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Discussion on Scratches Attack After 4 Day Vacation on the Coast
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Member:
lsweeney
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009 - 11:42 pm:
I have been fighting a chronic case of scratches on my 22 year old Arab's leg. She gets rain rot on her body every winter consistent with your winter rain rot pictures. As she has aged, it has gotten progressively worse, but she always recovers from it.
The vet gave me Tea Tree Oil for the one leg that seemed to aggravate it. I then researched it on the internet and ended up soaking it in Betadine, pulling off scabs and then coating it with Novasome cream, Cortisone cream, followed by a good coat of Desitin.
If I am religious about this, I make great progress. If I miss a few days, then the scabs will start to return. I have one small patch of proud flesh as well.
We went to the Point Reyes (Coastal California) for 4 days. We stayed at a Bed and Breakfast that boards horses. My three horses (2 Friesians and the Arab) were out in one large paddock with deep dirt and some shrubs.
We road in the forest (hot and humid) and on the beach. It was foggy in the evenings. The final day we road on an Elk Preserve, and then walked the horses to the beach. There was a fresh water stream that ended in a small pool of water at the beach. We were trailering out that day, so we encouraged the horses to drink the water and they also played and splashed in this fresh water pool.
I kept disinfectant on my Arab's one leg for the 4 days. (She has 4 white socks.)
We then trailered home.
The following day I noticed some filling in my Arab's legs. (She is retired and we only pony her.) I thought it might be from the trailer ride. However, the one leg that I had been treating was really not filled. When I got home from work, I checked on her again to see if the swelling had gone down. It was about the same, but the hind legs looked filled more as well. Then I noticed black spots on the white legs, that I had thought was dirt. Upon closer inspection, she had small scabs consistent with your pictures of summer rain rot, all up and down her legs with some activity also on her chest. There was only one new spot on the previous scratches leg. It was the most clear relative to the scabs and bumps.
One of the Friesians had similar bumps, but not as bad on her hind legs. The other Friesian didn't have scabs but was itching her pasterns.
I washed down all of their legs with Betadine, pulled off the scabs and covered the Arab with Novasome cream.
So my question is this: Is there something I should know about the California Coast? Was the pasture severely contaminated from multiple horses further exacerbated by the coastal fog in the AM? Was there something lurking in the pond? There were birds swimming in it. Perhaps it wasn't very clean?
I guess I'm just amazed at this dramatic, overnight, pervasive scratches attack - especially on the other horses that have never had it!
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Member:
lsweeney
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Posted on Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 - 12:09 am:
Please correct the cream I was using to: Nolvasan Ointment
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Member:
shirl
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Posted on Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 - 12:25 am:
Laurie, I have no idea if this is even appropriate or significant, but I've read a lot about some of the coastal waters having algae that's very "bad". Some people are becoming ill from wading in it. Were there other people/horses in the water at the time? How horses would react I've no idea nor have I read anything.
Take care and good luck.
Shirl
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 - 8:25 am:
Laurie, I don't think it was the water, I think it was the scrub you describe or some other plant related damage to the skin. Was it of a length and consistency to scratch the legs? It does not take much to give entry to dermatophilus or staph if the horse susceptible to it.
Your older Arab is probably suffering from mild immune deficiencies that we see with older age in horses and often associated with the onset of Cushing's disease.
DrO
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Member:
lsweeney
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Posted on Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009 - 11:47 am:
No, there was no infection from where I was washing with Betadine and applying Nalvasan cream. It was all of the other legs. So the leg that was originally infected was protected from my on-going treatment, and all of the other legs were impacted. Also, my Friesian that has NEVER experienced this has the beginning of the scabbing and evidence of a new infection. There is definitely something from this environment that had a dramatic impact. Or the animals were carrying the infectious ingredient, and the moist air, the beginnings of a winter coat, created perfect conditions for the bugs to flourish?
Now of the three horses, the Arab definitely is the most vulnerable given her past history with rain rot, 4 white socks, and her age. She also is Insulin Resistant and has a founder history. Is this also connected with Cushing's?
Oh, and Shirley there was algae in the water. However, I was in it with barefeet, and I have no adverse impacts - however, I don't have hair on my legs to trap water either. ;-)
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 1, 2009 - 9:48 am:
Yes those are all associated with Cushing's for more see, Diseases of Horses » Endocrine System » Cushing's SynDrOme and Pituitary Tumors.
DrO
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Member:
lsweeney
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 1, 2009 - 2:36 pm:
I read the Cushing's article. The symptoms that are common are her insulin resistance and founder history. She does not have the long hair, but I have seen her take longer to shed out and does put on a heavier coat in the winter these days. I have been successful in her feed management where we have not had any inflammation related to founder in several years. (I learned that she was eating acorns on the property that was the main problem in later years resulting in founder incidents.)
She has been losing weight over the last few years, primarily due to living with two dominant Friesians and most likely her age. She has lost any evidence of a cresty neck, is ribby, but still sports a couple of fatty patches on either side of her tail. She seems to feel well. She is VERY sound for a 22 year old horse with a founder history. She is barefoot and I maintain her feet. We pony her and she gets out front and leaves the Friesians in the dust. I have seen a couple of small tumors - one on her back and another on her shoulder.
The only real health issue has been a stubborn case of scratches on one leg.
The Betadine washes and Nolvasan cream treatment is helping with this pervasive skin infection that she has now. The swelling is down on most of the legs with the exception of one hind leg that we will work on today.
Any suggestions for feed or supplements that will help her fight off these skin infections would be greatly appreciated. Right now she is on a grass hay mixture that does include some grains: rye, barley, which I know isn't great foundered horse forage, but she has been consistently o.k. with it, the horses like it, and we have a cheap source. We have been using LMF (the low sugar stuff) and Equine Senior in small portions to provide any vitamins/minerals that the hay is not providing and to make the horses think that they are getting something special.
I see that Purina has another product out for horses with special requirements: WellSolve. Your thoughts?
Picture attached. She is a little thinner than this picture now.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Oct 2, 2009 - 7:26 am:
She looks quite healthy though I would not want her any thinner. Rather than changing feeds I would up the Equine Senior a bit Laurie till she reaches the desired condition.
Unless you have a deficiency, which is not evident from your post, I don't believe there is a supplement that will suppress what appears to be a predisposition to scratches. Recheck the article on scratches, be sure you don't have one of the conditions predisposing to scratches, and then follow the prevention guidelines scrupulously.
DrO
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 14, 2011 - 8:44 am:
My 22 year old Arab tends to look ribby to, but I wouldn't say she's skinny, it more of a DrOpped back that makes her look "sprung" I guess. Your mare looks healthy to me. Pretty! And love the Friesian!
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