Equine thrush is a bacterial infection in horses’ feet. A foul smell, especially while cleaning the horse’s feet, is an indicator of thrush. Horse hooves infected with thrush may have a black discharge on the bottom of the foot in middle – the part called the frog.

Several species of bacteria cause thrush, although Fusobacterium necrophorum is the most common. F. necrophorum is found in the soil, including muddy pastures and stalls with manure and urine. This species is anaerobic bacteria that die when exposed to air. It infects a horse’s feet when the horse stands in muddy pastures or in urine- and feces-soaked areas. Mud and manure get packed into the horse’s hooves preventing air from reaching the frog. This creates an anaerobic environment in which F. necrophorum can thrive and cause infection.



Treating Thrush – Hoof Care

Treating thrush begins with proper hoof care. Keeping the horse hoof dry will prevent thrush. Horse grooming should be done on a daily basis and should including cleaning the horse’s feet with a hoof pick. This will remove any debris that is packed in the horse’s hooves allowing air to reach the frog and other tissues. This air exposure kills the bacteria that cause thrush. Hoof picking should be done on a daily basis.

Treating Thrush – The Farrier’s Hoof Knife

The farrier is a blacksmith who trims and shoes horses’ hooves. The farrier plays a role in preventing and treating thrush. He uses a hoof knife to trim part of the frog. According to the Horse Owner’s Veterinary Handbook authors James M. Giffin M.D. and Tom Gore, D.V.M., paring back the clefts of the frog “during routine hoof cleaning…makes [the clefts of the frog] self-cleaning.”

Treating Thrush – Equine Stall and Pasture

Equine stall and pasture must be kept clean and dry to prevent thrush and to allow existing cases or horse thrush to heal. A dry pasture is not always possible, but steps can be taken to harden the ground in areas that tend to be muddy. Muddy areas are typically those areas around barn entrances, or where the horses spend the most time.

Rainstorms and springtime ground thawing lead to delicate soil in which the horses sink. This creates a muddy area that never dries out as long as it is used. One may wish to speak with a general contractor about the best method for hardening the ground surface around a barn. Soils types vary from place to place and may require different correction methods.

The equine stall should be kept dry and clean. It is important to remove feces and soaked bedding on a daily basis. The stall or lean-to floor should contain a drain for water and urine drainage, or the floor should be raised and built to direct the water and urine away from the stall.

Treating Thrush – Topical Ointments

Giffin and Gore recommend treating the affected area with 10 percent formalin or 7 percent tincture of iodine to dry the hoof. A topical antiseptic solution should also be applied to treat the infection. Ten percent sodium sulfapyridine is an antibiotic ointment recommended by Giffin and Gore. In the article, “How to Treat Thrush in Horses,” trainer and author Cherry Hill recommends using sugardine, a home-made ointment made from white table sugar and povidone-iodine. Mix the sugar and povidone-iodine to make a thin paste and apply to a clean, dry hoof with a brush. These ointments need to be applied on a daily basis or as otherwise directed by the ointment manufacturer’s instructions or a veterinarian.

Equine thrush is an infection that is very easily acquired in muddy and unclean conditions; however, it is just as easy to treat as it is for the horse get. Keeping the equine stall and pasture clean and dry and regularly cleaning the horse’s hooves will keep thrush at bay.

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