Is it thrush?

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Perfectpony07

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Hi, any advice, I’m not that savvy with thrush have never had a horse with it. Our little Welshie has been a little tender hooved this week, but particularly today. I noticed his frogs were really soft and squidgy on the front today, no discharge or smell though. I’ve sent photo to my farrier but awaiting him to get back to me.
Any one have an idea if this looks like it while I drive myself mad waiting for him to reply.
I’ve left him in tonight (he lives out) and sprayed iodine on them for now.

Thanks in advanceIMG_3233.jpeg
 
I would be concerned about early lami too.

There is no harm in treating for thrush, there could be something going on in there. Red horse field paste is my go to.

Also is he due a trim? Looks like that top bar is starting to fold over, that could be sore.
 
Jambarissa said:
I would be concerned about early lami too.

There is no harm in treating for thrush, there could be something going on in there. Red horse field paste is my go to.

Also is he due a trim? Looks like that top bar is starting to fold over, that could be sore.
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In all honesty I didn’t even consider laminitis because he is in great shape atm, and there is just no grass at all where we are. He literally has a small hay bag of hay at night that it, no hard feed, if he has got lami I will be so gutted because il be at a complete loss as to why 😩.

Yes he is, farrier came two weeks ago and didn’t trim as said they could go another 2-3 weeks.

This is him now
 

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Could be an abscess brewing but you’d tend to feel more warmth in one foot of so, not always though. I’d get your farrier to check him asap and the vet if the farrier can’t come out tomorrow. This time of year is awful for laminitis as the grass just starts to grow, hopefully not that though x
 
If he were mine and I didn't suspect Laminitis. I would have a scrub around the white line with a wire brush. Could be a little stretched in places? quarter towards the toe. Looking for grit. Scrub that out and fill with Golden Hoof Paste (very cheap and effective). I would remove the loose pockets on the frog, looking for thrush. Keep the knife sharp and clean. Wiggle a hoof pick into the frog pockets and have a sniff. Stinky? Leave the bars for the trimmer/farrier to par back. Possible bruise forming towards the toe? Could be normal sole for him thou'.
 
Yes, there is a little thrush there. The cracks and fissures are a clue, and the 'thumbprint' of damp at the side of the frog. Lots of options, soak foot in Dettol solution, apply stockholm tar to the clean foot, spray with 1% iodine solution (dilute the shop bought bottle), apply Red Horse products etc.. Personally I would steer clear of bleach and peroxide products, but many people use them with no ill effects.
 
At the risk of sounding like a nutter have you tried actually getting your nose right down to his foot and sniffing it (assuming that's safe)? My horse has thrush at the moment, it's a right pain, and annoying as our land drains well and he's been out all winter - so it feels like he "shouldn't" have it! I only picked up on it when he became very footy / lame last week and reluctant to let me pick out around his front frogs (yes, I'm a bit slow). His don't look dreadful though, and don't smell until you get really close to them....and then it's obvious. I've been scrubbing, applying antiseptic spray and then stockholm tar for a few days and it's already improving. As others have said, I wouldn't worry too much about thrush (just treat as if he does have it) but ruling out laminitis is the bigger concern. Good luck! There's always something isn't there
 
I don't think that it looks like thrush. As you say, he looks in good shape, but I suspect there is another reason for the footiness.
 
That frog could well have deep seated thrush. My cob's frogs look similar and if I pull up on one of the flaps, there are pockets in there that harbour thrush. I pull them up to spray inside, otherwise they can't be treated. My boy is shedding his frogs at the moment, which doesn't help and I'd say your Welshie is, too. Agree he doesn't look like a lami candidate, but if it was, don't feel bad. Most laminitis is due to metabolic disorders, so it's not as simple as letting a pony get overweight or not mixing the feed widdershins under a full moon.
 
Fransurrey said:
That frog could well have deep seated thrush. My cob's frogs look similar and if I pull up on one of the flaps, there are pockets in there that harbour thrush. I pull them up to spray inside, otherwise they can't be treated.
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Mine is the same. Looks fine from the outside but once you start prodding a bit and sticking the pick under the little flappy bits (and sniffing!), there are a surprising number of spots for it to hide.
 
Tarragon said:
I don't think that it looks like thrush. As you say, he looks in good shape, but I suspect there is another reason for the footiness.
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whilst he no doubt has thrush I am not sure that is the cause of the soreness. For a pony (well anything really) even with miniscule grass at this time of the year I would work on preventing the worst which is lami. If you remove him from grass for a week (or even less) you may find he becomes a lot less sore or sound. If that is the case you may be looking at lami which as someone said isn't necessarily due to grass but PPID and or EMS. (which your vet would need to help with)

I would also get the feet really clean. If you wire brush them (quite harshly) you will expose the WL and be able to see if there are any problems. If you put some cotton wool on the end of your hoof pick you will be able to thoroughly clean the grooves. May need several pieces of cotton wool. Then use cotton wool to really poke it into the rest of the frog, Again several pieces which will come out black and grungy. If the pony snatches his foot away you will know it is hurting him. You can trim the flappy bits off yourself using scissors.
If you put a ruler across his heels (holding the foot up) you will see where the frog is in relation to him landing on the ground. If it is underneath the ruler his heels will be taking the impact of landing. If the ruler see saws on the frog then the frog will be taking the impact which with thrush could be very sore.
 
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