THRUSH
To cure and prevent thrush your farrier/trimmer will need to trim in a way that promotes healthy frog growth and remove any dead frog. Thrush is a bacterial infection that occurs in the tissue of the frog. The disease begins when bacteria penetrates the outer horn or epidermis of the frog. As it progresses the frog tissue deteriorates, looking uneven, ragged, smelly and possibly with a cheesy like substance. In severe cases, the bacteria can reach the inner dermis, (frog corium that grows the frog) sensitive tissues beneath the frog, causing pain and lameness, also affecting the digital cushion, P3 and other structures within the foot and producing a black paste like substance.
Contrary to popular belief, thrush is NOT caused DIRECTLY by unhygienic conditions such conditions just aggravate the original cause. Thrush only develops in horses with unhealthy frogs. You can put a horse with healthy frogs in the worst possible conditions for example, an excessively damp or dirty stable or wet muddy conditions and he will rarely get thrush. On the other-hand, some of the most pampered horses get thrush (despite their immaculate surroundings), because the frogs aren’t healthy.
Here’s How It Happens
A healthy well-formed frog is broad and well callused, sharing the load-bearing function with the other structures of the hoof, this helps to absorb concussion (think of the tyres of your car) the frog also aids traction (acts as a natural brake). This in turn stimulates continued good frog health. A healthy frog also has a natural self-cleaning mechanism and when it comes into contact with the ground it expands, pushing accumulated dirt and debris out of the central sulcus and the collateral sulcus on each side of the frog (making up one side of the collateral groove). You can see this in action when the hoof leaves behind its own round compacted clump. An unhealthy frog recesses from the surface level of the rest of the hoof and is often smaller in size than it should be. This can occur from trimming issues, such as a horse with really low or really high heels and genetics such as a clubfoot. The fundamental problem usually involves the frog and heels of the hoof capsule not being on or close to the same plane. The unhealthy frog does not share the horses weight load, so it shifts too much of the load back onto the heels of the hoof capsule, this then limits the frogs contact with the ground, thus reducing stimulation from the ground and causing the frog to atrophy. My feeling is that it can also be caused by over trimming of the frog, therefore stripping it of its protective callous.
Different treatments seem to work in different places and no one cure suits all, it can vary.
You can treat thrush with a solution of apple cider vinegar and water, soak the foot 20-30 mins each day and apply solution a couple of times a day into all the creases and grooves with a spray or syringe. You can also use green clay with tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil and honey, making sure it’s packed well into grooves and creases. You can make a dressing with honey or make a eucalyptus solution. Soak the hoof in salt water and apply dressing.
Honey, a favourite of mine is also good for burns and wounds, it prevents blistering and scars and for wounds prevents white hair from growing back. My favourite oil for wounds is yarrow, there is a compound in yarrow that when it goes through the process, turns it into a beautiful dark inky blue oil. Yarrow was used during war times for soldier’s wounds to stem the bleeding.
Keep your horses feet picked out every day it gives you a regular hoof check.
To cure and prevent thrush your farrier/trimmer will need to trim in a way that promotes healthy frog growth and remove any dead frog. Thrush is a bacterial infection that occurs in the tissue of the frog. The disease begins when bacteria penetrates the outer horn or epidermis of the frog. As it progresses the frog tissue deteriorates, looking uneven, ragged, smelly and possibly with a cheesy like substance. In severe cases, the bacteria can reach the inner dermis, (frog corium that grows the frog) sensitive tissues beneath the frog, causing pain and lameness, also affecting the digital cushion, P3 and other structures within the foot and producing a black paste like substance.
Contrary to popular belief, thrush is NOT caused DIRECTLY by unhygienic conditions such conditions just aggravate the original cause. Thrush only develops in horses with unhealthy frogs. You can put a horse with healthy frogs in the worst possible conditions for example, an excessively damp or dirty stable or wet muddy conditions and he will rarely get thrush. On the other-hand, some of the most pampered horses get thrush (despite their immaculate surroundings), because the frogs aren’t healthy.
Here’s How It Happens
A healthy well-formed frog is broad and well callused, sharing the load-bearing function with the other structures of the hoof, this helps to absorb concussion (think of the tyres of your car) the frog also aids traction (acts as a natural brake). This in turn stimulates continued good frog health. A healthy frog also has a natural self-cleaning mechanism and when it comes into contact with the ground it expands, pushing accumulated dirt and debris out of the central sulcus and the collateral sulcus on each side of the frog (making up one side of the collateral groove). You can see this in action when the hoof leaves behind its own round compacted clump. An unhealthy frog recesses from the surface level of the rest of the hoof and is often smaller in size than it should be. This can occur from trimming issues, such as a horse with really low or really high heels and genetics such as a clubfoot. The fundamental problem usually involves the frog and heels of the hoof capsule not being on or close to the same plane. The unhealthy frog does not share the horses weight load, so it shifts too much of the load back onto the heels of the hoof capsule, this then limits the frogs contact with the ground, thus reducing stimulation from the ground and causing the frog to atrophy. My feeling is that it can also be caused by over trimming of the frog, therefore stripping it of its protective callous.
Different treatments seem to work in different places and no one cure suits all, it can vary.
You can treat thrush with a solution of apple cider vinegar and water, soak the foot 20-30 mins each day and apply solution a couple of times a day into all the creases and grooves with a spray or syringe. You can also use green clay with tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil and honey, making sure it’s packed well into grooves and creases. You can make a dressing with honey or make a eucalyptus solution. Soak the hoof in salt water and apply dressing.
Honey, a favourite of mine is also good for burns and wounds, it prevents blistering and scars and for wounds prevents white hair from growing back. My favourite oil for wounds is yarrow, there is a compound in yarrow that when it goes through the process, turns it into a beautiful dark inky blue oil. Yarrow was used during war times for soldier’s wounds to stem the bleeding.
Keep your horses feet picked out every day it gives you a regular hoof check.
