Could it be stud crud? (Sorry, didn’t read the whole thread.)
[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;7681919]
Yes, I am in B.C., but this horse is kept dry, brushed, clean, indoor, etc.
My COTH buddy e-mailed me and suggested Listerine, and that has come up several time in the past - no harm trying with the small guns first - and going up from there.
I think they need to jump on it sooner rather than later.
What about clipping the leg?[/QUOTE]
There is nothing they can apply to this that is going to just make the skin look clear. Clipping will do nothing, unless they use the clippers to cut the scabs off. I’m not sure that you are reading most of the suggestions.
[QUOTE=CrowneDragon;7682035]
There is nothing they can apply to this that is going to just make the skin look clear. Clipping will do nothing, unless they use the clippers to cut the scabs off. I’m not sure that you are reading most of the suggestions.[/QUOTE]
Guess she read my experience that clipping helped ours. We left the scabs on because it pulled the skin off and bled without making the problem disappear. Vets recommendation based on his opinion of what they came home from that show with- for years.
YMMV depending on what the horse actually has, especially if complicated by bacteria or fungus.
Oops, CD - do you know how that comment came over in tone? COTH usually has lots of suggestions from people who have experience…and I can read actually.
Thanks everyone for your constructive help!
Whoa, don’t cut off any scabs. You can use a rubber curry comb or stiff brush to clean off the area. This will remove some of the scabs and a lot of matted hair, but don’t brush too forcefully. You don’t want to cause bleeding by trying to eliminate all scabs. Scabs will dry up and fall off as the area heals.
Some people on this thread are a little grumpy. OP is seeking advice from everyone who has had experience with this problem. And it can be on legs and on faces of horses as well. BTDT.
I’ve only had this pop up in the spring, when legs are still hairy and shedding has started. It’s as if the thick hair holds in moisture. I usually gently curry and pick off what I can without irritating it too much. When the legs aren’t so hairy, currying usually loosens drier, flakier stuff and comes off easily.
I’m fanatical about grooming and this crud bugs me.
Oh and tea tree oil or Goo Gone will keep it from coming back!
IME some horses seem to get, well, there are a number of names, scurf , crud, and some other names that others have offered up more then others. Sometimes it can be like “rain rot”. If not caught early enough it gets scabby and bits of hair will come off with it. Other types can be more on the “greasy” side of things.
Racehorses that are “done up”, bandaged every day it can be called bandage scurf. Horses that are turned out on longish grass especially for long periods seem to develop it. Wet or from morning dew.
I also think it can come from bathing/hosing off a sweaty horse. In this case the hind legs are more susceptible. Because we hose between their legs and all of the jazz runs down. Even though we keep hosing with clean water I think we tend to leave some of the “residual sweat concentrate” at times. Especially when we are doing horse after horse in a “line up”. When scraping their belly some of this “concentrate” ends up on their hind cannons and is not hosed off. We squeegee off with our hands and then towel dry. I make a point of hosing their legs off again after scraping and then towel dry. I have never done a “study” but in my mind it seems to keep it at bay.
But in the end and we have all been guilty, well at least I have at times and so have grooms, and is not caught early enough due to not paying close attention when grooming their legs. It will show itself long before it gets “scabby” in my experience and is quickly dealt with before it gets nasty and unsightly.
I think that horses that are booted every time they go out are more susceptible also. Especially in hot humid weather. IMO it may make a perfect fungus growing medium. Never done a “study”.
At shows a lot of horses are bathed in the same areas. So you have all of the “body runoff concentrate” where the horses are standing. The running water coming out of the horse and hitting the ground can splash this stuff back up on to a horse’s legs. It doesn’t take much of this “concentrate” from lots of different horses to carry bits of bacteria on to a horses legs. And it doesn’t take much of this to get things started. Especially with horses that have been wearing boots which may have subtly rubbed up their skin pores. And some horses just like humans can be more susceptible then others.
These are all just my theories.
