Thrush in Horses

The old quote “No foot, no horse” pretty much sums up the importance of the horse’s foot.  They are the foundation of any animal and care must be taken to reduce problems.  Each foot supports weight, resists wear, absorbs shock, provides traction, conducts moisture and helps pump blood.         
There are several foot problems that occur in horses such as thrush, white line disease, sole bruises, corns, abscess, sand cracks, navicular disease and laminitis.  This article will discuss thrush.

Thrush is the most common infection in horse’s hooves.  It is caused by anaerobic bacteria that affects the frog.  It is characterized by a black, foul smelling infection that eats away at either side of the frog.  If untreated, it can damage tissue and cause lameness.  It is similar to foot rot in ruminants but is not contagious.  Thrush usually occurs from unsanitary or wet conditions.

Diagram from Functional Anatomy of the Horse Foot from the University of Missouri Extension by Robert C. McClure with the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The best control for thrush is clean and dry hooves.  Good hoof cleaning (daily) and eliminating a wet environment for the horse are keys to preventing thrush.  Clean and remove manure from stalls and run-in sheds frequently.  If horses are in a pasture, make sure they are able to get out of the wet areas of the field. 

Click here to see steps to cleaning your horse’s hooves from eXtension’s Horse Page. 

Click here to see how to diagnosis and treat thrush from North Carolina State University Vet School.

Here is a video from Horse.com by Dr. Morrison about thrush in horses.

  

The use of this video does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.