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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1119
 
| Last night I noticed one of my mares is developing a condition of some sort on her lower legs. I sent a picture to my mom and she thinks it may be the same thing her horse had a few years ago - scratches.
First, is that what it looks like to you? It's on all 4 legs and looks terrible. This picture really doesn't do justice to how raw/irritated it looks.
Second, what remedies do you have? From a google search, I'm not finding any "easy" treatments. What has worked for you?
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 316
| It does look like scratches to me.. Wash with witch hazel twice a day and don't keep fly boots on him/her especially if they are wet.. give the legs and boots some time to dry out if they do get wet. I'd leave boots off for a few days while treating |
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Expert
Posts: 1280
Location: Texas | I have 1 horse that gets them. I use a 50/50 mixture of generic triple antibiotic ointment & generic lotrimen from wal mart. No washing. Keep as dry as possible- stall on clean bedding if stalled. It works great on my horse. And I have learned the hard way that treatment should start at the first hint of scratches. I use it as a preventative if its very rainy like it has been lately. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | i use mtg and it has worked great, but i also know a few friends that have used sauerkraut (pack it and wrap it) and it worked as well..........
m |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
 
| Somebody on here recommended Synbiont. I ordered some and it took a little while but it did clear it up. Your horse does not have this nearly as bad as mine. It is bacterial so you need to get on it quickly.
To whomever recommended Synbiont, thank you again. |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | I dealt with this about a month ago:
washed with microtek and then sprayed with their spray for about a week and he's all better now. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I have used sauerkraut, grab a handful and vet wrap it on, my vet told me about this, works like a charm.
But I would be looking at the pasture, photosensitivity can look identical to scratches, we had a bad few bales with clover, and I had three horses come down with classic scratches looking legs in winter, turned out to be photosensitivity due to the clover.
If your pasture has clover, especially alsike clover, I would pull the horse off |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1119
| cheryl makofka - 2015-06-19 1:15 PM
I have used sauerkraut, grab a handful and vet wrap it on, my vet told me about this, works like a charm.
But I would be looking at the pasture, photosensitivity can look identical to scratches, we had a bad few bales with clover, and I had three horses come down with classic scratches looking legs in winter, turned out to be photosensitivity due to the clover.
If your pasture has clover, especially alsike clover, I would pull the horse off
I've had this mare for 5 years and she's been on the same 2 pasture rotation that whole time. There is clover, but would that suddenly make a difference this year?
I'm leaning towards scratches since it has been so dang wet here all spring/summer. She's the only one that has anything like this. Hopefully I can get her cured quickly! |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| MissouriJen - 2015-06-19 2:08 PM
cheryl makofka - 2015-06-19 1:15 PM
I have used sauerkraut, grab a handful and vet wrap it on, my vet told me about this, works like a charm.
But I would be looking at the pasture, photosensitivity can look identical to scratches, we had a bad few bales with clover, and I had three horses come down with classic scratches looking legs in winter, turned out to be photosensitivity due to the clover.
If your pasture has clover, especially alsike clover, I would pull the horse off
I've had this mare for 5 years and she's been on the same 2 pasture rotation that whole time. There is clover, but would that suddenly make a difference this year?
I'm leaning towards scratches since it has been so dang wet here all spring/summer. She's the only one that has anything like this. Hopefully I can get her cured quickly!
Yes photosensitivity can just occur even though they have never had any issues before.
It all depends on the amount of clover they eat, and sunshine.
Scratches should heal up in a week, generally occur more when it is wet, so if you have been having a lot of rain, it probably is, if you are in a drought my guess photosensitivity.
Photosensitivity, I had horses take a month to clear up |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | MissouriJen - 2015-06-19 2:08 PM
cheryl makofka - 2015-06-19 1:15 PM
I have used sauerkraut, grab a handful and vet wrap it on, my vet told me about this, works like a charm.
But I would be looking at the pasture, photosensitivity can look identical to scratches, we had a bad few bales with clover, and I had three horses come down with classic scratches looking legs in winter, turned out to be photosensitivity due to the clover.
