Symptoms of Thrush in a Horse Hoof

Thrush is a common hoof ailment in horses, especially during wet or muddy seasons in which horses may be standing around on moist ground for much of the time. A few symptoms will tip you off to the ailment so you can take action.

  1. Smell

    • One of the first noticeable symptoms of thrush is the smell. You will notice a strong, repugnant odor coming from the horse's hoof when you clean it out.

    Visible Symptoms

    • You will notice that the horse's frog, the slightly soft V-shaped structure on the underside of the hoof, is black and moist. This black growth can be scraped off, but the smell (mentioned above) will still be present. Even after you scrape away the black, a dark stain may be left behind, according to the website Dog &Horse Skin Care.

    Symptoms in More Extreme Cases

    • The horse may be uncomfortable when having his hooves picked out, and may react to his foot being touched with a hoof pick. The frog may also become sensitive, and the horse may become if his feet are very sensitive.