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  Discussion on Scratches
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Member:
Fouch

Posted on Thursday, Nov 4, 2004 - 3:47 pm:

I have a quarter horse that has a considereable amount of scabs and sores on one ankle that my ferrier said is scratches. The mare gets very irritated when I try to pick off the scabs so that I can put the neosporin on. Is there anything that I can do to make it easier to remove the scabs? Also, will the scratches eventually go away on their own or will they have to be treated?
Member:
Liliana

Posted on Thursday, Nov 4, 2004 - 5:49 pm:

Hello Scott,

My 19month old had a similar thing, he would scratch himself desperately, and in his case it seems to have been some sort of parasite, as we bath him with dog shampoo, head and shoulders and gave him a dose of invermecticin wormer and it cleared beautifully. He had few baths but it paid off.

Best of luck
Liliana
Member:
Ladera

Posted on Sunday, Nov 7, 2004 - 2:11 pm:

I have a warmblood who has scratches a majority of the year. I apply tegrin shampoo to the site and sometimes I use the Eqyss Tek medicated shampoo . I leave either product on for several minutes and the scabs peel off without a flinch from my mare.
Leaving Betadine on for five minutes also has helped soften the scab and peeling is done without a problem.
I rotate through with several products listed in the scratches discussion. My best defense is to always dry her legs before putting her away.
Good Luck.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Nov 8, 2004 - 6:13 am:

Hello Scott,
Jean above gives advice for removing scabs. Considering the prognosis see the article associated with this forum.
DrO
Member:
Fouch

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 16, 2004 - 9:13 am:

My wife went to the vet to get some panalog creme for the scratches. Instead, they gave her Nolvasan ointment and Furacin/Predef. They said to use the Nolvasan for three days (with a bandage) and the use the Furacin for however long it takes. I didn't see either one of these treatments in the article. The Furacin (I think with a steroid added) has "proud flesh treatment" written on the jar. Is this what I should be using?
Member:
Deggert

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 16, 2004 - 11:55 am:

Hello
I have been reading all the scratches posts and re-read them when my 3 year old came up with it about 6 weeks ago. I have had other horses with it many years ago but can't remember what worked.
So, at first just kept it simple, clean with betadine scrub, dry apply desitin. No improvement or worse. I tried a little of all the methods and this did the trick.
Wash and dry well with betadine scrub. Follow this with Nolvasan otic. ( this is nolvasan ear cleaner or would cleaner) Didn't rinse this just dabbed dry. Spray with Gentocin Topical ( also a small animal product.) it is obviously gentocin with betamethasone. I have a product that was mentioned in another thread called Healtex by Ewing 707. This is mostly zinc oxide with boric acid, eucalytus etc, it is a cream for galls, scratches whatever little abrasions etc. In this cream we mixed Nolvasan cream 50/50 and applied , rubbed in and left a layer on to protect. My husband did this religiously, daily after riding. In 2 weeks it is 99 percent healed.
I also added some triple antibiotic to the nolvasan-healtex mix for good measure. When my husband made his batch I don't think he put that in so who knows if that was a factor in healing or not.
Hope this helps.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004 - 7:14 am:

Interesting mix Scott that has promise, if that is what you have in your hands I would try it and let us know how it works.
DrO
Member:
Lorimich

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 25, 2005 - 10:10 pm:

I have a horse who has scratches. We are in Michigan it is cold zero, single digits, and below zero with lots of snow. We had lots of rain in November and December and lots of mud. Our horses are in at night but go out during the day unless it is raining.

I have been treating this for over a month with a few products. First I used MTG original as it worked on a mare a couple years ago who had scratches. It seemed to be working but with the cold weather and having to pick the scabs off (they bled and were very painful for him) he started kicking I looked for another product.

I started using Tea Tree ADE spray and Ointment. I was told by the company how a few customers had used it and there results. They said to wash it (however due to the weather I couldn't do that and I told them that) then put the ointment on, wrap with cling wrap and then bandage. I left this on overnight and in the morning I would clean it off and scrape the scabs off which came off really easy only some were harder to get off then I sprayed it with the Tea Tree ADE spray and leave it unwrapped. I did it the same way daily until last weekend and it seemed better. I then used Micro-Tek gel and by This morning the scabs were worse and a larger area.

So I went back to the Tea Tree products only I am leaving it wrapped all the time, as before during the day the scabs were harder when I only used the spray. I am spraying it and putting the ointment on and then doing the wrapping and then everyday I will unwrap, retreat, and then rewrap. I am doing it this way to keep it clean and so the products won't freeze.

Does anyone know of something that will get it cleared up faster? Should I wrap or not? How will I know when it is healed and not need anymore treating? What will it look like?

