Try either tomorrow, the udder treatment sold at tractor supply co or you could do this, which is what i did to clear up bad bad scratches a few years back.
Slather leg with Furazone or furafree, depending on what you feel comfortable with. wrap the leg loosely with seran wrap and put a standing wrap on it. Leave on for 12 hours or so. Remove and wash off the scabs. Then wash the leg with Sebozole Medicated Shampoo and dry. Repeat.
RTF did you just wrap over the white lightening gel? Iāve been fighting hind leg crud for years (literally) and I can sometimes get it down to just a small amount but it never goes away. Due to the experience of years of trial and error and some other hind end issues horse is not particularly cooperative so Iām wondering if I can put the white lightening gel on the spots then wrap over it with saran wrap and vetwrap like I do for his regular goo mix I use?
I too have tried supplementing zinc and copper along with various modes of clipping/not clipping, washing/not washing, and so many ointments/creams and sprays. I have not tried equiderma but it just seems like itās all the same. Vetās goo is mostly zinc oxide but then a slew of other pharmacy items (dex is what I can think of now but I have a post it with all the ingredients somewhere). It works to get things almost normal but as soon as I stop it comes right back. It becomes too time consuming and expensive to wrap his hind legs daily.
Horse also did 3 months of doxy after I had a scab tested a few years back. I think the testing may have been bad because I literally pulled a thick scab off and mailed it in. Seems like maybe an actual biopsy/cutting would be more useful maybe?
I tried to do those summer whinnies in case it was a sun issue but they just rolled up into a ball on his leg. Most of the crusts are along his coronet band then when itās gets really bad it moves higher.
Either way you are definitely not alone Xanthoria!
Another vote for the saurkraut treatment to get the scabs off and the skin Resy for Desitin or Tomorrow or one of the other topical suggested here. The sauerkraut really works.
Krud Zapper
Going to second the person that suggested you consider photosensitivity and that it might be time for a biopsy. Worth an inquiry with the attending vet. BTDT with one of mine this summer.
One of mine used to have every tiny, shallow, scratch or scrape below his knees and hocks go fungal before it healed. One summer he got a couple of spots that I chased around his leg for months. The key for him was vitamin E supplementation. His vitamin E level was barely within the bottom end of the normal range and I added 1000i.u. to his feed (KERās Elevate). The fungal spots healed up and six months later he could scratch his lower legs and actually heal like a normal horse even though his vitamin E level had actually dropped a bit. I chose to increase the vitamin E to 2000i.u. per day and his levels were up six months later. I did see some other skin related improvements as well.
I leased a mare who would only get scratches on her white legs. Muck-Itch alone didnāt clear it up but washing them 2-3 times a week with diluted Apple Cider Vinegar (the organic kind that still had the mother in it) and then spraying Muck-Itch right before turn out cleared it up.
I just had my friend text me about a bad case she had that she could not get rid of. Vet did this: a cream made up of "chlorhexidine 2% plus SSD cream ā donāt know what that is-- and 3 cc dexamethazone. Also 3 IM injections of exceed (think thatās how its spelled; its expensive). She said it cleared right up. good luck
Whatās in the sauerkraut that kills the scratches???
I just had my friend text me about a bad case she had that she could not get rid of. Vet did this: use a cream made up of "chlorhexidine 2% plus SSD cream ā donāt know what that is-- and 3 cc dexamethazone. Also 3 IM injections of an antibiotic called exceed (think thatās how its spelled; its expensive). She said it cleared right up. good luck
Whatās in the sauerkraut that kills the scratches???
[QUOTE=morsekg;9017864]
RTF did you just wrap over the white lightening gel? Iāve been fighting hind leg crud for years (literally) and I can sometimes get it down to just a small amount but it never goes away. Due to the experience of years of trial and error and some other hind end issues horse is not particularly cooperative so Iām wondering if I can put the white lightening gel on the spots then wrap over it with saran wrap and vetwrap like I do for his regular goo mix I use?
I too have tried supplementing zinc and copper along with various modes of clipping/not clipping, washing/not washing, and so many ointments/creams and sprays. I have not tried equiderma but it just seems like itās all the same. Vetās goo is mostly zinc oxide but then a slew of other pharmacy items (dex is what I can think of now but I have a post it with all the ingredients somewhere). It works to get things almost normal but as soon as I stop it comes right back. It becomes too time consuming and expensive to wrap his hind legs daily.
Horse also did 3 months of doxy after I had a scab tested a few years back. I think the testing may have been bad because I literally pulled a thick scab off and mailed it in. Seems like maybe an actual biopsy/cutting would be more useful maybe?
