My horse has constant thrush in the winter, and I've tried kopertox and that purple stuff (one use only, right!) daily for weeks on end. In the summer, after I pick her feet, I hose out her hooves and then squirt in betadine, and then rinse it out. The feet stay good and healthy. But now again, with the cold and mud, she's getting thrushy. Can anyone suggest what to do in the winter or during the time of year when it's more damp? I'm not sure leaving betadine in the hoof would be good for the health of the frog. Or maybe not? Do you think hoof packing would help or hurt?

My old girl used to get thrush a lot, and someone once told me that once they get a good case of it, they're always susceptible. My vet had packed her frogs with penicillin soaked gauze when it got bad and didn't respond to other treatments. I've heard of people using bleach/water combo, but then I've heard of horses nearly going through the roof if the ratio wasn't right. Might want to ask you vet or maybe think about changing the bedding or checking the bedding to see if it's staying dry in the winter.

The bleach water combo is great, in fact my farrier recommends it over any otc thrush fixes. The only way it hurts the horse is if you get it on their skin... which is pretty easy to avoid by holding the hoof at an angle and spraying a light stream downwards into the hoof. For the bleach to water ratio: Get a spray bottle, fill just about 1/4 with bleach, then fill and top with water. It should smell like weak bleach.

If you're still not comfortable using the bleach, switch to straight iodine instead of betadine. How are you applying it? If you're just squirting it in, look for a dull ended syringe and use it to poke and apply deeper.

I used to think that thrush was a terrible, terrible thing. Now I've realized that it's just a fact of life. Some people get athlete's foot in the summer, some horses get thrushy in the winter. The best you can do is try to manage it and not let your horse get ouchy and tender.

Hope this helped...
Amy

Careful stable and hoof management is essential to prevent thrush. Because the bacteria are killed by oxygen, regular use of the hoof pick will allow air to the foot and reduce the ability of the bacteria to take hold.
The prime cause, however, is one of hygiene — standing in droppings and urine. The damp conditions of a dirty stable provide the perfect environment for this anaerobic bacteria, (those needing a low-oxygen environment) which cause thrush to flourish.
If a horse has thrush the underlying cause needs to be identified and removed. The horse should be moved to a clean, dry environment and the feet cleaned daily.
Thrush will never resolve unless the hoof hygiene is good.

another alternative to the water/bleach would be kerosene. it has the same drying out effect. if you don't want to go that harsh though, i would suggest getting booties for your horse, but the koppertox, betadine or anything else and soak it, then put the bootie on to keep out all debris and wetness

I stabled my horse and pony at a fancy Grand Prix level hunter/jumper barn and they told me this tip for our pony's thrush, which always happened no matter how clean the stall was (we live in a rainy area). Use a medicine sold in a syringe called "Today" by Fort Dodge and shoot it into the affected area including well into the frog. It clears up the thrush in days if not faster. Tough cases may need a second dose. It is sold for cows (Lactating) and the ingredients are Cephapirin sodium. The ingredient in "Tomorrow" (for dry cows) is cephapirin benzathine. Either one works well. Hope it helps. Our local tack shop now stocks it and one dose only costs $3.