Thrush (horse)

The thrush is a bacterial disease of the hoof with hoof animals, especially in horses. Here, the soft beam horn of the hoof is decomposed by putrefactive bacteria.

Symptoms

When scraping of hooves a foul odor occurs. It formed in the beam cavities, called pockets or cracks, which are filled with a greasy, white, gray or black mass. The Strahlhorn is generally softer. In the advanced stage, when the horn breaks faster than it grows back, it can be used to come up or separation of the jet.

Causes

The thrush is caused by spindle-shaped bacteria ( Fusobacterium necrophorum ) and is a frequent Huferkrankung represents the bacteria are actually useful in digestion. On the hoof, they do not appear until after they are excreted and the horse enters the feces. There, they attack the soft Strahlhorn. The bacteria provide a decomposition of the beam horn by formation of cavities and decay columns. The affected areas appear as dark gray, greasy mass, which gives off a heavy, putrid smell. If the decay process to proceed faster than the beam horn grows back, it can come to a complete decomposition of the beam flange.

Thus, it can lead to thrush, the triggering bacteria must find optimum conditions for them. You need a warm and humid environment and can proliferate only in the absence of oxygen ( anaerobic).

The starting point of a thrush is usually in the middle sulcus. From there, the pathogen spreading to the collateral grooves. In advanced stages, it may be caused by thrush lameness by Huflederhautentzündung. At first they can only be detected by the external symptoms described above.

The cause of thrush is usually in a lack of hoof care. For regular cleaning of the hoof hoof care belongs with the hoof pick ( at least once a day ), as well as the correct cut of the hoof by a blacksmith or other Hufexperten. This will avoid that in pockets or cracks in the hoof ( or just under the adhesive on the hoof dirt ) can form zones that are closed off from the air supply and thus provide anaerobic Fäulnisbaktieren a breeding ground.

Another common cause is dirty boxes and paddocks where a feces - urine mixture pathogens provide a moist, warm, and thus ideal breeding ground.

Lack of exercise or movement only on soft ground can promote the development of thrush. In motion on hard ground parts - at least when unshod horse - the beam and the floor pushes against the corium. Thus, the circulation of the corium is stimulated and promoted the formation of new horn.

Finally, anatomical peculiarities of the hoof may even favor the formation of thrush: Tight Hufstellungen and deep clefts, they develop more easily.

Disease progression and possible consequences

Usually the thrush began at the central sulcus. From there it spreads to the collateral grooves and are formed in the entire beam of rot. Later they can also affect the Horn bales so that the horn detaches there and on the beam legs to shreds until the corium is exposed. If blight on to the white line, it is called Hornfäule.

Lameness can occur if the exposed or protected only by thin horn laminae is irritated by stones or sand and inflamed.

Treatment

If a thrush exists, the first rotten horn parts must be removed. Can this not be completely cut off, because the rot has eaten them up, for example, already deep in the middle sulcus, the rotting bodies be treated with a disinfectant. Usual, but also controversial is the use of iodoform ether ( four to ten percent by weight), good results are obtained also with a saturated solution of copper sulfate.

For very bad rot fungi are often involved. In this case, the Fungal enilconazole applied undiluted with a brush to the affected beam for five days. If the beam after subsequent five-day break still appear soft and spread foul smell, the treatment is repeated. To achieve a high degree of disinfection of the decay columns and to prevent re- contamination of the affected horn, these are often closed with tampons made ​​of cotton wool or gauze, which are changed at least once a day. Without this Tamponage the whole procedure has little chance of success. The hoof can also be cleaned about once a week with water and soap. It is also essential, resulting pockets and cracks in the beam as much as possible to cut out, possibly every few days. Parallel to the medical treatment, the postural hygiene is improved.

The thrush is often confused with an only slightly frayed, renewing beam. If the beam is not really " rotten egg smell " and a greasy substance separates, it usually only needs to be cut smooth and not treated.