Homemade Thrush Buster

475 Views 17 Replies 13 Participants Last post by tsed18, 6 d ago

HarmonywithHorses

Discussion Starter · 20 d ago

Hey Everyone,
I ran out of my thrush buster today! It has been really muddy and I am looking for a homemade recipe for a thrush buster.
Any ideas?
Thanks!

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

baysfordays

· #2 · 20 d ago

An old farrier of mine recommended this to me, it was 50/50 mixture of iodine and apple cider vinegar (or just substitute vinegar for water)
or 50/50 apple cider vinegar and water. I think you can just use straight ol apple cider vinegar too.
I tried apple cider vinegar and I think it worked, it was years ago so I can’t really remember.

Reactions: 1

Acadianartist

· #3 · 20 d ago

Pete's goo is just one part Polysporin (or other triple antibiotic ointment) and one part athlete's foot medication containing Clotrimazole:

soulfulequine.com

Equine Thrush Treatment Tips & Pete’s Goo - Soulful Equine®

When your horse has thrush, it can seem almost impossible to get it under control. Most people think it’s just a matter of applying some over the counter and sometimes expensive “thrush treatment” when in reality there are many factors that can be responsible for ongoing thrush issues. In my...

soulfulequine.com

Another good one is 250 ml Desitin (or other diaper cream, but zinc oxide should be 40%) and copper sulfate powder (2 tsp). But it may be harder to find copper sulfate powder than ingredients for the original Pete's Goo, a concoction created by Pete Ramey.

The nice thing about these is that they are gentle treatments.

Reactions: 3

ACinATX

· #4 · 20 d ago

You could try manuka honey. At the least, it can't hurt.

Reactions: 1

HarmonywithHorses

Discussion Starter · #5 · 20 d ago

I can go buy stuff from the store I was just interested if I could make a cheaper option at home.

My Salty Pony

· #6 · 20 d ago

I think its easier and cheaper to just buy the Thrust Buster, you wont have to hunt for the ingredients, unless you already have them,

Reactions: 3

stevenson

· #7 · 20 d ago

If you have any foot cream for athletes foot or even the spray, use that.

Acadianartist

· #8 · 20 d ago

HarmonywithHorses said:
I can go buy stuff from the store I was just interested if I could make a cheaper option at home.

I don't think you'll save money making your own as quantities of human medication needed to treat thrush will soon cost as much if not more than the horse products. I have used Pete's Goo when I couldn't get my hands on No Thrush or for other issues since it treats a broad range of problems, but not to save money.

Desitin isn't too expensive, but the copper sulfate isn't always easy to find. And it won't stay on the frog very long unless you wrap it, but it does help if you can get it deep in the cracks. It's good to treat the central sulcus.

Reactions: 2

QtrBel

· #9 · 20 d ago

While you may be able to get some of the ingredients off the shelf finding and safely mixing with the binders is not something I'd advise. It also isn't cheaper. The manufacturer buys in a quantity you won't be able to. That runs your cost up.

Several have given alternatives that work that you can mix at home and not break the bank.

Reactions: 1

Ruth McClure

· #10 · 19 d ago

As @baysfordays mentioned - apple cider vinegar. I've used it straight, no diluting, and it worked. I've also used tea tree oil; that works as well.

Reactions: 1

Colt17

· #11 · 19 d ago

I have used Povidine liquid, should be available at drug or any store. It is basically an Iodine solution not expensive. Get a small squirt bottle to apply:
https://www.amazon.com/Dynarex-D141...684773927&sprefix=povidin,aps,133&sr=8-3&th=1

carshon

· #12 · 19 d ago

Thrush buster actually has methylene blue in it which kills healthy tissue as well as the thrush. Pete's Goo is great, I have also No Thrush powder works well. Sugar-dine is what is described above and a lot of folks use it.

Reactions: 3

dogpatch

· #13 · 19 d ago

Acadianartist said:
I don't think you'll save money making your own as quantities of human medication needed to treat thrush will soon cost as much if not more than the horse products. I have used Pete's Goo when I couldn't get my hands on No Thrush or for other issues since it treats a broad range of problems, but not to save money.

Desitin isn't too expensive, but the copper sulfate isn't always easy to find. And it won't stay on the frog very long unless you wrap it, but it does help if you can get it deep in the cracks. It's good to treat the central sulcus.

Copper sulfate is a common (?) plant fungicide. Lilly Miller MicroCop comes in little bottles for gardeners. Don't know if it's sold in Canada! But some other brand maybe.

I used small quantities for years on the pasture as a soil amendment (5 lb/acre). I probably have 50 pounds or more of the stuff that I have no use for now!

Reactions: 1

QtrBel

· #14 · 19 d ago

carshon said:
Thrush buster actually has methylene blue in it which kills healthy tissue as well as the thrush. Pete's Goo is great, I have also No Thrush powder works well. Sugar-dine is what is described above and a lot of folks use it.

Interesting, mine has Gentian Violet.

ClearDonkey

· #15 · 16 d ago

I skip the Thrush Buster now - I don't think it works, or certainly doesn't work as well as it used to.

Equiderma Thrush and Whiteline Treatment was recommended by a barefoot trimmer I follow on social media, so I'm giving it a try right now (just started today!). The bottle is HUGE and the same price as the dinky little Thrush Buster bottle. For stubborn, deep thrush, especially in the central sulcus, I use White Lightning.

Reactions: 1

HarmonywithHorses

Discussion Starter · #16 · 15 d ago

I have been using Hydrogen Peroxide in a squirt bottle. I read online that when it bubbles it gets air to where the thrush is and therefore helps kill it.
In a day or 2 I am going to stop that and try the iodine or the apple cider vinegar ideas.
@ClearDonkey The Equiderma thrush and whiteline treatment looks rather expensive. Is it worth the money?

ClearDonkey

· #17 · 15 d ago

@HarmonywithHorses I just started using it, and I'll report back!

The price per ounce is way, way, way cheaper that Thrush Buster.

tsed18

· #18 · 6 d ago

My super unpopular method is straight bleach. Do not add water and dilute it like you would to use it as a household cleaner. My vet and farrier both recommended it so that's what I keep on hand.
I also keep a bottle of Koppertox (which is basically copper and bleach) but it turns EVERYTHING green if you aren't careful.

1 - 18 of 18 Posts