How to Treat Thrush on a Horse

Thrush is an anaerobic bacteria that lives in soil and infects horses’ hooves. A thrush infection is characterized by a black, moist discharge in the clefts, sole and frog of the hoof. When left to fester, thrush will give off a foul odor. What is worse, it will eat away at the hoof, causing abnormal growth, causing lameness. Thrush is often attributed to poor care and neglect, but this is not necessarily the case. The true cause of thrush is still under debate by veterinarians, and horses receiving very good care have suffered from thrush infections. If there are thrush bacteria in your soil, your horse is bound to get it, but the good news is that it is easy to treat.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hoof pick and hoof knife
• A dry place to keep your horse, if possible
• Thrush medicine

1. Prevent thrush by keeping your horse's living area as clean as possible. Clean daily so the horse will not be standing in soiled bedding or ground. Clean his hooves daily.

2. Clean the hoof thoroughly every day when a thrush infection sets in—more than once per day, if possible. Scrape away all of the discharge, using a stiff brush and warm, soapy water if necessary.

3. Use a hoof knife to trim pieces of the frog that are beginning to fall off. This is dead tissue and removing it will not harm the horse. However, if this makes you squeamish, ask your farrier or an expert to help you.

4. Move the horse to a dry place, if possible, until the infection is gone. Make sure his bedding is kept clean and fresh.

5. Apply a medicinal thrush remedy. There are many of these sold over the counter, but two highly recommended brands are Thrush Buster and Coppertox. Alternatively, you can soak the hoof in a 7% solution of iodine until the black discharge has disappeared and the odor is gone.

Tips & Warnings

• Because thrush is an anaerobic bacteria, exposure to air is an easy form of prevention and treatment. Merely keeping the hooves as clean as possible will help in the fight against thrush.
• Treating thrush is only part of good hoof care. Regular farrier visits will keep the horse’s hooves in good shape—and will also help to prevent and treat thrush.

Who Can Help Sponsored