AQHA Corporate Partner Farnam offers advice on how to prevent and treat thrush.

Question:

I haven’t been able to clean my horse’s hooves for quite a while, and I now think my horse might have thrush. Do you have a suggestion on how to treat the thrush?

Answer:

Thrush is a well-known hoof disease representative of decay of the frog with thick, black, foul-smelling discharge.  Thrush is an anaerobic bacterium (lives without oxygen) that thrives in the crevices of the frog.  Horses commonly get thrush in wet climates or standing in dirty, unkempt stalls or pastures where bacteria grows.

Since thrush is an anaerobic bacterium, usually picking out the hoof on a daily basis will be enough to keep thrush away.  If the case of thrush is severe, then a thrush treatment product will need to be used.  Several thrush products on the market utilize copper naphthenate as the active ingredient, which works well to help clear out hoof thrush.

To apply a thrush remedy, first remove debris and necrotic material from the hoof.  Invert the bottle over the hoof and squeeze gently, allowing liquid to flow into the crevices of the frog.  A narrow paint brush may be used to ensure thorough coverage.  Hold hoof up for 30-60 seconds while allowing product to soak into the hoof.  Once soaked in, put hoof on the ground and place horse back in stall or pasture.

For serious cases, repeat daily; otherwise, reapply every 2-3 days until thrush is gone. During treatment, be sure to clean your horse’s hooves daily and keep his stall and turnout clean and dry.

– Alyssa Barngrover, brand manager for equine products at AQHA Corporate Partner Farnam