Health Watch: Spring 2018

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210 – March/April, 2018

By Megan Arszman

After the long and crazy winter the United States has experienced, we’re all ready for spring and summer to come in full force. But is your horse? To make sure your horse is able to stay healthy to enjoy the beautiful, warm weather, make sure to check all these items off your list, from hoof to ear.

THRUSH

Wet winter conditions can wreak havoc on your horse’s hooves. In fact, it’s one of the worst instigators when it comes to soundness issues. Keeping a hoof care routine with your farrier throughout the winter and into the spring will help keep the hooves healthy and give you a leg up on any impending conditions.

While thrush may seem like just a slight inconvenience with a bad smell, if left untreated, the anaerobic bacterial infection can cause lameness by advancing into the sensitive tissues and internal structures of the hoof. One of the natural prevention methods of thrush is movement. Dr. Bill Moyer at Texas A&M University says that most cases of thrush occur in inactive horses that live in stalls. Horses that are turned out are able to move around, which contributes to the natural cleansing process that removes debris collected in the hoof. Also, the conformation of the hoof can be a determining factor for thrush. A hoof with an upright heel and deep crevices is very prone to thrush, because debris can accumulate more easily.

Keeping a clean environment is key to preventing the chance of thrush as well. Ensuring that all living areas are cleaned daily and have good drainage will help keep hooves clean and dry.

If you discover, upon daily cleaning and inspection, that your horse has developed this bacteria, keep your horse in a clean, dry area. Use an antibacterial solution, such as diluted iodine, and bleach directly onto the frog’s crevices. In severe cases, a phone call to your veterinarian is best in case there are further complications. In some cases, removal of the affected areas with a hoof knife may be necessary, along with using a wire brush to help scrub away all necrotic material.

Click here to read the complete article
210 – March/April, 2018