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  Independent Cuss
Posts: 3978
    
Location: Dearing, GA | As some of you know, I recently bought back a gelding I sold last year. He came back skinny, with literally no top line, some muscle atrophy, severe thrush and rain rot.
I got the thrush cleared up, but he has broken his hoof wall and is walking on his sole, so he is lame in both front feet. I'm having shoes put on soon to alleviate that and start that repair.
He has gained a lot of weight off pasture and grain and alfalfa since I've had him back, which is only about three weeks. I'm thrilled with that. His top line still looks pretty rough, as I can pretty much see his entire spine, but that will start to repair with muscle building, in addition to more weight.
His rain rot is what I'm concerned about. The vet gave me a medicated shampoo and I've been bathing him in it three times a week (per vet's orders), but it seems to have gotten worse and not better. I understand that the hair and scabs will fall off, but the rain rot seems to have spred down his back legs now. I'm frustrated that I have to keep hurting him by picking new scabs off every other day, but I know it has to be done. I'm also bleaching and cleaning all my curry combs and sweat scrapers after I use them to prevent it from spreading or becoming reinfected.
Does anyone have any additional recommendations to help clear up this rain rot or at least keep it from spreading? When he's not lame anymore I'd like to ride, but I don't want my tack to touch the rain rot and keep reinfecting him.
Edited by Just Let Me Run 2015-08-24 9:59 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| You might have to start him on antibiotics.... And if he were mine I would start him on an immune builder. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | FlyingJT - 2015-08-13 10:38 AM You might have to start him on antibiotics.... And if he were mine I would start him on an immune builder.
agreed. As far as the topline, my vet said it takes a good year to have it built back up.....my gelding came to me very skinny and even after almost a year, I'm still having problems with his topline. |
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Independent Cuss
Posts: 3978
Location: Dearing, GA | I've thought about a couple of different supplements, but he's been gaining weight so nicely I haven't added anything. Our pasture is just incredible this year, and I've got quality alfalfa.
One thing I did not mention in my OP is that the vet wouldn't even give him his yearly vaccines when we saw him 9 days ago. He wanted his immune system to build up before he vaccinated him.
What immune builder do y'all recommend? Any thoughts on SmartImmune Pellets? |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | My horse gets it terribly about every other year. I swear by it, the Eqyss Micro Tek max strength. You can get it at tractor supply. Wash and lather really good every day. let him dry in the sun before putting him in a cool shady stall when he is completely dry. USUALLY zaps it really fast. otherwise I would hit up your vet and see what you can do to for his immune system. I think Platinum Performance has an immune support supplement. just a thought |
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Regular
Posts: 68
| FlyingJT - 2015-08-13 10:38 AM
You might have to start him on antibiotics.... And if he were mine I would start him on an immune builder.
any suggestions on a good "immune builder"? im lookiing for one as well. :) |
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Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | Silverlining herbs has a antifungal and immune builder that darn sure works. It's a feed through and it cleared up a nasty case of scratches/mud fever on a rescue mare that we had been battling for 2 years. I'd give them a call. |
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Independent Cuss
Posts: 3978
Location: Dearing, GA | ThreeCorners - 2015-08-13 11:01 AM Silverlining herbs has a antifungal and immune builder that darn sure works. It's a feed through and it cleared up a nasty case of scratches/mud fever on a rescue mare that we had been battling for 2 years. I'd give them a call.
I found this with Silverlining:
http://www.silverliningherbs.com/product/24-immune-support-equine/
I like the ingredients! |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I would recommend the Cur-Ost products and talking to Dr. Schell about what is going on with your horse. He also has a forum, second vet.com. Also THE has an immune supplement and there is a BB on here who is very knowledgeable about THE and she sells it too. |
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 Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | GLP - 2015-08-13 11:15 AM I would recommend the Cur-Ost products and talking to Dr. Schell about what is going on with your horse. He also has a forum, second vet.com. Also THE has an immune supplement and there is a BB on here who is very knowledgeable about THE and she sells it too. ^^^This! I would love for you to post this question on the forum at www.secondvet.com. It sounds like his immune system isn't able to work likes it's supposed to. If you get the inflammation out of the gut so it can work corrently, your immune repsonse will be improved and your topline will come back quickly. You will have overall restored health much quicker than you ever thought possible! Like 30 days with no change in feed. If there is inflammation in the hind gut, your horse cannot utilize what you're feeding due to a condition known as leaky gut syndrome. Get the hind gut healthy, they will begin to utilize what you're feeding and they will bloom right before your very eyes. Sounds like an info-mercial, but i've personally seen it happen and am riding a horse 4 vets told me i'd likely never be able to saddle again. I've posted these pictures on other threads, but will do so here again. These were taken 31 days apart. Please take the time and joint the www.secondvet.com forum. I would personally love to read and be privy to Dr. Schell's response and the journey of this horse should you choose to try this!
Edited by Herbie 2015-08-13 11:26 AM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | I second the Micro-tek shampoo daily. That stuff truly works better than anything I've seen for the rain rot.
