Thrush

Thrush is a bacterial infection that affects the frog, often associated with wet, dirty bedding. Clinical signs: An unpleasant odour, black discharge from the frog clefts, tenderness and lameness. Causes: Wet environments, poor hygiene, poor hoof management, inadequate trimming and shoeing with pads that trap moisture and dirt. Treatment: Thoroughly clean the hoof. Stable on clean, dry bedding and pick out feet twice daily. Your farrier should trim the frog and remove loose pieces of horn and all diseased tissue. Clean with Epsom salts and apply a topical treatment, such as an antibiotic spray or preparation specific for thrush, before dry bandaging for protection. Prevention: Correct daily hoof care and stable management. Ensure the horse is kept on clean bedding and not in constantly wet environments.

Wet, dirty conditions soften the sole and a bacterial infection becomes high risk