[QUOTE=Sansena;6430799]
The farrier and vet discussed how to prevent thrush in the future? What about you? Were you involved in that conversation? Or is that their job alone?
The only time I’ve seen maggots in a thrushy foot was when when the horses lived in an environment that was a little on the damp side, moreso on the filthy side. These horses’s feet hadnt’ been picked in a very VERY long time.
If you’re dealing with thrush regularly, you may wish to consider bumping up overall cleanliness & moisture removal in your stables and paddocks. You also may have to consider daily packing of the feet, regardless if you think there’s an active infection going on or not. Packing crevices of feet where moisture and anaerobic bacteria likes to hide (and thrush) gradually makes them bigger. Bigger crevices mean more air, less chance for bugs who like humid, tight places to grow.
If your horse has contracted heels, what is the farrier doing about that?
And by packing, I dont’ mean hoof packing. I mean drag-a-ball-of-cotton-through the cracks 'till it comes out clean. Only after you’re sure you’ve removed all the thrush, do you pack more cotton as deeply as the horse allows and saturate it with the thrush medicine of choice. I personally like Today or Hetacin K for mastitis in cows.
Simply slapping ointments on the outside of the foot won’t prevent thrush or maggots, and hoof supplements take a year to affect the horn to grow out. If they work at all. This is going to take daily attention and daily work.
The use of maggots in medicine, shouldn’t ease your mind that in any way, shape or form that this is ‘okay’. Maggots eat necrotic tissue. In other words issue that is dead. And for medicinal purposes, the maggots are raised in a sterile, or as close to sterile environment as possible. That’s a far stretch from what’s occurring naturally with your horse.
Frankly, I’m a little grossed out and horrified. I am thrilled you are too. Which means this won’t happen again to horses in your care anytime soon.[/QUOTE]
echo clean your paddocks as well and clean your horses feet daily
look here on helpful links pages thrush is common ailment and can be prevented as its a hygene problem
see my helpful links pages here
http://chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?t=178116
thrush page 9
thrush comes from wet and or dirty enviroment
and if one doesnt treat it with respect then it can become secondary
its a bacterial infection which some horses are more susceptible to than others
Thrush in horses is a foul smelling bacterial infection affecting the feet. It should not be confused with canker, which is an altogether more serious infection. Fortunately, canker is rare as it is a difficult condition to cure, whereas thrush usually resolves with correct management.
Careful stable and hoof management is essential if thrush is to be prevented. As the bacteria are killed by oxygen, regular use of the hoof pick will allow air to the foot and reduce the ability of the bacteria to take hold.
Keep stables clean with plenty of good-quality, dry bedding. If horses are in for long periods, bank the beds during the day to allow them to stand on an area of clean, dry concrete.
Some horses are more susceptible to this condition than others, and foot conformation can lead to a predisposition to thrush. For example, a deep cleft in the frog may become packed with sand after working in an arena. If not carefully cleaned, this could lead to irritation and allow bacteria to enter.
The prime cause, however, is one of hygiene — standing in droppings and urine. The damp conditions of a dirty stable provide the perfect environment for the anaerobic bacteria, (those needing a low-oxygen environment) which cause thrush to flourish.
Diagnosis and treatment
The most obvious sign of thrush is a foul-smelling, black discharge from the frog, which itself may have softer spots and appear irregular in shape. The horse is unlikely to be lame unless the decay has invaded the sensitive inner tissues.
If a horse has thrush the underlying cause needs to be identified and removed. The horse should be moved to a clean, dry environment and the feet cleaned daily.
The farrier or vet will need to remove the decayed tissue, and depending on the severity of the condition, this may need to be done over more than one visit. The feet may need to be bandaged or dressed with topical medication. Every vet and farrier has their favourite remedy, most of which aim to dry out the feet.
Thrush will never resolve unless the hoof hygiene is good — it is the equine equivalent of athlete’s foot. A damaged frog is the perfect entry point for the bacteria that cause tetanus, so ensure that the horse has adequate protection against this.
please understand that thrush can become secondary infection if left alone or not treated on a daily basis till gone and can be very painful to a horse or any equines
please understand that you must call for a vet and farrier and have xrays done if nessacary to see any changes of the foot/feet
You want the sole and frogs to be nice and tough/hard, not mushy. Heck, since we are in monsoon season here, I’ve been applying Keratex Hoof Gel to my horse’s hooves several days a week to protect them from the moisture so they will stay nice and hard and not get all soft.