Is this from thrush damage?

Yes_But_Neigh · Is this from thrush damage?

On two on my new horse's feet located right above the frog and by the bulb/heel of the foot are holes- A few years back I saw a horse that had the same thing in his feet and I was told it was from thrush. He does have thrush in 3 of 4 hooves that I am now treating for but am wondering if there is anything else I can do to help. Thanks!

PS: Isn't that white crusty/powedery stuff (the lines I made by picking out his feet with a pick) thrush? It smells like thrush, it looks like thrush, to me it's thrush for all the years I've handled horses I thought this was thrush but his past owner is saying it's not thrush. Am I wrong for treating him for thrush? I will get better hoof pictures to post when I get back into town-- his feet are a mess. I feel like he needs a break from the shoes but am afraid to take them off and have him walk on that crack/slit in his poor feet. Suggestions/guidance MUCH appreciate guys- thank you!

thebundychick

the white crusty stuff, is just the sole flaking off, if he were barefoot, he'd wear that off in the process of moving around the paddock. they get flakey in wet weather.

Can't tell whether the frog has thrush or not though.. how bad is the smell?

carefreegirl

I'm no expert but, thrush is usually black gunky stuff on their frogs and or in crevices/cracks (even nail holes) on the bottom of the foot..that also smells bad--often times the frogs look small/worn away due to the fungus/bacteria of the thrush eating away at them. He may or may not have thrush--but his central sulcus is deep, which often indicates some sort of infection--or at the very least indicates a not completely healthy frog.

If he were my horse I would try to keep him out of the wet majority of the time, make sure his stall/paddock was as clean as possible, have his feet redone by someone I trusted--I personally would keep shoes on him with someone who has a more natural trimming/shoeing style until his feet got into a better shape, and then I would transition him out of shoes--if his feet still looked like they might have thrush after one or two trim cycles (while also keeping his paddock/stall as clean and as dry as possible), then I would try some thrush medicine, unless he is showing pain (when cleaning out central sulcus--if they have bad thrush they will have a pain reflux), then I would use thrush medicine right away--you might also try tea tree oil, I've heard some have success with that, also Apple Cider Vinegar, and then their is the mix that Pete Ramey touts---I think it has 1/2 antibacterial cream and 1/2 foot (human) fungus cream...or something like that, he has it on his website if you are interested.--I've personally never used a commercial thrush medicine.