas of the horse's hoof.