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  Discussion on Persistant Rain Rot under forelock - protecting eyes from betadine
Author Message
Member:
srobert

Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 9:39 pm:

Hello: We have been dealing with rain rot with our Arab gelding on and off for the last 2 years. He tends to get it under his forelock - doesn't much like to be bathed there as it hurts. I am worried about getting betadine scrub and/or solution in his eyes as he tends to move his head around to avoid the painful removal of the scabs, etc. Also, do I have to worry about the betadine solution dripping into his eyes once I do get it on the lesions? We have been able to manage the the crud on the rest of his body, but this spot on his poll/forehead is persistent and probably doesn't get as much treatment because I am nervous about those beautiful arab eyes and the betadine. Any thoughts/suggestions?
Member:
corinne

Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 9:56 pm:

Shari...those eyes in the Arabs get you every time don't they? Mine hadn't even been off the trailer when the previous owner brought him to me for a trial and once he looked at me...he was as good as sold! Those EYES.
Anyway Dr. O, since the rain rot is bacterial, once Shari debrides the scabs would something like bacatracin or neosporin work better in that area where it's less likely to get in his eyes?
Just a thought!
Member:
srobert

Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 10:10 pm:

Hi Corinne; I did try using neosporin on that area knowing that we were trying to kill bacteria and being nervous about the betadine. But, that honestly seemed to make it significantly worse when all the other spots - where I used betadine - got better. Perhaps I hadn't gotten rid of all the nasty scabs and the texture of the ointment just sealed everything in and made it worse?? It was just really awful and weeping tonight....looks more like the "winter form." I was able to remove quite a few more scabs, but it obviously HURTS. It just seems to need something stronger .
Member:
image

Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 10:28 pm:

Hi Shari!

My Paint mare had a laceration right above her eye that I had to treat. I used a thick pad of gauze (or a handfull of cotton balls) and held it just under the wound site and used a syringe (no needle) to squirt the betadine right where I wanted it. Any excess was absorbed immediately by the gauze or cotton. The mare was only 3 months old when this happened and was quite a handful usually but she tolerated this very well.

In your case, maybe he will let you hold a warm, wet cloth on it for a few minutes to soften the scabs. Then maybe dab the betadine on with the gauze or cotton.

I know what you mean about those beautiful eyes!

Our best to you and your boy!
Charlayne
Member:
corinne

Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 12:12 am:

Oh I like Charlayne's suggestion, or you can hold the guaze just under the debrided area and squirt the betadine on it, catching the excess with the gauze...provided your Arab is nothing like mine, or many of the other Arabs I know and will allow you near his head to treat anything that is ailing him. LOL They are just too darn smart aren't they? Best of wishes...poor thing, that has got to be bothersome! Especially in a place he can not get to try to get some relief himself.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 7:19 am:

In general a small amount of betadine is well tolerated by the eyes and is used in the treatment and debridement of some type of infectious eye ulcers. As a general principle you don't want to contaminate the eyes if possible. Sponges make a pretty good way to apply the betadine to such areas. If the povidone is not doing the job consider switching to chlorhexidine (see the article for concentrations and particulars). However this is probably more irritating to the eyes than the povidone.
DrO
Member:
srobert

Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 7:57 am:

Thank you. Now, I'll stop worrying and just get 'er done!
Member:
frances

Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 11:45 am:

What about using Betadine in its non-drippy GEL form? Maybe you could even use it before, too, to soften the scabs so they're less painful to remove, and then put more on afterwards?

Just a thought - probably a useless one!
Member:
srobert

Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 5:01 pm:

Thanks for all the great ideas. I had good luck today. The betadine solution didn't drip as much as I thought it would and Raj was fairly cooperative. Just took a little patience and a little extra sweet feed to convince him that it wasn't going to kill him for me to scrub away up there. It looks pretty ugly right now - but hopefully on the mend now. I fear I let it get away from me hiding out under his forelock....
Member:
srobert

Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 8:40 am:

Better today. Just in case it helps anyone else, I dripped sweet feed into his feeder by the tablespoon and while he was working to get every crumb licked out, I gently worked on the bad spots. When the grain is gone, we take a 1 minute break which builds the anticipation that more good stuff is coming...then I dribble in a bit more and we go at it again. No restraint. He can move away when he wants, but he want that grain even more...It has eliminated the tug of war between how high he can raise his head and how high my arm can stretch. I can also get a better look at what I am doing.
I am using Nolvasan scrub first than following up with betadine. I found using a disposable glove makes everything glide on better. I spray the betadine right on the glove and then rub it on the nasty spots. Right now his whole forehead is involved, but it has stopped weeping and looks a lot less icky today.
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