Thanks
Member:
Suzeb

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 26, 2005 - 2:47 pm:

Hello Lori,
I will assume you have read Dr.O's article on scratches treatment. For what it is worth, I would forget about the lotions and potions you are using at present and try some of the things mentioned in the article. Panolog creme and Betadine scrub come to mind. I understand your concerns about freezing temperatures. If you are able to bring your horse in out of the snow and cold wind to a barn and it doesn't have to be heated you should do OK.
As far as wrapping is concerned, I might opt for wrapping during daytime turnout and leaving it airdry when you bring your horse in. You will have to police the daytime wrapping though as they can fill up with snowballs and ice.
The trick is to keeping this bugger clean and dry.
How will you know if it is getting better?, well the area should be getting smaller and it should be not showing anymore lesions. It may take a little more time for hair to grow back in.

I hope Scott can share with us how his concoction worked for him.

I am treating a heel bulb laceration with the same environmental concerns .

Susan B.
Member:
Denise43

Posted on Sunday, Feb 20, 2005 - 6:54 pm:

Hello Lori,
I was so glad to read your post! I too am in Michigan (Upper Pennisula) and I just noticed my mare has scratches. I thought I had overlooked it in Oct/Nov. but then I realized the snow isn't helping either - there is moisture there all the time. She isn't lame yet or swollen, but after reading everyone's posts I decided to do the following:

1. She is going to hate it but I am going to leave her stalled for a few days with straw and cedar shavings.
2. I clipped her long feathers on her legs and the area where the scratches are.
3. I applied Beta-dine generously to start then applied a mixture of Antibotic cream/coridzone cream and desitin. 1/3 each.
4. All I can do is keep it dry for a while and see if this helps.

I have Blu-coat that I may try, if anyone has had success with that. It is a antifungal and I realized this maybe needed as well.

I have had horses for 9 years and this is the first case of scratches I have seen like this, and at this time of year. I am struggling too with the bathing issue. My mare also has some irritation in her mane from the moisture of all the snow..she is pinto and has pink skin. She is normally a very easy horse. ;-)

Denise
Member:
Lorimich

Posted on Sunday, Feb 20, 2005 - 9:11 pm:

Hi,
I tried the products listed the mixture of Destin, Cortizone cream and Neosproin and after going through 2 weeks treatment he had a couple scabs. They didn't come off when I wiped the stuff off. I was using this until I received a product from England that I ordered. It is guaranteed to work or your money back. It is called Aromaheel. The web site is www.equinat.com and it was about $25 usd. I have been using it for a few days and I did have to scrape a scab off after a couple days because it is so cold here everything freezes that I use. I was then able to get the Aromaheel on the pink skin and haven't had it scab up again. I put it on twice a day wiping the old off. I haven't wrapped it since I started using the Aromaheel so the air can get to it. It is almost completely healed and everything else I tried would get it so far and then it just stayed there.

I wish I had known about it months ago I think it would have saved me and my horse a lot of stress and discomfort. There was no way I could leave him in for months unless I had an indoor ring to let him out in and then I wouldn't of ended up with this in the first place. My horses are stalled every night and get about 6-8 hours outside unless it is raining.

Again if someone wants to try this it is called AROMAHEEL and the web site is www.equinat.com

Thanks
Lori
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Feb 21, 2005 - 6:29 am:

I went to the site Lori and was unable to find what is in the product: is it listed on the jar?
DrO
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Monday, Feb 21, 2005 - 7:58 am:

Hi Denise,
What strengh are you using the betadine?
I know all horses are different, but betadine aggrivated my horses scratchs. This more than likely will not happen in your case. I used a watered down version of Nolvasan. Anything that irritates makes it worse. less is best. A mixture of zinc, antibacterial and cortazone was the only thing that got rid of it with my horse. The novasan was used to wash the leg every 3rd or 4th day with the cream appied regulary.
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Monday, Feb 21, 2005 - 8:01 am:

forgot to mention Blue cote may be irritating. DR O?
Katrina
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Monday, Feb 21, 2005 - 8:11 am:

Lori
What are the ingredients in this product Aromaheel?
Thanks Katrina
Member:
Denise43

Posted on Monday, Feb 21, 2005 - 8:38 am:

Lori,
How long did it take for you to get the Aromaheel and was 1 enough??

Denise
Member:
Denise43

Posted on Monday, Feb 21, 2005 - 8:43 am:

Katrina,
I haven't used betadine since the first application. I did try blu-coat this a.m. It is so hard with the cold temps to know if you are getting down to the skin or not. The ointment is so sticky too. I am going to check her out tonite and see if there is any progress. I won't use the blu-coat again, just wanted a nice drying agent deep down to get rid of some of the moisture from the ice and snow. Even in the cold temps nothing dries well outside. Very frustrating.

Denise
Member:
Denise43

Posted on Monday, Feb 21, 2005 - 1:29 pm:

UPDATE!!!!!

Okay everyone -- this is really amazing news.

As I mentioned before, I brought my mare in last nite. I had been treating her with the desitin/coridzone/neosporan cream for about 3 days. No results.

