Horse hooves thrush

Thrush is the most common disease affecting the horse’s hoof. It is an anaerobic bacterial disease, ie. caused by bacteria thriving and living in the absence of air.

Conclusion to introduction

It is very important to realize that the success in dealing with thrush is mainly in the hands of the owner or keeper and depends on their consistency and regularity in treating this sometimes fierce problem.
It is not uncommon for some neglected cases to be difficult to treat due to the horse’s high sensitivity and pain, which can cause the treatment not to be performed properly and the problem not inherently resolved.

How do I know hoove thrush

It is characterized by:

characteristic unpleasant odor
sticky black-gray discharge on the hoof pick
sensitive reaction of the horse during deeper cleaning of the hoof central or collateral sulcus
the central sulcus is usually thrushed above the area of the soft bulbs of the heel

The thrush most often begins in the central sulcus, and also here the horse’s greatest sensitivity in cleaning is manifested.

Thrush affected hoove before treatment

Central sulcus thrush above the area of soft bulbs of the heel. Sensitive reaction is manifested during cleaning.

Beginning of treating with Dr. FROG

Cleaned central sulcus, treated with Dr. Frog, filled with gaze and sprayed with Dr. Frog spray.

After 3 months of treatment with Dr. Frog

Hoove already without thrush. The picture shows an growing central sulcus horn, which still needs time for close sulcus by new horn to grow which has been thrushed in the past.

Influences influencing the formation and successful management of thrush

hoof shape and horn quality
narrow and steep hooves with a high arch of the foot and a stunted frog usually suffer more. The frog, which is usually not in contact with the ground, the hooves do not show a sufficient hoof mechanism and air supply to the frog sulcus.
quality horn better resists attacks of ubiquitous bacteria
hoof hygiene, cleaning, air access and aids
environment, housing, management
nutrition

Trush treatment

In the initial phase, there is effective hygiene, ie thorough, proper and regular cleaning using appropriate veterinary products or cutting by a farrier.
In the intermediate stage, it is necessary to ask the farrier to remove the affected cornea and to continue according to point 1.
In the well-developed phase, the rot usually proliferates beyond the soft-footed area or to the depth of the fibrous bullet area, the hoof often has almost no bullet or is largely damaged by bacteria.

Depending on the various aspects and surfaces, movement can become a very painful affair for horses due to the penetration of dirt into a sensitive area not protected by an adequate layer of horn.

At such a stage, the horse’s management should be adjusted so that at the time of healing (restoration of a healthy horn to such a force before the stimulation of sensitive areas is suppressed) there is no unnecessary irritation and possible development of secondary inflammation. It is advisable to ask your farrier to remove the dead or contaminated horn and follow his recommendations.