People have offered up a number of different things to use on it. I don’t buy into the Listerine wash, regardless of brand. I tired it and various other brands on lots of horses for a while and it made no difference. At least not with my TBs. To each their own on this. I have clipped in the past but IMO it makes no difference so we don’t.
What I do know that works for this and rain rot is Sulfur Dip. Spray it on and work it in. Kids call it the “fart stuff” because that’s what it smells like. Cleans up rain rot in a matter of days. Everybody I have given it to is amazed how quickly it works. Dirt cheap to make. No fancy name or picture on the bottle, smells but really works.
I have found horses on turn out that have their fetlock “feathers” hair trimmed off are far more prone to getting "scratches, dew poisoning, etc. This is natures “water wick” and keeps it from running down the back of the pastern.
o.k. Gumtree - tell us what the Sulphur Dip is and where to buy. Not seen it here. Myself, other than scratches, I have not seen much of this scunge up here and never had a horse of my own have it. I keep mine at home.
With scrtches, I think it becomes more common in barns where the horses stand at the gate before being brought in for the night and it gets muddy with our rain. The bacteria/fungus is all around in the soil, but perhaps concentrates at the gates.
[QUOTE=dude.does.dressage;7680801]
Yep, soft(ish) curry takes it off pretty well, and keep currying every few days to get the rest. I may have started the process during a bath with regular shampoo but I don’t think it’s strictly necessary. I think it’s just built up skin oils & dirt, yummy.[/QUOTE]
Cannon keratosis or cannon crud is caused by the skin’s own glands. Applying anything topically may help eradicate the gunk that is already there, but topical applications are not going to prevent it from returning. The only way to keep it from building up into a waxy gunk again is daily grooming.
ETA: it doesn’t cause any discomfort to the horse, so unless you need it clean for a show, leaving it alone isn’t going to cause harm. It’s just ugly.
Thanks, all. In this case it seems to have progressed to some secondary condition - fungus, bacteria, but there re lots of good suggestions.
But the only think I an say is that the care is exemplary there. Funny place to have such a problem when you think of it.
Based on vet recommendation; I use generic head and shoulders shampoo 2-3 times a week for cannon crud to get rid of it when it mildly pops up and to keep it away. Vet said if really bad that H&S Shamp doesn’t work call for RX steroid cream (like panalog). H&S also works good on crud that occassionally pops up, behind elbows near girth area, in summer due to sweat and wet conditions.
Don’t put 100% tea tree oil directly on the skin of a horse. It will cause flaking of the skin. BTDT.
I’ve always been told that this is “scratches” and that it is a fungus and should be treated with an antifungal.
That said, I am currently trying to get the crud to go away on a very lovely chestnut mare I own with four white stockings (seems to affect the white legs more frequently) with an antifungal without much success. I’ve heard of all kinds of home remedies for it - some of which sound very painful for the horse.
I have heard it referred to by veterinarians as urine scald. My new gray gelding Vinnie has some of it. I have been treating it with Ly-Tar shampoo and it seems to help.
I know a horse that gets it on his front cannons as well. Don’t think he is peeing up there! His seems to be prone to have it get out of control easily (or perhaps his mommy doesn’t keep after it well enough), and unfortunately he doesn’t have white stockings but now has lovely white patches where the crud had been allowed to get too scabby. It doesn’t look anything to me like “scratches”, which can be much more raw and painful.
Don’t use straight Listerine on it, it’s too caustic and can cause burning/irritation. Cut it with water if that’s what you choose to use.
I use one of those pebble palm gloves on the cannon bones of mine when grooming. Inky came with a little crud on his white hind cannons - meticulous and daily use of the glove cleared it up. A medicated shampoo - like Eqyss Microtek also works great. Wash the glove after every use to be sure you’re not re-introducing any type of bacteria or fungus until its cleared up.
If its advanced to the point of bloody scabs - they should probably have a vet look at it and rule out a more serious fungal infection.
50/50 listerine and baby oil. Apply, leave on. Curry mitt the next day, and reapply. Usually takes three days for it all to slough off. Works every time.
I’ve made the list and checking it twice!!!