I tried to do those summer whinnies in case it was a sun issue but they just rolled up into a ball on his leg. Most of the crusts are along his coronet band then when itās gets really bad it moves higher.
Either way you are definitely not alone Xanthoria![/QUOTE]
Morsekg, I have this horse too - he has CHRONIC pastern dermatitis on both back legs from coronet band to fetlock. He also has other hind end issues which make him less than the most cooperative patient. I am ten years into it and have tried everything short of punch biopsy and/or sending him to a referral center with a dermatology specialist. He has been seen in the field by a veterinary dermatologist. I have supplemented with zinc and copper and vitamin E (at different times). Long term low dose dex. Long term systemic antifungal. Every topical ever mentioned in a COTH scratches thread (not literally, but most of them). Many topicals seem to help initially and knock the crud back, but then itās like it adapts, and whatever seemed to be working no longer works. I too tried the Silver Whinny sox which did seem to help, but the largest size was too hard to get on and off over his hooves - have considered contacting the company to have them custom make a velcro version (which they say they can do).
At this point, I am more or less leaving the horse alone. The scabby areas seem to wax and wane a bit left to their own devices. I wash the cruddy areas occasionally - weekly at most, especially during fly season.
Just wanted to throw out a little more support āyou are not aloneā to another long term warrior against crud. Most of the time when I see a scratches thread these days, I just sigh and go on my way. For some complicated reason probably related to his immune system, what my horse has is not the same scratches as what most horse owners experience.
There is a product for cows that treats mastitis called ToDay. It may help.
I had a horse that had chronic scratches, and also lymphangitis. I believe, iircc, it can be fungal or bacterial- an organism in the soil or viral. I think his immune system must of been slightly compromised as well, because we could never completely cure either conditionāthe scratches would start and then the lymphangitis would flare up. I would wash with strong antibacterial soap, then use a furacin, triple anti biotic cream, desitin mix which seemed to help somewhat. But he would have flare ups at least twice a year no matter how clean I kept his legs, and even when he was stalled at night.
There is a product for cows that treats mastitis called ToDay. It may help.
In Canada we use Special Formula, which is probably the same thing since itās for mastitis in cows, itās AMAZING! Works so so so well.
We have had one horse that had persistent issue - tried everything and more, many recommendations offered resulted in worsening problem. Finally came across this product http://www.equimedag.co.uk The dressing (option for you) and the boots (not an option for you because your horse is outside) work fantastic. Not cheap but if we would have gone with these to begin with we would have saved ourselves a lot of money. In your case you could buy the dressing and put on some very good wrap over it to keep it in place and that should hopefully take care of it. The owners of this company are also fantastic to work with and if you have questions reach out to them via email. Good luck!
Forgot to say that in our case it was critical to keep area dry and no washing ā¦ used hairdryer to dry area when needed.
Groom, Iām in the same boat as you. I have a 23 year old OTTB approaching his 24th birthday with chronic scratches on his rear fetlocks. Iāve tried everything, except, apparently, Desitin. Poor horse is retired and elderly- and does not appreciate me treating that area. I debate whether itās worth it to even try after this long. Itās clearly not going to kill him, but something else probably will at some point!
My vet recently recommended the Desitin/Neosporin/Hydrocortisone combo under wraps after scrubbing with chlorahex. I figure Iāll try this one last thing but Iām going to soften up the scabs and scrub while heās sedated. I think. If I feel like the poor guy can handle it.
Chlorhexidine cream, desitin cream in equal amounts mixed with a tube of OTC cortisone cream. Apply liberally, massage in, do not pick scabs, , massage in daily w/o washing in between (just gently wipe area clean with paper towel first), the gentle massaging will remove scabs.
I have used this on horses with long standing scratchesā¦ Consistent use, no picking, and with two weeks max, scratches should be gone. You can do it twice a day if you want.
However be vigilant, some horses seem more prone.
We use dew poison at my farm and it works for us.
I had a similar situation with a horse and finally one vet tested the horse for cushings and bam the horse was very positive for cushings. Now mind you the horse did not visually appear to be a cushings horse, no long coat, not cresty, the horse looked fabulous, just could not shake the scratches. Turns out cushings supresses the horses immiune system. After the horse had been on Prascend for several months, the scratches responded to the standard Malaseb treatment and then his immune system was able to keep it at bay. His dose of Prascend had to be adjusted several times (upward) but once he was on the proper dose, he did fine (and continues to do well now in his late twenties). Best of luck to you.
