Are there any antibiotics that work to fight thrush?

itsonlyme

itsonlyme

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As the title really (thrush in hooves - deep central sulcas). Was going to phone vet tomorrow, but thought I'd ask here too. Has only just come to me. :-)
 
jess is right, antibiotics deal with bacteria and thrush is a fungal infection. There are lots of remedies that individuals swear by as well as a good diet being important.

Some things include

Milton
iodine
eucalyptus oil
purple spray
soaking in cleantrax


needless to say that scrupulous cleaning of the hooves in all the little grooves /spaces is paramount ;)

good luck in getting rid of it , it can be an ongoing fight as the fungus can live in the soil :rolleyes:
 
I like to pick the hooves out thoroughly, scrub clean and rough dry then use a toothbrush dipped in hydrogen peroxide solution . I find that pretty effective.

Edited to add: and get your farrier's advice - they are generally the experts
 
Just been tackling this myself, and got some good advice yesterday on here regarding remedies. However I have used iodine prescribed by the vet and although I thought it was not working now the farrier has been to trim out all the damaged tissue they are looking virtually back to normal. My horse only had it in the sulcus at his heels and not elsewhere - he has deep fissures. Today I called into the tack shop for suggestions regarding treating to prevent it coming back. I got a bottle of cornocresene disinfectant that has a small nozzle ideally suited for treating this area, so this should be good.

For humans antibiotics can worsen thrush as the reduction in bacteria reduce competition so the fungi and any resistant bacteria go overboard. For humans we use Nyastatin which is an anti-fungal. However my vet suggested that scrubbing, ensuring bedding was extra dry (don't ask how many bales of shavings I have put down over the past 2 weeks!) and using iodine was less expensive and effective. Most people though swear by peroxide and this is cheap and easy too.
 
we had filly at work that had rotten feet really bad thrush a top farrier told us to use a spray bottle with diluted iodine mixed with eucalyptus. the eucalyptus soaks right into the feet/ frog taking along the iodine which kills all the yukky bugs. was unbelievable was amazing how fast it made a difference i now use it on mine if feet a bit smelly in the wet
 
If it's really bad and causing a deep slit in the central sulcus extending to between the bulbs as well as in the collateral grooves with a weak frog then I think soaks are important. Cleantrax may be best as it supposedly doesn't kill live tissue as some others do. I have had very good results using milton 1 tablet dissolved in one gallon of water. Just to add do not mix it stronger, stronger is not better but potentially dangerous to the frog and frog corium. Soak for 10- 20 mins three times a week. Dry as well as you can then apply sudocream and possibly mix it with canestan 2% cream and apply that to the whole under side of the hoof working deep into the central cleft and collateral grooves. Some use gauze to floss in the cleft to get it clean and work sudocream deep. Scrub with dilute milton solution on days in between and repeat sudocream regime.
After a week of soaks switch to scrubbing hooves well daily,dry and apply sudocream. Don't continue soaks after a week, shouldn't need to anyway.
I think you only need to do one cleantrax soak if that's your preference. Google it for details.

Tractor tyre inner tubes or car ones for smallies make cheap soaking boots. Ask at a friendly garage.

Also if thrush is recurrent you may need to look at the general health and strength of the hooves.
 
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As proven by this thread, there are many ways to treat it! Antibiotics aren't one, though ;)

Personally, I syringe hydrogen peroxide in, sloosh with clean water, then spray with Terramycin (or purple spray). My mare had bad flares after 18 months of bad trims, and ended up badly thrushy. This treatment along with a good supplement (Formula 4 Feet) cleared her right up.
 
Thanks everyone. have ordered white lightning, cleantrax and easysoaker boots. Also going to try Petes Goo :-)
Her diet has been addressed via Forage Plus & the uknhcp, but with all the rain last week, just as i thought she was getting better (with athletes foot aerosol, sudocrem balls, etc), she's had a flare-up & gone lame. Stress!
Thanks again x
 
There are lots of antifungal drugs out there unfortunately they don't work quickly (in humans can take at least 6 months of daily treament to work) what might be worth a try is a bit of good ole canestan cream which is actively anti fungal...
 
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