How can thrush be cured?

Question: How can thrush be cured?

Answer: If you find your horse has thrush and it has not advanced to the point of making your horse lame thrush is relatively simple to clear up.

There are many products that claim to cure thrush on the shelves of every store that sells equine supplies. Some are more effective than others. The simplest and least expensive is to buy a bottle of iodine or betadine solution.

1. Make sure the areas where your horse stands, whether under a favorite tree or in a stall, are dry and clean. A bit of morning dew or moist soil around the water trough helps keep hooves moist--too much can cause problems.
2. Pick out all the dirt and debris from the bottom of the hooves with a hoof pick. Pay close attention to cleaning the deeper areas of the clefts.
3. Scrub the area with a stiff brush to remove as much dirt and thrush residue as possible. Be careful not to brush too harshly over the heel and frog.
4. Paint or spray the iodine solution onto the bottom of your horse’s hooves. Be very sure that the solution penetrates every possible crevice and surface.
5. Repeat this for up to five days. After this time, the thrush should be gone. Continue to keep your horse’s living quarters clean and dry.

You will may find recommendations to use chlorine bleach, copper napthenate or sulfate, or hydrogen peroxide as well as other caustic solutions. Although these are traditional cures each has its downfall. Either they will stain—hands, clothing, or hair coat, or the product may burn healthy foot or skin tissue. (With daily cleaning, the condition will be unlikely to advance to the point of damaging the hoof.)

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