A local vet told me to always check for thrush under the toe callus on drafts

I had a big Belgian with a clean looking foot, but she kept pointing that toe. He said 'lift that callus, it's a pocket,' and sure enough, found a nasty spot. Anyone else run into thrush hiding like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

tyler_baker1mo ago

Ever check the cleft above the frog? Found a similar pocket there on a Shire last spring. It looked solid until I picked it and the whole area was soft and black. That deep heel can really hide it.

sarah_johnson462mo ago

Remember my friend's Percheron that kept getting lame on one front foot. Her farrier finally peeled back that thick callus and found a whole mess of black, smelly thrush packed in there. She felt so bad for missing it, but it's a sneaky spot for sure.

thompson.xena2mo ago

That "thick callus" part is so true. I read an article about draft horses where a vet said that heavy feathering can trap moisture and hide thrush deep in the heel bulbs. You'd never see it until you really dig in there.