I brought her in so she could stay dry, cut back her long fetlocks and hair around her affected areas. I slopped on my mixture last nite. This a.m. I applied over top the blu-coat, which has alcholol in it and I was a bit worried that it may sting - but it says it is an antifungal medication. I figured with my cream mixture I was sort of missing this component..so I dapped it on. It penetrated really well to the skin. I went out just 6 hours later and honest to goodness, I was able to pick off almost all her scabs!! She never moved a muscle...they just came right off. I reapplied the blu-coat once more and lathered on my mixture again -- tonite I will slop on more Desitin and hopefully I won't need the blue coat again. I am SOOOO excited. My mare won't be trapped in her stall for weeks!

Just had to share,
Denise
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Monday, Feb 21, 2005 - 5:11 pm:

Denise thats wonderful news.
Katrina
Member:
Lorimich

Posted on Monday, Feb 21, 2005 - 8:18 pm:

The jar of Aromaheel dosen't have an ingredients list on it. On the web site they can't mention certian words because their competitors don't like it and complained to someone. I think they don't have ingredients listed so no one can make it and sell it.

Lori
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 22, 2005 - 7:45 am:

Lori, despite your sucess we recommend folks do not buy products that don't list they ingredients.

What is in the Blu-coat?
DrO
Member:
Denise43

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 22, 2005 - 3:17 pm:

Blu-KoteŽ
H. W. Naylor Co. Inc.

Description
Blu-KoteŽ is a germidical, fungicidal wound dressing and healing aid effective against both bacterial and fungus infections most common in skin lesions of domestic animals. Kills Ringworm and fungus infections. Dries up blisters and pox-like scabby sores or lesions.

Ingredients
Sodium Propionate, Gentian Violet, Acriflavine, in a special base of Water, Urea, Glycerine, Isopropyl Alcohol 32% by volume.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 23, 2005 - 6:45 am:

Pretty harsh stuff all right, I would not put this on open wounds. For very superfical lesions it probably is OK but not my choice of a wound dressing.
DrO
Member:
Denise43

Posted on Thursday, Feb 24, 2005 - 8:40 am:

Dr. O -- exactly. And in fact since the scabs are removed I am now generously applying soothing creams to help the healing process and keep the moisture out. It's working!
Denise
Member:
Waynorth

Posted on Sunday, Feb 27, 2005 - 1:53 am:

Dr. O,
My question is not about scratches, but about dressing any wound on the fetlock area in cold weather--as refered to in Lori's post. My gelding suffered a nasty rope burn on the back fetlock late last summer as a result of a picketing experiment gone bad...I have been treating it all winter, and it is healing, although some of the hair there may never come back. My question is in regard to the cold on a wound...is putting a moist salve--of any type--on a wound in cold weather a bad idea? Our weather up here actually has gotten down in the -40s and even -50s this winter, I ended up putting a polo bandage over the area because I was afraid it might get frostbite or the cold would penetrate and damage the tissue. Frankly, I really don't see why their legs and feet don't just turn into blocks of ice and fall off anyway in those temps, but it doesn't seem to bother the moose, either...
Am I right to keep a warm wrap on it in severe cold weather, or would it be just fine on it's own? Our definition of 'cold' is a little extreme here, and once the wound finally closed up I left it bare in temps down to -10... Would a salve on it draw cold to the wound?

(After wondering for months why it was healing at slower-than-a-snails-pace, I found out that wounds up here heal about 50-60% slower in the winter. I guess that as hair and hooves hardly grow then either, I should have guessed...)

Jessica
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Feb 28, 2005 - 5:33 am:

Jessica, I have no familiarity with such an extreme so can only speak speculatively and suggest you get the final word from someone who actually has experience treating wounds at this temperature. Also when you say "any wound" this leaves open so many possibilities that there can be no general answer that will fit all situations.

For basic wound care of the skin, it seems sensible to avoid anything water based products so petroleum based products would be best. As long as the bandage stays dry this would seem sensible but a wet bandage in such weather might be worse than no bandage at all.
DrO
Member:
Chohler

Posted on Monday, Feb 28, 2005 - 4:13 pm:

I live next to the coldest spot in the U.S.(Big Piney, WY) and it makes for interesting wound care.

Don't worry about frostbite. If you can keep a salve on the wound that's great. Wounds around here heal a little slower but if taken care of like in DrO's guidelines everthing will be just fine. The salve will not draw cold to the wound, and cause damage. I actually use salve on my roosters comb's here to fight frost bite and it works well.
Member:
Stacie

Posted on Monday, Mar 7, 2005 - 1:39 pm:

I have heard that Tinactin for athletes foot works wonders for scratches and is very inexpensive. A few years ago I tried it and it worked great.
Member:
4merri

Posted on Thursday, May 26, 2005 - 1:17 pm:

Remedy for Scratches: It works. Use sheath cleaner to soften the scabs. Use it daily and allow to soak in 20 minutes or so then gently pick off. The on a daily basis after that procedure us the M-T-G. You should see results in days, even on bad cases. Good luck
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