|
|
Discussion on Ringworm?
|
| Author |
Message |
Member:
Brock
|
Posted on Monday, Nov 27, 2006 - 11:28 am:
A few days ago I noticed hair loss on one side of my 8 year old gelding's nose and chalked it up to him having scraped it on something. Yesterday I observed hair loss around one eye and another small patch starting on the other side of his nose. Our other gelding is also now showing signs. About a month and a half ago, we took in a friend's horse to board for the winter. He had some sort of fungus but it wasn't like this. She was treating it with a product called MTG and it's pretty much all cleared up, but now our two horses are showing up with this!!! I have a call in to my vet, but we're thinking it's ringworm. There is no puss or open sores, only hair loss with the appearance of being almost scalded (scaly looking). There is no evidence of hair loss on any other part of their bodies; only on the face. These three horses are out in pasture all day and at night they are brought up to the barnyard with access to box stalls for shelter (it's -20 cel here). They share salt licks, watering bowl and feeding tubs. Anyone else had anything like this before? If so, what type of treatment? I'm concerned that it's on the face, and particularly around the eye, so whatever the treatment it has to be safe.
|
Member:
Vickiann
|
Posted on Monday, Nov 27, 2006 - 7:55 pm:
One of my 3 gets a similar problem, especially in the hot summer months. It sounds more like fungus than ringworm to me. The itching causes the horse to rub the hair off all around the eyes and on the face. The MTG works well for that and gives the horse great relief from the itching. Fly irritation can also cause them to scrub their face, and eye area in particular.
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 - 8:46 am:
Vicki you have a misconception of what ringworm is, the only common fungal infection of the skin is ringworm.
Pam there is not enough information in your post to rule out several common diseases of hair loss. Have you reviewed the article on diagnosing hair loss in horses? It is at Diseases of Horses » Skin Diseases, Wounds, and Swellings » Hair and Coat Problems / Itching / Irritated Skin » Overview of Hair Loss & Irritated Skin. You should go through each of the diseases that fit your description above and see if one looks most like your problem. If you could provide some good photos of new and old lesions that are untreated we might be able to help more.
DrO
|
Member:
Vickiann
|
Posted on Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 - 10:18 am:
Thanks for the clarification, Dr. O. I guess I was thinking about the classic human form of ringworm that forms the ring that expands larger with the clean center, which I had not thought about as being fungal, though I guess it probably is? I will review the articles about ringworm in other animals. This is very helpful information.
|
Member:
Brock
|
Posted on Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 - 1:33 pm:
Yes, I've read the articles and also talked to my vet, who has diagnosed it (over the phone) as ringworm. She recommended I put a small bit of Betadine on a cotton ball and dab it around the eye and also to apply it more liberally on the other areas. She also recommended 40 cc of long lasting penicillin as a preventative measure. Other sources have told me of products Nolvasan and Cristasol. We are in a deep freeze up here in Canada so it's recommended I wait a few days and hope the weather warms up so it doesn't freeze on contact. How safe these products are around the eye is what I'm now in the process of investigating.
|
Member:
Suzeb
|
Posted on Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 - 4:40 pm:
Hello Pam,
A few things come to mind as I am reading your post:
You can never hope the weather will warm up when you need it... ... and I understand trying to do something over the phone when the weather is most foul.
To my understanding, ringworm is a fungal type of invasion. Rainrot is a bacterial type of infection, hense the antibacterials or antibiotics.
There are reports from other members on this site using "Shapley's MTG" and having success. I think the main ingredient in this product is pine tar. Don't know if this is safe around the eye and nostril area though.
You could ask your vet about a prescription of Panolog for these sensitive areas. I have used this on my horse for some bizarre skin condition that he had a couple of years ago.....
I hear ya about the weather... , I am just a little farther North from you.
Good Luck Pam, the thing may just clear up by itself without any treatment. Hopefully the weather will freeze the *#%! out of it.
Susan B.
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 - 8:37 am:
And does it sound more like our description of ringworm vs say dermatophilus Pam?
Betadine is less irritating than chlorhexidine if you get it in the eyes but if it is ringworm I would recommend you get one of the common over the counter antifungal creams (jock itch or athletes foot treatment) as described in the article and start treating now. They will be more effective than the other suggestions.
DrO
|
Member:
Brock
|
Posted on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 - 9:58 am:
Yes, it best fits the ringworm description. There is no scabs or open sores; only hair loss with a scaly look. Around the one gelding's eye are small red bumps which, according to the article, is ringworm. I will get some over-the-counter anti-fungal cream today. It will likely freeze on contact but at least the air won't get at it!!! A friend of mine also talked to a wise old rancher who said to put toothpaste on the areas ... anything that will not allow air on it. It's -20c today (-35 with the wind chill) with snow and blowing snow. Last night all 3 horses were WHITE, including on their faces where this ringworm is, so until this weather subsides I'll have to wait a day or two. They do have shelter (box stalls) to go in and out of, but when I went out last night, they were all outside! Go figure.
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 - 7:03 pm:
I suspect the stannous fluoride is antifungal if you want to know the truth.
DrO
|
Member:
Brock
|
Posted on Friday, Dec 1, 2006 - 11:40 am:
Last night I put toothpaste on around the eyes and the over-the-counter anti-fungal cream (for jock itch/athlete's foot/ringworm on the other areas on their face. It does not appear to be spreading. It's -25 today so both products are pretty much freeze-dried on. I'll keep you posted.
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Saturday, Dec 2, 2006 - 7:31 am:
Pan don't mix the medications as it dilutes the active ingredients at the least and at the worst may inactivate the other. Pick one and stick with it, I recommend the antifungal.
DrO
|
Member:
Brock
|
Posted on Monday, Dec 4, 2006 - 12:41 pm:
I'm not mixing them together. I put the toothpaste on around the eye and the anti-fungal cream on the other areas of the face. I just thought the toothpaste was safer around the eye. I had a good look at them yesterday and it doesn't appear to be spreading at all. I also disinfected the brushes in a bleach/water solution.
|
|
|
