Page 176 - February 2021

VETERINARY VIEWS
treatment for thrush relies on generous removal of infected frog structures with a hoof knife and nippers, along with thorough cleansing of all crevices. Vigorous use of a wire brush helps to scrub away all necrotic material.
Thrush organisms tend to be extremely susceptible to most antibacterial solutions, such as tamed iodine and bleach. A dilute solution of iodine – such as a 2% solution
of Lugol’s – works as well as anything for disinfection of thrush. Administer it through
a ketchup squeeze bottle that directs the
iodine specifically into the frog crevices. Be careful not to apply a philosophy of “if a
little bit helps then a lot more is that much better.” Many substances, including iodine, are caustic enough to cause a chemically induced dermatitis if it drains onto skin above the hoof. What might have helped clear up the foot problem with a couple of treatments might then turn into another problem due to a too much or too often approach.
In some cases, special poultice bandages and/or daily foot soaks with antiseptic solutions may prove most helpful. While iodine is one
of the world’s greatest disinfectants, it’ll only work for a period of time if the foot remains continually exposed to the same events that
put the infection there in the first place. If the frog is so degraded that it peels away, then foot bandages should be used to protect the foot from the environment until the infection clears up. Baby diapers are useful as part of a foot bandage since they breathe. Hoof boots also serve as protection, but these don’t breathe - the foot continues to sweat, keeping the area damp and this is counterproductive to treatment.
In some cases, special poultice bandages and/or daily foot soaks with antiseptic solutions prove most helpful.
A person managing a thrush-infected foot should wash their hands and scrub under fingernails after treatment and/or wear latex gloves, especially if the handler has an open wound.
If a horse’s foot develops a bad smell or the frog feels “funky” and/or if the horse exhibits lameness, involve a veterinarian as soon as possible. Even if the horse seems comfortable, there may be deeper tissue involvement that an owner may not be able to identify. Veterinary intervention is necessary to remove affected tissue to allow healing.
Check a horse’s degree of discomfort by watching him for lameness on the lunge line. Use your fingers to push on various structures on the bottom of his feet. Timely intervention is important to limit infection
from invading deeper tissues, such as the frog and digital cushion between the heel bulbs. A persistent case has the potential
to develop extensive degeneration of these structures, leading to instability of the heel bulbs, or a sheared heel condition in which each heel bulb is moveable independently of the other with gentle hand pressure. Such loss of support and stability in the rear portions of the foot can be quite painful
for the horse, evidenced by varying degrees of lameness.
Correction takes time for the hoof to
grow out, the supportive structures to be restored, and for soundness to return. It may be advantageous to apply a special bar shoe to hold the heels in stable position while the hoof grows, and the infection is resolved.
In the early stages, it may be difficult to identify the presence of thrush since the horse is not lame and may show no other clinical signs.
Check a horse’s degree of discomfort by watching him for lameness on the lunge line.
174 SPEEDHORSE February 2021