Natural antifungal for hooves?

[SharonA]

My trimmer has recommended using some sort of antifungal/antibacterial to keep things healthy in the deep dark reaches of the crevices in my horse's feet (horse is happy, sound, etc. ) I was wondering about the usefullness of tea tree oil, calendula oil, etc.

I'm not opposed to using stuff like thrushbuster, which is such a lovely color and barely even noticeable when it comes off on the near-white cement barn floor, of course. :-) But, it's nice to go holistic when you can, and a trimmer told me that tea tree oil was antibacterial as well as antifungal, whereas Thrushbuster wasn't, or something like that.

Hooflex has a product that contains tea tree oil, but it looks like it's more of a hoof moiturizer than an antifungal, and maresie's feets don't need moisturizing.

[El Tovar]

Google it. Made from tree resins and it will not damage any tissue but it is wonderful at sanitizing the hoof and helping the hoof get rid of diseased tissue.

I use it on my old man that has canker and thrush...it works great-keeps the hoof nice and dry , too.

[decorum]

Tea tree oil and usnea tincture both work. I use usnea because I can make my own and a little goes a long way. Usnea is a gray green lichen that grows on trees and it can be soaked in Everclear for at least 6 weeks to make a tincture. Some people also use 100 proof vodka.

[spaghetti legs]

Friends don't let friends waste vodka on horses.

[dbadaro]

Friends don't let friends waste vodka on horses.

bwahahahahaha

[SharonA]

Snookums has Egyptian as opposed to Russian breeding. She doesn't do vodka.

I, however....


:)

[mammadoc]

s. legs- i agree!!!!!!!!!!!!
having said that, acv- sprayed on, slightly diluted w/ h2o, might help-won't hurt. some old school peeps swear by it. (certainly would not use this folk remedy to *treat* thrush, i'm thinking just to "thwart" it.) i spray every other time i pick, so far, so good.

[mammadoc]

is this spaghetti legs a'la "happy horsemanship" (from back in the day, so to to speak!)

[decorum]

Friends don't let friends waste vodka on horses.

But the horses love the smell! I kid you not, I am popular with the horses with that stuff in my hand but they did seem to even be more in love with it when I made it with 151 rum. :lol:

Of course, the stuff I have now is not vodka, it is Everclear. Redneck horses?

[camohn]

oil of oregano

[CatchaBreeze]

Apple cider vinegar works well for fungus.

[Watermark Farm]

Usnea tincture works great for thrush (and athlete's foot with people).

http://www.herbalremedies.com/usnea1.html
Usnea Tincture, 100% Organic - 2 fl. oz.

[twofatponies]

Any kind of vinegar works against molds, fungus, etc. You can get the big gallon sized white vinegar for a couple bucks at most groceries. I save the expensive apple cider vinegar for internal use (supposed to be good for people to take a spoonful a day).

[HOH]

7% iodine was recommended by my farrier as a preventitive for bacteria. Apply no more often than once a week and, unless you don't mind the stain, wear gloves. (or maybe be more careful in applying it than I am!)

[BigBlack]

I use a mix of tea tree oil applecider vinegar and water. I use that on his feathers too to keep funk from creeping in. And it keeps flies away in the summer.

[SharonA]

For some reason, the smell of tea tree oil has put me over the edge. I used to not mind it, but suddenly, I just am not willing to smell the stuff anymore.

Accordingly, I'm trying vinegar. But maybe the smell of vinegar will get to me too, which will leave me with wodka. Hmmm. I foresee possibilities....

[joharavhf]

For some reason, the smell of tea tree oil has put me over the edge.

ARE YOU PREGNANT SHARON?!?!?!?!?! HEHEHEHEHE!!!!!

I missed you on Wednesday! Where the heck were ya?

[foggybok]

I've been using a tea tree oil product (also has benzalkonium chloride) and it seems to be doing the trick. Major feat up here in mud land.....

[Liberty]

Grapefruit Seed Extract (not to be confused with grapeseed extract) is the most amazing hoof treatment I've ever found. It's relatively inexpensive, nontoxic, and has no smell to speak of. A little goes a long way, and a 4-oz bottle is lasting me forever. I bought it at the local drug store.

Here's an interesting account from a horseowner who found it to be the solution to a very serious case of whiteline disease after trying just about everything else:
http://www.equinelove.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=26

And more general info:
http://www.nutriteam.com/index2.html

[dressagediosa]

I like Sore No More's "The Sauce." www.sorenomore.net, I think?