It’s that time of the year again! Weather changes, the competition calendar and dermatophilus fungal bacteria all designed to wreak havoc on your beautiful steed’s skin.
The country is rife with cracked heels (“scratches" & “dew poisoning") ,greasy heel (“grapes" because of the wart like grease scabs), mud fever & rain scald resulting from, warm, damp environments but not exclusively the result of weather conditions.
These extremely uncomfortable and debilitating diseases not only cause considerable pain and suffering to horses but the down-time on training and pleasure, let alone the frustration of not finding suitable effective cures, can cost heaps in terms labour and finances, not to mention personal stress levels for owners.
Cracked Heels & Greasy Heel: Dampness and heat (humidity) can be enough to set off cracked & greasy heelsas can muddy holding yards & paddocks. Cracked heels (which sometimes just looks like a scratch or two in the fetlock “cup") can result from unsanitary stable conditions where urine contaminates bedding in which the horse is confined to standing. Race horses being worked under fast paces where extreme use of the legs & feet are subject to sweat (salt), combined with harsher weather conditions very early in the mornings are more subject to cracked heels. Riding through dewy grass can start problems with cracked heels and greasy heel, particularly where white pasterns subject to photosensitivy are involved. Excessive washing of the legs for pleasure & show work also predisposes the foot to cracked heels and can cause it to graduate to greasy heel unless a bacterial/moisturing product is used to counteract infection and the effect of lost oils which rebalance moisture levels in the skin. In some instances thickening and deep cracking of the skin, which mostly renders the horse lame to a greater or lesser degree, can ensue. Clipping the natural “drainpipe" hair around the fetlock joint causes flow of water from the legs into the fetlock “cup" instead of directly onto the ground - this keeps the area wet and subject to problems. Always dry the legs thoroughly with absorbent material. Legs, muddy from work, are best left to dry naturally in a warm dry spot with some mild air circulation, then softly brushed clean as less oil is lost from the part. If hosing down after work, ensure the legs and particularly the fetlock are dried and treated with a moisturizing, water repellent product. EQUITCH Salve & Spray/Wipe-On are great cure and preventative products.
Rain Scald & Mud Fever: Horses exposed to continuous and, in some instances, thrashing rain, deplete the skin of its natural oils opening it up to fungal/bacterial infections. Because horses turn their backs to rain and wind to protect the vulnerable areas (head, heart & lungs) and to maintain body heat, it stands to reason that areas along the topline and particularly the rump and legs will take the brunt of the elements (especially when rugging is not available to protect the areas). However, it isn’t unusual for heads and bellies to be affected too. Horses with thin and sensitive skins can suffer what could be described as “friction burn" too. Overheating under rugs can result from the skin not being allowed to dry out properly before rugging. Water leakage through tears, seams & neck areas in rugs all have their part to play too. Washing too often using shampoos and soaps, particularly if not rinsed out well, are culprits which lead to problems. If your horse is left “naked" and is accidentally drenched by rain and then you want to rug him/her, it is better to use towels & “thirsty" material under rugs for an hour or so to soak up moisture and warm your horse, then remove and allow natural drying in a stable (if possible) for a few hours then rug again. If you don’t have a stable, remove the dampened cloths and provide a dry rug which doesn’t cling and this will go a long way to alleviating further problems. Ensure legs are dried thoroughly. Rain scald can sometimes be so extensive that a huge area becomes an enormous matted scab, hot to the touch and extremely sensitive, usually under which an oozing mess of pus exists.
Mud fever is characterised by filling of the legs with heat & soreness (inflammation) and if not treated promptly can result in severe lameness and excessive scabbing.
In extreme cases of prolonged inflammation the horse may need to have a course of internal antibiotics (it doesn’t need to be an injection) for infections which may have made their way into the bloodstream sometimes resulting from broken blood vessels. Infections can be encouraged by picking scabs off causing the part to bleed. If your horse has a high temperature then contact your vet immediately.
Unless the part to be treated is filthy from mud and manure, which would prevent medication from reaching the skin or scabs, it is not necessary to wash the wounds which will then need thorough drying before applying any treatment. Water is the enemy here!! Gently wiping over the part with a dry sponge should suffice for cleaning. It is best to apply a drying and anti-bacterial product which will penetrate the scabs to cure the infection beneath, control any fungal activity & promote healing. Rugging is an excellent way of protecting most of the horse but legs are rarely covered for weather conditions.
Keep your horses and yourself safe - ‘EQUITCH’ Spray/Wipe-On and Salve are ideal products and preventative in these circumstances. Always check your horse thoroughly and ensure his/her well-being during times of extreme weather conditions – prevention is always better than cure.
» left by Anonymous (1 year 77 days ago.)
I have a pastured gelding that sometimes gets scratches on his back pasterns. I slather diaper ointment on the scabby area, and the problem heals in no time. Respond to this comment
» left by Happy Horse(242) (1 year 75 days ago.)
Glad to hear you're able to use something that works really quickly and stops down the fungal infection. Good to hear from you.
Bet Respond to this comment
» left by Happy Horse(242) (131 days 20 hours ago.)
Whilst this article wasn't so helpful for me it may help others to just stop down a non-extensive fungal problem before it really explodes. Then again it depends on what really triggered the outbreak. Not all greasy heel starts the same way although for extensive greasy heel & mud fever the climatic elements are what feed the problem.
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