Catching thrush early makes treatment simple and prevents it from progressing to something more serious. Daily hoof picking is the best way to spot the earliest signs.
Early Signs
A foul, distinctive odor and dark, moist discharge in the grooves of the frog are usually the first noticeable signs, often before any visible tissue damage or lameness.
Advanced Signs
If left untreated, thrush can eat into the deeper, sensitive tissue of the frog, causing pain, sensitivity to hoof picking, and eventually lameness.
Thrush can affect horses on both wet and dry ground — poor hoof hygiene, not just mud, is often the bigger contributing factor.
When to Call a Farrier
If thrush is deep, doesn't respond to basic treatment within a week or two, or is causing lameness, have your farrier or vet evaluate the hoof to rule out deeper structural involvement.
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