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Independent Cuss
Posts: 3978
Location: Dearing, GA | Herbie - 2015-08-13 11:21 AM GLP - 2015-08-13 11:15 AM I would recommend the Cur-Ost products and talking to Dr. Schell about what is going on with your horse. He also has a forum, second vet.com. Also THE has an immune supplement and there is a BB on here who is very knowledgeable about THE and she sells it too. ^^^This! I would love for you to post this question on the forum at www.secondvet.com. It sounds like his immune system isn't able to work likes it's supposed to. If you get the inflammation out of the gut so it can work corrently, your immune repsonse will be improved and your topline will come back quickly. You will have overall restored health much quicker than you ever thought possible! Like 30 days with no change in feed. If there is inflammation in the hind gut, your horse cannot utilize what you're feeding due to a condition known as leaky gut syndrome. Get the hind gut healthy, they will begin to utilize what you're feeding and they will bloom right before your very eyes. Sounds like an info-mercial, but i've personally seen it happen and am riding a horse 4 vets told me i'd likely never be able to saddle again. I've posted these pictures on other threads, but will do so here again. These were taken 31 days apart. Please take the time and joint the www.secondvet.com forum. I would personally love to read and be privy to Dr. Schell's response and the journey of this horse should you choose to try this!
I posted over there. Here is a link to the thread. Thanks for the suggestion.
https://secondvet.com/index.php/forum/equine/24-rain-rot-immune-system-help |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 600
Location: Oklahoma & Texas | You might ask your vet about giving a shot of Eqstim... its a naturally-occurring bacteria that acts as a cell-meditated immunity stimulator --- they can give it once or several times over a few weeks depending... can't use it w/steroids as obviously any steroids would counter-effect it... stimulating the immune system can be tricky as you dont want to over-stimulate it and get an immune response like hives etc... but if he's having skin issues - severe enough like you said w/the rain rot - it may help.. also what i found w/skin issues of any sort -- Flax -- fed as a supplement -- works amazing... will help from the inside out.. helps immune system but also helps skin w/the omega's in it.. you said you had good alfalfa which is great it'll be giving him a good boost of Vitamin E... besides what you are doing already w/the bathing and cleaning thats all i can think of... everyone had good ideas! Probiotics definitely too! |
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 Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| TrailGirl - 2015-08-13 11:28 AM
I second the Micro-tek shampoo daily. That stuff truly works better than anything I've seen for the rain rot.
I third the microtek it's very soothing and clears up rr pretty quickly. My colt had it bad earlier this year when he came back to me.. |
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Independent Cuss
Posts: 3978
Location: Dearing, GA | BBrewster - 2015-08-13 1:23 PM You might ask your vet about giving a shot of Eqstim... its a naturally-occurring bacteria that acts as a cell-meditated immunity stimulator --- they can give it once or several times over a few weeks depending... can't use it w/steroids as obviously any steroids would counter-effect it... stimulating the immune system can be tricky as you dont want to over-stimulate it and get an immune response like hives etc... but if he's having skin issues - severe enough like you said w/the rain rot - it may help.. also what i found w/skin issues of any sort -- Flax -- fed as a supplement -- works amazing... will help from the inside out.. helps immune system but also helps skin w/the omega's in it.. you said you had good alfalfa which is great it'll be giving him a good boost of Vitamin E... besides what you are doing already w/the bathing and cleaning thats all i can think of... everyone had good ideas! Probiotics definitely too!
My vet just recommended this injection to me. I'm thinking I will do it. I am going to get a second set of eyes from a respected horseperson to check him out first, JUST to be sure I'm not overreacting about the severity of the issue. I'm just concerned because it is spreading. |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | he probrably needs Antibiotics |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| Someone on here recommended Synbiont. I used it to clear up scratches. I gave some to my trainer's husband for rain rot. I bought a gallon which costs $49 but makes 50 gallons. It is also recommended for spraying stalls away from home to prevent communicable diseases. It is so cheap that you can really soak the horse down every day. Worked well for scratches which is basically the same bacteria as rain rot. |
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| Sounds like you may be over feeding him .... skinny abused horses can get foundered in a hurry when you push all the feed on them ...
Back off the heavy feeding program immediately and do pasture with>>> .. less than 3 lbs of whole oats per day and add a cup of WHOLE FLAX SEED to enhance his immune system and bolster his hair and body functions ....
ADM GroStrong Minerals would kick up his immune system too ... throw a handful in his feed for 2 weeks and then relax to every other day ...
Do this for 3 months and if feet improve ... add 3 lbs of 14% sweet feed to the above to finish his filling out ... just mark Thanksgiving as the date to increase his feed if his feet are no longer sore and no shoes needed ...
GOOD LUCK ... |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | want2chase3 - 2015-08-13 1:44 PM
TrailGirl - 2015-08-13 11:28 AM
I second the Micro-tek shampoo daily. That stuff truly works better than anything I've seen for the rain rot.
I third the microtek it's very soothing and clears up rr pretty quickly. My colt had it bad earlier this year when he came back to me..
I'm giving another vote for it---my mare has skin issues often (of all descriptions!!) and it's worked for her on all of them. |
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Independent Cuss
Posts: 3978
Location: Dearing, GA | Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who has given suggestions. I've reviewed these suggestions with my regular vet, and we are going to start with a couple of rounds of Equistem and continue the medicated baths to boost his immune system. I'll give that about two weeks to see a difference, and if nothing changes we will move forward with another plan.
Thanks again for the input! |
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Independent Cuss
Posts: 3978
Location: Dearing, GA | 8/23/15 Update: The rain rot is 95% cleared up! We injected with Equistem once, and he has really turned a great corner. We're getting shoes on today or tomorrow, and by the end of the week I will hopefully be able to jump on him for the first time since I bought him.
I'm going to take a before photo when I ride, then another photo in 1, 2 and 3 months to see how he muscles up based on our exercise.
Thanks again for the advice everyone. |
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