My horse had the same thing. I kept the wound clean and dry, wrapped lightly with gauze/vet wrap and then covered the area with fly wraps until all the hair grew back. Never shaved the legs again and haven’t had it reoccur.
[QUOTE=Marla 100;8225342]
Back on Track Quick Wraps go all the way down past the pasterns and do not rub. They’re nice and soft on the skin also. And easy to wash.[/QUOTE]
I have these. Do you worry about heat, though? It is high 80s type weather here. I could turn her out in the AM with these would stay up?
[QUOTE=Marla 100;8225342]
Back on Track Quick Wraps go all the way down past the pasterns and do not rub. They’re nice and soft on the skin also. And easy to wash.[/QUOTE]
I have these. Would they get hot, though? They might work for a few AM hours before we get too warm. Thanks!
[QUOTE=SMNG;8227395]
Equichaps!!! My horse has PLV and cannot have direct sunlight on his white socks. He is always turned out in these boots! They do run a bit small - my 17.2hh warmblood just fits into the XL.
These would be great!! Off to hunt… 
As far as treatment, it seems like there are hundreds of recipes. Initially I had used an ointment with chlorhexidine and a fungicide, but that may have irritated things further, and the leg blew up.
The antibiotic has helped the lymphangitis well, and the vet now wants me to keep the scratches area dry as the lesions heal. So no more bathing— I was using just Ivory soap and gentle scrubbing. Towel drying, and then either blow drying or allowing to dry while hand grazing.
I like the idea of a zinc cream as a sunblock, but would that defeat the attempts to keep it dry?
[QUOTE=MileHighDressage;8228599]
These would be great!! Off to hunt… :)[/QUOTE]
http://m.equestriancollections.com/product.asp?groupcode=WE80010
I purchase mine through Equestrian Collections. Never had an issue with ordering, although honestly these are the only item I’ve ever ordered through them!!
They do run small though, so order a size up.
[QUOTE=MileHighDressage;8225483]
YCA, have you used these? They look promising, thank you![/QUOTE]
I have not used them, when my pony started getting the “summer puffy legs”, I almost got her a pair but wound up selling her first incidentally.
Also, pony once got a stubborn case of scratches that cleared up after being wrapped for 3 days in sauerkraut. Cheapest, most effective treatment I’ve found yet.
[QUOTE=MileHighDressage;8228609]
I like the idea of a zinc cream as a sunblock, but would that defeat the attempts to keep it dry?[/QUOTE]
Actually, for my horse, it keeps other moisture from getting in and protects the spot. It doesn’t really seem to add moisture, even though it is a bit sticky.
I think it’s why the mixture works so well for me. I usually put it on as things are starting to show up, not after it’s already been bad. It protects and seals the area, while I’m assuming the fungicide and antibiotic do their job. So I would think that if you’re addressing any infection, etc. already, it should just seal up the area.
Oh, and I’m with you on the million recipes. This is the one that worked for my guy. The vet custom mix was so-so. This one seems to work best on my horse’s flare ups. I can now catch it right away and nip it in the bud.
Find what works for you, and I think the zinc oxide helps seal it and protect it from the sun, so just mix that in or put it over the top of what you’ve found works for your horse. Can’t really hurt.
It’s funny… the horses I have cared for as a barn worker or manager that have developed scratches were the horses who were confined to a stall half the day… YMMV, but I have never had a horse on full turn out develop scratches and I live in one of the wettest parts of the country… currying the lower leg, drying the leg properly when wet, and keeping the horse outside and in the sunlight is the best cure.
I would not wrap scratches… that makes a near anaerobic environment which is perfect for prolonging the issue… keep it dry and exposed to sunlight. Micro-Tek works really well to resolve it - curry it in, let it ‘seep’ for a few minutes and then curry until dry.
Incidentally the horses I’ve taken care of most prone to scratches also seemed to have poor immunity and were usually repeat offenders. Changing their diet to a ration balancer w good hay and grass and supplementing copper/zinc as well as full turn out has resolved all of them…
Beowulf, I am using Silvadene topically, and the horse is still on oral antibiotics. The Silvadene increases the sun sensitivity where it is applied. So I am covering the area for that reason.
It is far from an anaerobic scenario; horse is in standing wraps overnight, and had a few hours in the BOT quick wraps for turnout today. Scratches are on the front and medial side of the pastern on one leg. The standing wraps do not cover or seal the area, and the BOT quick wraps are more for sunblock until I find an alternative.
We are in a dry part of the country, but have had a wet spring. Nothing showed up until we dried up to our more normal weather pattern.
I did have to gently wash the area today to get the crud and dirt off. And of course, completely dried the area before and after applying the topical treatment.
It is great to know there are so many “recipes” and protocols that have worked for this painful ailment.
I also believe scratches are most common in nutrient deficient diets. Improving the diet will often eleminate scratches. Some bagged feeds are not nutrient dense.
OP if you go the zinc ointment route, Walmart Diaper Creme is 40% zinc oxide compared to 2-4% common to many ointments.
Also the addition of ground up SMZ’s mixed w/ the ointment cleared up a nasty case for me and within just a day or two- completely gone.
[QUOTE=SMNG;8227395]
Equichaps!!! My horse has PLV and cannot have direct sunlight on his white socks. He is always turned out in these boots! They do run a bit small - my 17.2hh warmblood just fits into the XL.
I just ordered these on line via the Equestrian Collections link. Unfortunately, the company called me and said that they are no longer available from their vendor. I went to the Equilibrium Products site and sent a message asking where I might buy them. They list ‘stockists’ in the US: Dover and SmartPak, but neither carries the Equi Chaps.
I am in need of size extra large, for hind boots, if anyone has further suggestions. Thanks!!
Edited to add: the Equestrian Collections did not have them available. I’m about to order from the Equestrian.com link, in the UK. Have to pray that I order the right size! Hinds measure 10" around, so I am guessing the size XL.
Wrapping provides a tight dark place… it may not be truly anaerobic in the sense that there is still a little oxygen… but it is by no means exposed… which is why I said near anaerobic… I would really, really consider not wrapping… YMMV if you are not washing the linens every time you switch you are really creating a hotbed. Especially for a horse such as yours that has a history of lymphangitis…
[QUOTE=beowulf;8232599]
Wrapping provides a tight dark place… it may not be truly anaerobic in the sense that there is still a little oxygen… but it is by no means exposed… which is why I said near anaerobic… I would really, really consider not wrapping… YMMV if you are not washing the linens every time you switch you are really creating a hotbed. Especially for a horse such as yours that has a history of lymphangitis…[/QUOTE]
Gotcha, Beowulf.
I think I will leave the standing wraps off tonight and see how things look in the morning. With the topical and oral antibiotics, and the lymphangitis looking really good, the standing wraps overnight may not be needed now. If there is no filling again, then I think we’re on the right track.
[QUOTE=MileHighDressage;8232636]
Gotcha, Beowulf.
I think I will leave the standing wraps off tonight and see how things look in the morning. With the topical and oral antibiotics, and the lymphangitis looking really good, the standing wraps overnight may not be needed now. If there is no filling again, then I think we’re on the right track.[/QUOTE]
I don’t envy you --lymphangitis is not fun to deal with… Jingling for you :yes:
[QUOTE=beowulf;8232653]
I don’t envy you --lymphangitis is not fun to deal with… Jingling for you :yes:[/QUOTE]
Thank you.
