This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Thrush »
  Discussion on Crumbling frogs
Author Message
Member:
January

Posted on Monday, Aug 14, 2006 - 10:34 am:

Hi, My Shetland had thrush in all four feet when I purchased him in Spring this year - I think he had been out in a wet paddock all winter with no proper management. The thrush seemed to clear up and I religiously clean his feet out everyday, apply "Equine Thrush Relief" spray 3-4 times a week, and stable him on a free draining wood chip bed every night. He has also been put on Formula4Feet (a hoof supplement designed by the Laminitis Clinic in the UK). I have noticed that he has a lot of new growth of frog in all feet and the top layers crumble away and there is a whiteish layer ontop of the new growth. You can just pull the top layers of frog away - you don't need a knife. Should I be worried about this - what is going on? Best Regards January
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 15, 2006 - 6:34 am:

Hello January,
Could you give us the ingredients and treatment recommendations in the Equine Thrush Relief and Formula4Feet? Also a image of the condition may help.
DrO
Member:
January

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 15, 2006 - 10:47 am:

Hi Dr O,

The ingredients of Formula4Feet are set out on the following web site www.equilife.co.uk along with a further description of this product. The list of ingredients is extremely extensive so apologies for not repeating it in this post.

I give my Shetland 90g per day split over three feeds.

With regards to The Equine Elite Thrush Relief spray - no ingredients are listed, the site just says non-caustic, can be used every day, non-necrotising, non-staining. I do understand that this product is widely recommended by many equine podiatrists in USA and UK.

My digital camera is not working at the moment so unfortunately cannot send a photo.

Does this shed any light on things?

Best Regards

January
Member:
Vickiann

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 15, 2006 - 11:41 am:

For whatever it is worth -- A horse that came to my barn last weekend so my very excellent farrier could trim him following a bout of laminitis was found to have Thrush in the frogs. My farrier currently recommends the use of a product that is produced for use on cow udders. It says "WELCOME" on the white plastic tube -- which has a long narrow nozzle that makes it easy to insert deeply into the frog crevices. They recommended using it 3 times weekly to start. It is supposedly available at farm stores.
New Member:
Vwhite

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 15, 2006 - 11:51 pm:

January,
I read recently that a depressed immune system may have more to do with Thrush that we would think. You can have a lot of different horses in the same environment and only certain ones will develop it. I don't know how accurate that is but it certainly is something to think about. Vickie
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 16, 2006 - 7:01 am:

January I would suggest you do not use a product that does not list its ingredients but not knowing what is in there I cannot tell if it may be causing problems. If your horse no longer has thrush maybe it is time to quit treating for it as this may be drying out the frog making it crumbly.

Just looking at the information you provide you may be seeing old dried out frog from the past abuses that is growing out. Occasionally you will see a layer of frog peel out on multiple feet, sort of like they are shedding the outer layer of frog.

Concerning the Welcome recommendation for thrush, this is a mastitis medication containing a cephalosporin antibiotic I believe. You see the recommendation occasionally, including on these boards, but I have not tried it.

Thrush is a infection of the dead horn of the foot and would not be related to immune function as the immune system does not survey the horn. Thrush is primarily a environmental issue that can be exacerbated by bad foot conformation or trimming.
DrO
Member:
January

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 16, 2006 - 11:20 am:

Thank you everybody for your help and suggestions. Best Regards January
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC