Thrush in Horses- What is It? and How Do You Prevent It?

Any horse owner knows that daily care of your horse is important for his or her well-being. There are general grooming duties that are of utmost importance, including picking the feet.

If you've ever gone to pick your horses feet, and smelled a strange odor, you probably know what I'm talking about.... Thrush.

What is thrush? It's a bacterium that survives without the presence of oxygen, and thrives in moisture, and will eat your horse's frog. It can be almost always prevented with daily hygiene habits on your horse. It is common in the northeast, or anywhere there is a moist climate. It is also found in horses that have unclean areas to stand in.

Generally speaking, thrush is not deadly, but there have been times in the past where a horse has had to be put down due to the condition getting out of hand. Studies suggest that in minor cases, it takes about three days to arrive and see the symptoms, and about three days to get rid of it with proper measures and treatment.

The frog in your horse's foot has two layers, the external skin called "horn tissue" and the vascular layer underneath. Beneath the inner, sensitive layers lies a pad-like "shock absorber" that reduced impact for your horse's hoof and limb. This is called the deep digital cushion.

If thrush shows up, you will see a black, puss-like discharge with a strange odor. The bacteria are actually attracted to the tissue that exists on the frog. If it goes on too long, it will form "pockets" that drill into the frog and eat away at the remaining healthy tissue. In a serious case, it is not uncommon to see bleeding as well. If this happens, you need to move your horse into a clean, dry and sanitary area and use an antiseptic foot wash with a betadine solution or a foot soak with warm Epsom salt water.

There are some commercial remedies to help get rid of thrush if you spot it. If you catch it early enough, and treat it correctly, it should not cause a problem. Some of the products you can look for would include: Thrush Buster by Mustad, Kopertox by Fort Dodge and Thrush Remedy by Absorbine. Always consult your vet before administering any type of remedy.

Prevention is the best cure for thrush. Daily hoof picking and a clean environment is key. If you horse does get thrush, you can also notice it quicker and promptly start treatment. It is not something that you want to let get out of hand!