Thrush
in horses - causes, symptoms and treatment
Keep feet clean to prevent
thrush Equine Thrush is a bacterial or fungal infection
of the horse's frog and heel bulbs of the horse's
foot.
Thrush affects the central and lateral clefts of the frog and
the bulbs of the heel and is characterised by the presence of
dead, black, foul smelling material in the affected
areas.
The infection may penetrate the horny and sensitive structures
of the horse or pony's foot.
An infection of thrush can be painful and cause your
horse to go lame.
This unpleasant condition can be prevented and treated by good
stable management and help from your farrier.
The main causes of thrush are:
- Unhygienic conditions - eg horses standing
for long periods on soiled bedding.
- Feet not kept clean.
- Lack of frog pressure resulting in poor blood
circulation and limited horn production
- Feet becoming too soft - allowing foreign bodies to penetrate
the foot
- Neglect by the farrier - poor shoeing or
trimming
- Poor foot conformation
Many organisms are involved, but the bacterial microbe Spherophorus
Necrophorus is the most important as the bacteria thrive in conditions
deprived of fresh air.
The most obvious sign of thrush is a foul smell which
is noticeable when you pick out your horse's feet.
There is also an increased amount of moisture and a black discharge
in the clefts of the frog.
If a horse has thrush the clefts of the foot tend to become deeper
than normal and may even extend to to the sensitive tissue - causing
the horse to flinch as you clean his feet.
In some cases of thrush the horse will be lame
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