Scratches?

[Arrow]

Three months ago, I moved my colt from Florida to Maryland. It has been an extremely wet year here in Maryland, and as a result, there is mud EVERYWHERE! We had sand in Florida, so I've never had this problem before.

Merlin's paddock is ankle deep mud, just about everywhere. I don't have any place I can turn him out that isn't muddy. When I went out today, Merlin's legs were a little bit swollen, so I decided to hose them off and see what was going on. They are VERY sensitive to touch, and it's the skin that is swollen, not the actual leg (i.e. there is no filling). The skin is warm. Once I had them clean and dry, I could feel some scabby areas all around the leg, just over the hoof to the fetlock. He does not want them hosed, or dried, or touched. He is NOT lame at all.

Ok, how do you treat this? Anything I put on there is just going to get taken off in the mud pit that he lives in! It was suggested that I put vaseline or bacitracin on legs daily to help keep the water off. Also, what are any possible complications to this? Do I need to worry about lameness or cellulitis or anything bad like that?

Obviously, now that I know mud is this much of a problem, we will fix the issue. However, I can't do it until it dries up a bit. We are planning on making the paddocks true dry lots with crushed rock, but we have to be able to pull the top layer of dirt out and level it first, and we can't do that until it stops raining. So, we have a long term solution to my scratches problem, but until then, what is the course of action.

All I could think of was to pull him out and wash and dry his legs daily with betadine. I can hand walk him for a bit every day to allow his legs to dry out for awhile, but there is a limit to that. (must work to pay horse bills...)

Help!!!!!

[qtrhorse1993]

desitine...like the diaper rash ointment...i works very well.

[SilverLexi]

Zincofax like the diaper cream....will sooth sore areas and it helps prevent the moisture getting to the area. It also help with the bacteria.

You really don't want this to get too extensive because it can cause very messy sores and it will take forever to clear up.

[Clippity-Clop]

I used a diluted mixture of Povidone Iodine and water in a spray bottle. I sprayed my horses affected areas at least once per day. They did not have oozing sores or anything like that though. It healed up pretty quick.

[greygirls]

Originally Posted by qtrhorse1993

desitine...like the diaper rash ointment...i works very well.

I agree!

[paintedpastures]

I've tried alot of different "remedies" suggested over the years.None worked too well.Finally found something that 2 things worked for me.
#1 Scarlet oil.a topical iodione base spray can be bought at most vet/livestock supply stores.Spray/soak area daily,heals up with little work on your part.
#2 Scratches vacinne.Probably is a more technical name for it obtain from the vet.It is pretty pricey but works! just the shot & leave them alone& in about 10-14days it was gone!

[Clippity-Clop]

I also used desitin but it was tricky because of the wet dew. So I would spray with Iodine at morning feeding. Didn't matter if it the area was wet with dew because the iodine still was able to do it's job. Then I'd put some desitin along the back of the hock where the scabby areas were worst at mid day after everything hair, hock and pasture had been sun dried. You don't want to put that ointment on wet hair or skin in my opinion and you can't get it completely dry with a towel. Mine had cleared up within a week or so of this treatment.

[theoldbear]

Welcome to the wonderful world of FLorida horse owners! The best "cure" is winter! And it is coming!

Desitin ointment works well. But with our high humidity, frequent rain, lots of morning dew, it is tough to keep problems like this under control.

Keep after it!

[Arrow]

What's funny is that I'm not in Florida anymore! I'm in Maryland. 15 years of owning horses in Florida, and I never had a case of scratches. We lived on a sand hill, and were quite dry most of the time.

However, here we have Mud, and I have no place to keep him dry. I have obtained some desitin and I have antifungal cream as well as triple antibiotic ointment. So I'm starting with desitin. Of course, I'm going to have to smear it all over the lower part of all four legs. He's going to have white socks for a change!

[Buddy's girl]

I rely on MTG for most skin problems. And you can apply utter balm to the legs/hocks to keep moisture out in the day. Clean and dry is the key.

[WickedNag]

I had my first ex[experience with scratches this year too. After doing many different things my friend in KS told me to buy Desitin. Was cleared up very quickly!

[lady dumpling]

I also use MTG for scratches works really well and I think it is easier to use than diaper cream(which didn't work for me).I am not a big fan of the smell ,but because it is so effective I always have some on hand.

[walkinthewalk]

Originally Posted by Arrow

When I went out today, Merlin's legs were a little bit swollen, so I decided to hose them off and see what was going on. They are VERY sensitive to touch, and it's the skin that is swollen, not the actual leg (i.e. there is no filling). The skin is warm. Once I had them clean and dry, I could feel some scabby areas all around the leg, just over the hoof to the fetlock. He does not want them hosed, or dried, or touched. He is NOT lame at all.

