Farrier Matt Taimuty of FairHillForge.com says thrush is caused by anaerobic bacteria, which means the bacteria thrives in the absence of oxygen. It attacks the V-shaped frog of a horse's hoof as well as the surrounding tissue. It causes a smelly, black discharge, and over time it can inhibit growth of the frog and cause the tissue to break down. Fortunately, it can be treated successfully before it causes any damage.
Commercial Remedies
Equine author Cherry Hill says many horse owners use commercial thrush remedies. These have anti-fungal or anti-bacterial ingredients such as copper naphthenate or gentian violet to kill the bacteria that causes thrush. They come in liquid form in a squirt bottle for easy application to the horse's hoof. Hill warns that the ingredients in most commercial treatments can stain if you spill them.
Home Remedies
Hill recommends a home remedy for thrush made by combining an iodine scrub or ointment with white sugar until it forms a thin paste. This can be applied directly to the hoof. Any overgrown skin on the frog should be trimmed before application. This allows air to reach the bacteria, which helps to kill it. After trimming, the hoof should be washed with water and an iodine scrub. Pat it dry with a towel, then use a small brush to apply the paste as deeply as possible in the grooves of the frog.
Environment
The bacteria that causes thrush can be found in almost any soil, and it thrives in dark, moist environments with no air. This makes the grooves of the frog a perfect spot to be infected. While you treat your horse's thrush with a commercial or home remedy, keep its hooves as clean and dry as possible. Clean its stall daily and line it with dry bedding, and use a hoof pick to remove debris from the hoof. This improves air circulation.
Packing
Taimuty says that severe cases of thrush may require the hoof to be packed every day. The frog must be thoroughly cleaned out with cotton. Then pack its grooves with cotton balls soaked in an iodine solution. Pack the cotton as far down and tightly as possible. This process must be repeated until new frog tissue grows in, which can take several months.
