The nerve receptors and blood supply are located within the sensitive structures: the digital cushion, solar corium and lamina. The hoof and its outside structures are designed to protect, and are insensitive structures, meaning they do not have nerves and blood supply directly within them. When the thrush eats through the frog and into the sensitive digital cushion it is extremely painful for the horse. This can create a cascade effect that can significantly affect the performance of the horse and in serious cases can even lead to lameness. When the horse alters its movement and doesn't land heel first that impact energy travels up the leg into the joints, shoulders/hip and back and causes excess strain on the body.

Horses land heel first in order to use the frog and its underlying structure, the digital cushion, to absorb impact and dissipate energy vibrations. If thrush persists and manages to eat into the frog tissue deeper it can cause the horse to feel some sensitivity when loading the back of their hoof and can cause them to land flat or toe first as opposed to heel first as they are intended to land. If we catch it early enough and treat it then it is a non issue. So why is thrush an issue? At the start with a minor case, thrush doesn't really alter the horse in any way. More severe thrush can take weeks or even months to clear up and can require soaking, booting and even diet/nutrition changes. Some ratty tags on the frog, or a small infection of the central sulcus can usually be treated with diligent hoof picking and 2-3 times a week topical treatments with Artimud and/or HoofStuff. Minor surface thrush is much easier to deal with. It is a vicious cycle and can be extremely hard to beat once it gets to this advanced stage. The deeper the crack, the better the hiding spot for the thrush to thrive and eat more healthy tissue.

What happens is the the thrush eats away at the healthy tissue and creates a 'home' for itself within the sulcus of the frog. This is the first area that thrush usually starts to affect. You will notice that the central sulcus, the area at the rear of the frog in the middle, in the healthy hoof is just a small indent, but in the affected hoof it is a deep crack. In the image above you will see the healthy frog on the right, the thrush infected frog on the left. These bacteria and fungus are more prominent in wet conditions and thrive in moist ground, but can also be a problem in dry conditions. Thrush is a combination of bacteria and fungus that can eat away at the frog tissue in the hoof. It is not a product of neglectful horse care, nor is it a product of unsanitary living environment etc. The shoeing schedule should be maintained at four week intervals until all signs of the disease have been eliminated and the hoof wall grows out.Thrush is something that at one time or another all horse owners will likely have to deal with. The feet should be kept as dry as possible, with clean, dry bedding and without turnouts in rainy or wet weather.Ī well-balanced diet with the addition of biotin and methionine can be helpful. In cases of seedy toe, also known as white line disease, bacteria, yeast, or fungus invades the hoof wall, the infection begins at ground level and works its way up the white line to the coronary band.Īgain, a change in the horse's environment is necessary.

Flushing the frog with running water, drying it with toweling and proceeding to soak with Lysol, Oxine, Clean Trax or White Lightning will often help.Īfter treatments, dry the frog off and apply Zinc Oxide ointment or Desitin over the frog and work it into all the cracks and crevices. Treatment of thrush is best done by a farrier or veterinarian, although a daily scrubbing routine to accelerate the healing process using a scrub or wire brush to get the frog and all the cracks immaculate will help combat the infection. Horses that are kept in stalls with clean, dry shavings and have their feet thoroughly picked on a regular basis very seldom develop thrush. Proper care of the horse's hooves is the best prevention of thrush. Some bleeding may occur, and a strong, foul odor is emitted by the infected area. A hoof that is infected with thrush will exhibit soreness and contain black, pus-like liquid. Thrush is an infection of the frog in the foot of the horse and is usually caused by the anaerobic organism Fusobacterium necrophorum. Left untreated, these conditions become painful and debilitating for your horse. Thrush and seedy toe are common troubles during wet months. Soggy terrain in many areas because of winter snow and rain can lead to hoof problems that develop rapidly and seriously impact the health of horses. While some horse's bodies may slow down hoof growth in colder months, hoof care is still required to maintain a healthy hoof and prevent thrush and seedy toe. Farrier nailing shoe on horse in a snowy paddock

Clean trax horse hoof treatment