by Colleen Paige
Horses are some the most sensitive animals on this earth. If they are forced to live in unclean conditions, not only does it affect their emotional well being, but it can also compromise their health.
Keeping infection, disease and parasites away from your horse is of the utmost importance. Fall starts the rat and mice season and they like to make their home in
the stable. It’s a perfect place for them to nest, away from the rain and cold and unless food is kept in mice-proof, airtight containers, it’s a virtually endless food supply as well. It’s also a place for them to poop, leaving all kinds of bacteria under your horses feet. As much as I love mice and rats, (don’t forget, you’re talking to a true animal lover here!) I do not like them in the stable.
Another problem posing risk in unclean conditions is Thrush.
Equine thrush is caused by bacteria that when trapped in a warm and moist environment, such as a horse hoof, can create a fungal infection that in a degenerative way, eats away at the horse’s hoof tissue and smells really horrible. Left untreated, the thrush can infect the frog, (the part of a horse’s hoof, located on the underside, which should touch the ground if the horse is standing on soft footing) causing discomfort and bleeding.
Thrush infected hooves present with black pus-like liquid discharge that is foul smelling. The look and smell of thrush is almost always worse than the infection really is and the fact that the bacteria is anaerobic, which means that it cannot survive in a dry, oxygenated environment. Keeping stall shavings clean and dry, as well as well as offering routine hoof care by yourself if you’re experienced enough – or by a farrier, will easily keep this issue at bay. But if you experience a strain that seems resistant to an environmental remedy and presents with with multiple reoccurrences, it’s as simple as applying either Kopertox and Thrush Remedy by Absorbine, which are highly recommended by professional farriers.
Remember, preventative care is always the best approach. Your horse will love you for it!