The desitin is a great remedy. I use it mixed 50-50 with hemerhoid cream BUT,

You need to be really watchful of that swelling and warmth. If that continues on, you might want to have a vet check Merlin to be sure he does not have the beginnings of cellulitis.

Cellulitis can be very damaging to a horse if left un-treated. My friend's horse ended up with a serious case that the vet felt was a result of open skin from a case of scratches.

As far as putting the topicals on, cut the hair way back "crew cut style". I use cheap children's scissors off the WalMart shelf rather than clippers.

Clippers need to be taken apart and cleaned, it's easier to clean the scissors and pitch them when they get dull.

In spite of what the rest of the world may say, I would NOT use MTG. I have read of allergic reactions to the sulphur and the vet needed to be called out.

If this horse has fever in his skin and it's swollen, the MTG would not be a choice without vet approval.

There are different topicals that can be used, but again, I agree with the desiten and adding some hemerhoid cream. The hemeroid cream helps reduce pain/itch/swelling.

Hope this helps

This is from an equine link that won't let me "link"

Equine Veterinary Associates
Client Information about Cellulitis

Cellulitis is the most common cause of painful inflammatory edema in horses. It is often
associated with a wound or local reaction to an injection. Cellulitis is often undetected at
first by owner because wound or trauma is not overly noticeable. Most cellulitis cases
will be in the limbs.
This is a serious infection and needs to be examined by your veterinarian within a few
hours.

Etiology:

• Infectious Cellulitis is most commonly caused by S. aureus or Clostridium

following a wound or injection

• Can be caused by staphylococcal infection following blunt trauma that doesn’t
break skin (getting kicked)

Clinical Signs:

• Pain and swelling

• Often swollen area is hot to the touch

• Horse may or may not exhibit a fever

• Severe lameness with affected limbs

Treatment:

• Antibiotics

• Anti-inflammatories

• Tetanus shot (very important)

• Supportive care

Treatment on a leg: as above, plus

• Sweat wrap

• Cold hosing

Things the owner can do before the veterinarian sees the horse:

• Cold hose affected area

• Stall horse or keep confined in small area

• Check Temperature

• Monitor horse’s drinking/eating

[Arrow]

Day One of treatment. This morning I scrubbed all four feet with betadine. Merlin was not happy about this. He stands the entire time with whatever foot I'm working on in the air. I then dried them and let him wander around in the yard for awhile to allow his legs some dry time. Afterwards, I smeared desitin on them and put him back outside. My horse looks very funny with four white socks!

This evening, they seemed better. He's a bit less sensitive and there is less heat, but the legs still look "filled". It could be that he's not moving around a whole lot too. He is not lame at all, and trust me, his appetite is NOT affected. I scrubbed his legs with Microtek shampoo, dried, and smeared on more desitin. Then he got dinner and out for the evening.

As a temporary mud fix, I worked on making stone dust paths in his pen so he can at least walk between his hay and water without slogging through the mud. However, stone dust is HEAVY, and I managed about five feet of path this evening before my back informed me that I was done for the day. This would be easier if I had a tractor and didn't have to use a wheelbarrow and a shovel to move this stuff.

So, we'll see how they are doing tomorrow. Walkinthewalk, thanks for the info on cellulitis. I am worried about that, and if the heat or swelling he has now increases, I will call the vet right out. Right now, the swelling he has is not enough to even hide his tendons. He has definition, his legs just aren't "tight".

We'll see what tomorrow brings.

[polopony]

I make a huge batch of my favorite "scratches" remedy:

1 part Furazone
1 part Desiden
If I use 8oz of the above which is what I usually do, I add:
3oz injectable Dex squirted in the mixture
10cc penicillin
Mix it up and make it like pudding and then put it on the scratches after you have washed and dried them.

it really works!!!

[irishmusic]

Agree with ClippityClop.

For the immediate problem, desitin is your best bet. When the the skin seems fairly healed, then start using a 10% solution of iodine spray as a preventative. The scratches microorganism is the same bug that causes rain rot. Same treatment.

[Hideaway]

I feel you arrow. At the MD border and I have mud too. Short of taking the tractor in and scooping it all up all the time, the only good advice I ever got was to put in a french drain to help the water move out. This year though, has been a doozie.

Desitin didn't work for me but MTG seems to be doing well. I wash his legs, towel dry, pick the scabs and spray. I fight it every year.