HealthyHoof.com

Hoofcare & Information for Barefoot Soundness

Linda Cowles Hoof Care - Serving the greater SF Bay Area and Northern California

Fighting Thrush using White Lightning

Thrush

Why White Lightning?

Lysol concentrate diluted to a "general cleaning" strength proved to be effective when used repeatedly as a soaking solution followed up by use as a topical (See "Hoof Soaking Solutions"), but repeated Lysol soaking is time consuming and doesn't always eradicate invasive thrush in deep cracks and tightly contracted heels.

...

According to the White Lightning article on the Grand Circuit web site http://www.grandcircuitinc.com/white_intro.html

Information from Grand Circuit, manufacturer & distributor of White Lightning

Frontier Pharmaceuticals - What is Chlorine Dioxide? http://www.frontierpharm.com/dioxicare-system.php
Frontier Pharmaceuticals FAQ http://www.frontierpharm.com/faqs.php?osCsid=46e2fa957ff8ce0b0005a8525aeff462
White Lightning Products from Grand Circuit http://www.grandcircuitinc.com/products.asp?cat=57
Introduction to White Lightning from Grand Circuit http://www.grandcircuitinc.com/white_intro.html

Gel or Concentrate?

I've been told that people have had success with using the Gel by cleaning the frog thoroughly, applying White Lightning Gel into the cracks and crevasses then covering with a film od Desitin Ointment to seal it. Again, I tend to go with the concentrate for severe cases, but this sounds promising for retreatment and mild cases.

Getting Started

White Lightning and white vinegar combine to make a solution that "fumes" the hoof in a vapor bag or vapor boot for 30 to 40 minutes. Fuming can be done for shorter periods of time, and the White Lightning people recommend 12 hours or more for severely corroded frogs. A plastic bag can be used to contain the fuming solution or a special vapor boot can be purchased from Grand Circuit. http://www.grandcircuitinc.com/proddetail.asp?prod=vapor%2Fsoakboot ,

DUCT TAPE BOOTIE - An alternative is to use duct tape alone or to wrap the bagged hoof in order to protect it. Because this is the most complicated way, I've included pictures of how to do this.

Gather:

• White Vinegar
• Vet Wrap (optional)
• Loose or roll Cotton
• Scissors for cutting vet wrap and duct tape
• Optional:
  • Grand Circuit Vapor / Soak Boot

  Cut enough duct tape to make several wraps around the fetlock

  

Hoof Prep

Getting the frog cleaned up is important!

Trim any loose skin and remove any "wormy" looking frog and remove flaps of skin that create folds and crevices. I don't reduce the size of the frog any more than necessary.

This central sulcus has been eaten away by thrush, and the crevice between the heel bulbs has become infected by thrush as well.

Use the syringe to squirt solution deep into the cracks and cotton.

Duct tape booties only work in soft environments where a horses movement is restricted. Seal the fumes in at the back of the foot by taping up over the bulb of the foot.

...............

The pictures below are of a chronic case of thrush. Note the extremely deep commisure's (the grooves on either side of the frog) atrophied , "rotten" frog and "congested" sole. The horses foot adopts this rigid form to disable hoof mechanism, which would be extremely painful with this sort of thrush infection. As bad as these feet look, the horse is sound on the trail - except when a rock hits his sore frog.

..............

...................

Place a durable plastic bag over the hoof and let the horse put its foot down. I suggest getting large used drip IV bags from your vet. They are free and very durable.

Place the foot in a boot or protect the bag with layers of duct tape to make a bagged duct tape bootie