Copper sulphate - does it belong in hoof care?
“Copper sulphate is not only harmful to the hoof and the microbiome, but it can also be harmful to people and the environment. ”
Copper sulphate has long been touted as an effective home remedy for various hoof maladies including thrush, white line disease and seedy toe. The little blue crystals are cheap and easy to pick up from your local agricultural store. So why does The Equid Apothecary so proudly avoid the use of this ingredient?
Copper sulphate is commonly used in agriculture as a fungicide, algaecide, molluscicide, herbicide, root killer and antibacterial agent. It kills bacteria, plants and insects by binding with their proteins, damaging their cells and causing them to break down.
It is for its antibacterial and antifungal properties that the horse community has been using copper sulphate to address hoof issues, however its antibacterial action may also be TOO effective, copper sulphate does not distinguish against the microbes we do want and those that we do not. This causes destruction of the beneficial microbiome of the hoof. A healthy microbiome is a delicate balance of bacteria and yeasts that are beneficial and protective when in balance. Killing off ALL the bugs gives the bad bacteria a chance to take over as the dominant microorganism. More bad guys = more problems.
Unfortunately, copper sulphate doesn’t only target bacteria and yeasts but also degrades and stunts the growth of live tissue due to its caustic nature. Caustic chemicals are just as bad for the proteins and keratins in your horses’ hooves as they would be to the keratin in your own skin, hair and nails. Caustic chemicals cause degradation of the proteins in these tissues causing weakening and breakdown of the frog, wall and sole tissue because horse hooves are approximately 93% protein.
Copper sulphate’s use is detrimental to the long term management of white line disease and thrush due to the breaking down of live tissue and creating more debris, aka more food for pathological yeasts and bacteria. This breakdown of the proteins will also seal off the area of concern preventing oxygenation and creating an anaerobic environment - a prime living space for the nasty bacteria that cause the very problems we were trying to fix! If the copper sulphate is allowed access to the deeper layers of frog (the sensitive frog) it can also cause pain to the horse, and subsequent behavioural problems due to fear of treatment.
Copper sulphate is not only harmful to the hoof and the microbiome, but it can also be harmful to people and the environment. It can cause harm when it comes into contact with human skin, eyes and respiratory and gastrointestinal systems due to its corrosive nature. In higher doses it can cause toxicity. It is also recognized as a highly relevant toxin to fish and marine environments. In fish die off events related to copper sulphate, the proposed mechanism of death was a high debris, low oxygen environment. Very similar to our concerns in the hoof!
With all the above in mind, The Equid Apothecary have decided to use zinc products, essential oils and honey known for their antimicrobial properties. Zinc oxide is the main ingredient in nappy creams for babies and is well known for its use to soothe skin in nappy rash and act as an effective barrier that is almost impossible to wipe off! All of these properties make for an excellent sticky, gentle and effective hoof clay additive so we have no need to work with copper sulphate.
