How do I prevent horse from getting thrush?

Question

We have had a relatively rainy and nasty winter here. The barn has flooded on more than one occassion, but her stall has remained above the flood levels. The paddock, where she is turned out, is a mud pit and she is not "allowed" in the pastures because she is large and tears up the ground with her thunder hooves. She's a belgian. I try to keep her hooves cleaned, but this is difficult as I don't get out there every day.

The stall is chipped every other day by the barn owners and when it is they don't chip it enough. She does have stall mats, but there is still quite a bit of poo and moisture in there.

I need to know what else I can do to cure and prevent thrush. I've seen Thrush X and other such items, but haven't seen too much success with those.

Answer 1

Do you clean your horse's hooves often? Daily cleaning of the hooves is essential to proper hoof care, as well as going a long way in preventing thrush or, at least, catching it early. Try putting some idiodine on the underside of his hooves and around his frog after you pick them out as an extra precaution.

To cure it try chlorine bleach, copper napthenate or sulfate, or hydrogen peroxide as well as other caustic solutions! If the thrush has not progressed to far the ferrier can always scrape it out when he visits, the horses can usually wait that long. That's what we did with my horse, Shinto =)


As for the pasture thing, you need to tell the owners that your horse has a right to be in a pasture that is not a mud pit, because that puts hit health at risk and those conditions are not ideal for any horse. He will be less suceptable to thrush if he has a better pasture-- the barn needs to figure out ways to minimize moisture, it's their job-- otherwise i suggest you move barns if they can't take care of your horse like any other horse.

OR
if your horse is shoed, ask the ferrier to put pads on him-- it is a piece of waterproof black rubber that they run between the two prongs of the shoe, it basically just covers up the hooves....they are originally designed for the winter, to keep ice from balling up between their shoes, but they can be used for a number of other things! This will keep the mud and moisture out =)

Answer 2

Like everyone as already said, keeping your horses feet clean is the cheapest and easiest way to prevent thrush. The chances of her getting it is slim unless she has had previous problems with her feet, because if they are strong and healthy they should be okay.
About putting pads on- I've heard that pads actually cause thrush instead of prevent it. They trap moisture and lock it in, and the heat from the hoof heats the moisture and reduces the hoof to mush. And then when you take the pads off the hooves are weaker.

Answer 3

You are doing the right thing by trying to keep her hooves dry. See if you can find an alternate pasture for her, because it's not fair to her to be unable to graze, even if the weather sucks. If you are boarding her, see if you can get someone there to check her hooves on days you can't be there. Make sure it's someone who knows what they're looking for. Also request to have extra chips in her stall, or at least some straw, just to keep her above the muck.

Answer 4

Go to your local feed store and get her some medicene. Also you have to keep her out of the paddock and mud mire, that is whats cuasing her thrush. If she needs exercise you are going to have to go out there and do it yourself, that is part of the responsibilites of horse ownership. you are aware that thrush can make a horse lame? Also have your ferrier cut out all of the decaying frog.

Answer 5

well wet or mud will cause thrush you need to move her out of those conditions.