During cool and wet spring months like we have had this year it can become a challenge to control mud and wet conditions in feeding areas, pastures, and sometimes even in stalls. It is important to keep the mud to a minimum when possible to protect your horses hooves from developing thrush. This disease can be caused by anaerobic bacterium that creates a fungal infection when trapped in moisture. It enters the hooves by way of cracks in the hoof wall and eats away at hoof tissue, particularly the frog area. It is mostly commonly recognized by a pungent odor and black discharge seeping from the hoof.
Prevention is always the best medicine and is most commonly created by keeping areas free of standing mud and moisture. This can be aided by grading that allows for proper drainage, installing geotextile filter fabric that creates a way for rain to drain through the rock and not create mud, and keeping an overall cleanliness in heavy horse-use areas. Regular hoof picking during times of wet and damp conditions can also aid in the prevention of thrush.
The treatment of thrush once it occurs may require daily attention, including trimming the hoof, cleaning hoof cracks with a rag and hydrogen peroxide, or a fungicidal medication. If you suspect that you have the presence of thrush it is always a good idea to involve the professional assistance of your local veterinarian to determine your best means of treatment and future prevention. But remember that cleanliness and proper drainage from heavy horse-use areas and regular hoof picking and assessment of hoof health can go a long way in preventing thrush.
For further and more detailed information on thrush you can visit the following link:
If your animal is susceptible to mud fever, rain scald or thrush, a twice weekly maintenance spray is recommended.If your horse is suffering from minor skin abnormalities caused by greasy heel, rain scald and thrush, place your order for equinecare probiotic spray on our website https://equinecareprobiotic.com.
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