Healthy Hooves, LLC
Hoof Care Glossary
In this section, look up common hoof care problems and find tips on both prevention and cure.
Thrush
Defined - thrush is an anaerobic bacterial infection that develops in the dark moist environment of the hoof. The bacteria can eat away hoof material leaving a rotten smelling degraded hoof - primarily in the collateral grooves and central sulcus of the frog..
Prevention - to prevent thrush the horse's hoof needs to have a time during each day to dry out. This can be accomplished by bringing the horse into a clean dry stall at night, or providing well-drained areas where they can stand out of the mud and moisture. As a preventative measure, I also recommend cleaning your horses feet out at night and spraying the frog, sole and lamina with a 50% solution of apple cider vinegar and water.
Cure - This disease is difficult to cure once it gets started. The cure is to stay on top of it. Make sure that your horses is receiving proper nutrition. Withouth proper nutrition, your horse will not be able to keep this condition at bay systemically. Keep your horse's feet trimmed regularly. Keep all tags and flaps removed from the frog. Make sure the horse has the opportunity to dry its feet out eachday. Treat thrush outbreak with apple cider vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, Thrush Buster, or White Lightening. There are other remedies that work as well.
Laminitis/Founder
Defined - Laminitis and founder are one in the same - despite much disagreement. It is simply an inflammation of the laminae, the material that "velcros" the hoof wall to the coffin bone. Lamina that has weakened or detached from the coffin bone causes a separation between the coffin bone and hoof wall. In extreme situations, the coffin bone can "drop" or "rotate" in the capsule.
Prevention - Prevention includes frequent natural hoof care, proper nutrition, natural movement, stress reduction including adequate socialization, attention to metabolic changes in the older horse.
Cure - Frequent natural hoof care. A horse that has foundered is going to benefit from a trim every four weeks. It is also imperative that the owner remove the cause of the problem. The horse did not founder spontaneously. The founder was the result of some stress, most probable is metabolic. You may need to change the animals diet; change his lifestyle; increase his exercise, decrease his stress, manage your pastures; and most importantly, learn all you can about the many causes of laminitis/founder.
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