Thrush is both anaerobic bacteria and a yeast infection that eats away at the soft tissues in the hoof, most commonly the frog. If a horse is kept in unsanitary conditions (manure and urine) or lacks in proper hoof care, the hoof becomes degraded and porous letting bacteria enter into the soft tissues.
If there is an infection on the outside of your horse's foot, then there is likely an infection spreading to the internal structures as well. A thrush infection in the central sulcus of the frog can spread to half an inch down into it's center. This can leave the horse tender on that foot and I've seen horses jump when a hoof pick is inserted into the infected central sulcus. While a trimmer can trim away the dead sections of frog, an antibacterial medication needs to be applied down into the infected crevices of the foot. My current method for treating a central sulcus thrush infection is flushing the crack with hydrogen peroxide using a monoject syringe, and then again using another monoject syringe applying an antibacterial medication (Albadry has their own syringe/Lotrimin from a drug store works great). I will then cover the outer crevice of the crack with bentonite clay which absorbs toxins and excess moisture. However, three times a week with flushing and treating should resolve the infection in most cases, it is important to use a syringe so you are reaching the deepest parts of the crack where the thrush is eating away at soft sensitive tissue. It is best to catch thrush as early as possible, it can cause subclinical lameness and tenderness, if the thrush is bad enough the frog can bleed and the horse will be noticeably sore on that foot. Another consideration, especially if dealing with intense chronic thrush, is taking a look at your horse's diet. Many horses are fed too much starch and sugar, and while some have bodies that can handle this, others are more sensitive to this type of diet. If you have a dietary concern it would be best to consult with a veterinarian. Two great websites for gaining more information on your horse's diet are www.safergrass.org and www.drkellon.com.
0 Comments
|
AuthorAudra Morin: Hoofcare Professional ArchivesCategories |