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  Discussion on Sand burn
Author Message
New Member:
scherry

Posted on Saturday, Feb 27, 2010 - 5:55 pm:

I am in the same situation as Jill. I raise registered paints and quarter horses and have never had a problem with sand burn until this year. I also live in south Texas. My vet told me that it was a weed that they were eating and that I needed to take them out of the pasture. I have to many horses to put them in stalls but I do have enough pens to keep them in until this is over. My problem is that even in the pens they seem to be getting worse. Their hay is clean and we have been doctoring the areas affected. It has been to cold to bathe them regularly. It is the ones that have a lot of white that had the worse cases but some of my others that have white blazes are experiencing the sand burn on those areas. Is there a topical medication that I could put on the areas until this passes. Also what weeds cause this. My vet was not specific. He did explain that this was an internal problem and not caused by something that they got on their skin. We have been applying a cream to the areas but I don't see much improvement.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Saturday, Feb 27, 2010 - 6:42 pm:

Lantana is one weed that grows easily in sandy soil that can cause this problem but the danger from the plant goes far beyond the photosensitivity and can also cause organ (liver) destruction and death.

If you have a plant causing photosensitivity problems, I would worry about what else might happen with the horses.
Member:
paul303

Posted on Saturday, Feb 27, 2010 - 8:38 pm:

Susan: I "feel your pain". The weed that caused the sensitivity in my horses was alsike clover. I live in NJ. For two years I'd been treating for scratches....then last year, I did some research and it turned out to be photosensitivity caused by alsike clover that had taken over my pasture. My leopard app. was the worst. Then my appendix QH with white socks in the rear. My liver bay QH didn't have the problem. In spring, summer and fall, my affected gals go out to graze in UV protective fly wraps on their legs, and sunscreen ( usually coppertone ) on their faces. It's a pain in the neck, and I don't remember EVER encountering this problem in the 40 years I've owned horses. I've had lawn professional companies ( like Chem lawn ) come in to spray my pasture for the clover. It worked pretty darn good....but I had to keep my horses off for 30 days. A few good rains helped.

The key is to identify the weed that is causing the problem. You still will not "bat 1,000" but if you get 80% improvement......that's GOOD. I really wish you well. If it's photosensitivity caused by some weed, then I know what you are going through. You need the UV fly protective covering on the face and legs. Any other white reactive skin left exposed needs the best sunscreen you can buy.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Feb 28, 2010 - 11:08 am:

Welcome Susan,
We deal with treatments and ways to protect the horses that cannot be stalled at Diseases of Horses » Skin Diseases, Wounds, and Swellings » Hair and Coat Problems / Itching / Irritated Skin » Overview of Hair Loss & Irritated Skin. You will also find there a list of plants that cause this. Besides St Johns Wort the plants that cause liver diseases are common causes of photosensitization. There is a link in this article to another article that helps you identify these weeds.
DrO
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