Thrush is a foul, stinky black infection of the frog which
can become severe if not
treated and the cause not dealt with.
It is thought to be caused by a type of bacteria or fungus,
but several organisms
may be involved.
It is first noticed by the weeping or moist discharge
around the frog and a very
distinct, rotten odor.
If your horse has thrush, you will know !
(The nose knows ! )
Treatment of thrush includes correcting the stable conditions
that cause it. First
the hooves should be cleaned, and a medication
applied. Most horse owners
have come across this problem and
have their own theory on treatment. What we
did, after
cleaning up the muddy, dirty (stinky too!) area that
caused the problem, was try the
tincture of Iodine,
7% solution, 2-3 days in a row and it worked fine.
But now, because
we find it works as well for us
and is easier and less expensive, we use a 50-50
solution
of water and household bleach from
a spray bottle, check the hooves daily, and
keep
a close eye on their living conditions
during the rainy season especially, as this is
the
time of year we have the problem most often.
