Thrush

Internal

Internal

THRUSH

Common health conditions

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Internal

CAUSE

• Caused when horses hooves are consistently

exposed to harsh environmental conditions, for
example deep littered beds and wet/muddy
pastures.

• Horses who’s hooves are not picked out daily

will be more prone to developing thrush.

• Thrush is caused by anaerobic bacteria, which,

when left untreated, can invade sensitive tissue
within the foot, often the frog. This can cause
prolonged infection and lead to lameness.

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HOW IS IT SPREAD?

• The anaerobic bacteria and fungi that causes thrush is not contagious,

so can therefore not be spread to other horses. However, if the horse
with thrush is not taken out of the environment causing the issue/ not
being treated for it, then thrush can develop in other hooves.

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CLINICAL SIGNS/SYMPTOMS

• Foul smelling discharge from hooves

• Watery /oily discharge, often black

• Tenderness in frog region- leading to lameness.

• Fissure/ deep pockets extending to heel bulbs

• Loss of frog shape

• Soft/crumbly toes

• Lameness

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TREATMENT

•Treatment depends on severity

•A veterinarian or farrier will cut away any unhealthy frog/hoof, that is allowing the
trapping of bacteria.

•Mild cases can be treated by daily cleaning of the hoof to make sure there is no
bacteria.To do this, a horses hooves should be picked out daily, before
scrubbing the sole and frog with an antibacterial solution such as iodine, or
putting the hooves in a bucket of warm salt water to open and drain deeper
pockets of infection. Water should be warm to allow salt to dissolve. Once
washed, the horses hooves should be dried off, and should be left to stand in a
clean and dry environment, such the stable. It might be beneficial to stop turning
the horse out in wet muddy fields whilst the thrush is treated, and /or find a
suitable dry paddock to turn out in.

•Leovet frog medic spray

•Iodine spray

•Purple spray

•Nettex frog health

Treatment cont.

•In severe cases, shoeing might be needed if there is heel instability, foot
imbalance or to improve air flow underneath the foot. Sprays can be used to
help treat thrush after the infected hoof/hooves have been washed and dried off.
However, treatments that seal and prevent air contact should try to be avoided,
as any left over bacteria will thrive in these low oxygen level conditions. Some
sprays include*:

•*All sprays should be used after the hoof is washed out with disinfectant, and
then dried.

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PREVENTION/ ENVIRONMENTAL

CHANGES

• Turnout in dry fields as much as possible, Hoof boots (eg Cavallo hoof

boots) can be used to keep out moisture

• Clean beading in stable

• If horses are turned out 24/7, make sure there is a dry area, eg

hardstanding

• Keeping your horse active with daily exercise to promote a healthy hoof

• Keep your horse on a regular farrier schedule (approximately 6weeks)

• Daily picking out of hooves, and making sure they dry off

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WHAT CAN THRUSH CAUSE?

• Thrush is generally mild , but can lead to:

• Poor hoof growth

• Conformation defects

• Infection

• Cellulitis

• Temporary /permanent lameness

• Thrush is not zoonotic, so can therefore not be passed from species to

species.

Fill in the Blanks

Thrush cannot be transferred from a horse to another species - therefore it is not classed as what type of condition / disease

Multiple Choice

What may thrush lead on to cause?

• Lameness

• Infection

• Cellulitis

• Poor hoof growth

• all of these

Multiple Select

Which of the following are signs of thrush?

• Itching

• Foul smell

• Soft sole / frog

• Black colour to sole / frog

Fill in the Blanks

Thrush is caused by what type of bacteria?

Multiple Select

Turning out with brushing boots or turnout boots can help prevent

• Thrush

• Mud fever

• Foot abcesses

• dermatitis

Multiple Select

When using a salt bath to treat thrush, what temperature should the water be? (select all possible correct answers)

• Cold

• Warm

• Hot

• Boiling

Reorder

Reorder the following to show how you would treat thrush

• Pick feet out

• Scrub feet clean

• Tub the foot / feet in salt water

• Dry the feet

• Apply a suitable treatment

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5