If your pasture has clover, especially alsike clover, I would pull the horse off
I've had this mare for 5 years and she's been on the same 2 pasture rotation that whole time. There is clover, but would that suddenly make a difference this year?
I'm leaning towards scratches since it has been so dang wet here all spring/summer. She's the only one that has anything like this. Hopefully I can get her cured quickly!
It usually happens to those pink skinned horses. Never had an issue with any of my horses that don't have socks. If they get a scratch or any tiny opening for bacteria and moisture to get in the skin scratches can happen. My horse has one leg that I am constantly battling with. He lives in a dry lot that gets not-so-dry every time it rains and I have to start over again. I've been told that it's important to make sure they are getting enough...zinc and copper (I think) in their diet. What I've tried so far was an antibacterial wash to get the mud off. Then cover the area in iodine and let it sit for 10 minutes. I clip any feathers/extra hair away from the area. Then I usually do a mix of desitin, neosporin, and cortisone (note: cashier at store will probably give you a weird look, mine did lol). I slather that on and pray. If it doesn't get too dirty, just wipe it away the next day and reapply. Don't pick the scabs. Sometimes after I run out of the ointment I use the vetricyn gel which doesn't seem to attract as much dirt. I also just ordered Dermacloth's (valley vet and smartpak carry them) which are basically antibacterial wet wipes that are supposed to work really well for scratches (rather than having to wash the leg) to both clean and disinfect the area before you put on your cream, vetricyn, whatever.
Edited by cavyrunsbarrels 2015-06-20 8:37 AM
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| I vote for the sauerkraut. Had a horse with a bad case of it. with 2 different recommendations from 2 different vets I tried both
Soaked rags in sauerkraut juice , placed those rags on affected area and wrapped (on the worst leg). The second leg I treated with mastitis medicine (an antifungal). Sauerkraut leg healed more quickly and completely than antifungal leg.
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| Manna pro calm coat- its anti fungal and antimicrobial . Smells good and no mess...its oily and good for any skin malady. Its now the go to after having to do cultures and letting skin infections set up....no more just squirt this on and not worry about if its fungal what kind etc...
ETA: I don't sale this product I just like it lol
Edited by astreakinchic 2015-06-20 10:46 PM
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | Bob has a formula called ZonOx that works great for them. I've used it for warts, scratches and currently for girth gall. Per the website " A topical ointment formulated to aid the body in dealing with bacterial, fungal, and infection problems. ZonOx is designed to help with cracked heels, scratches, cuts, rashes, ringworm, thrush, warts, sarcoids, and many other skin conditions" |
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 Livin in the Dinosaur Age
Posts: 1993
Location: the other T-town, Oklahoma | I used a 50/50 mixture of noxema face cream and furazone (that yellow thick stuff). Worked great. Thankfully only had to deal with this once a long time ago. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | Zonox works amazing and super fast! I had my friend try it because she didn't believe me and was so impressed with how quickly it worked. Now it is the first thing she uses whenever there is any type of scratches or fungis |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | High levels of zinc dry the skin out and make it nonviable for bacteria to grow. Use the highest zinc containing diaper rash ointment you can find. I think the last time I had to treat for scratches I used desitin iwth the purple label (maybe 30-50%zinc) |
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Sparklin Cowgirl
Posts: 4379
| Scrub with iodine then pick the scabs off and spray with Vetericyn everyday or everyother day. Keep the legs as dry as possible. Even avoid baths if possible. Even an iodine scrub bath can be too much moiture. |
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Regular
Posts: 56
| Wash with Synbiont and then apply MTG. It will clear up after a few days on doing this. |
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Veteran
Posts: 196
| Put clear red automatic transmission oil (ATF) in a spray bottle and saturate the affected areas twice daily. Remove the excess scabbing when its ready and keep spraying regularly until it heals. I was sceptical but it worked wonders on my palomino. Simple, cheap and effective.  |
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