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  Discussion on Best Nolvasan Substitute
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Posted on Sunday, Aug 26, 2001 - 11:44 am:

Dr. O - Now that it is fairly apparent that Nolvasan ointment is a thing of the past (for any one of the many rumors circulating) - what do you suggest is the closest substitute? Are there any topicals out there that come close to Nolvasan's "anti-microbial & anti-viral" chlorhexidene formula?

Bonnie

Posted on Monday, Aug 27, 2001 - 5:57 am:

Hello Bonita,
I use the betadine based ointments under bandages and spray on nitorfurazone for open wounds. I too miss Nolvasan ointment in its cream like base.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Aug 27, 2001 - 10:29 am:

Is there a particular brand of betadine-based ointment you prefer that is available over-the-counter to we laymen?

Thanks Dr. O!

Bonnie

Posted on Monday, Aug 27, 2001 - 11:25 am:

I think I will go on a hunger strike when I use the last of my precious Nolvasan cream that I have been hording like a medicine monger - no it is not for sale. Dont touch it.... Sorry, got a bit territorial there. *grin*

Has anyone established WHY they took it off? You can still get the Nolvasan scrub and wash, I heard it was something with the wonderful cream base... Dr O do you have and thing on this?

Posted on Monday, Aug 27, 2001 - 7:20 pm:

Yes - that's a good question Emily. I also know that one can still purchase the scrub/disinfectant - does this have the same "anti-viral/anti-microbial" properties as the cream Dr. O? Could one use this - as is or diluted - as a substitute in certain cases?

Bonnie

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 28, 2001 - 4:10 am:

No particular brand, very dark brown and smells richly of povidone is all I ask. I do not understand what happend to Nolvasan I have waited impatiently for its return and have given up. Yes the solution and scrub are good products. As a wound application chlorhexidine solution can be saturated into a pad of cotton guaze. It is recommended to be used at a 0.5% concentration as most solutions are 2% you usually use 1 part solution to 3 parts water but be sure to check your bottle first. The scrub can be used to clean wounds but is not suitable as a wound application.
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 28, 2001 - 5:33 pm:

What about Micro-Tek it claims to be an anti-microbial spray that eliminates fungal,viral and bacterial skin problems also available in a gel.Daryl

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 28, 2001 - 10:59 pm:

Hi Daryl!

Who makes Micro-Tek? Is it normally available thru tack shops &/or catalog/website sources?

Bonnie

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 29, 2001 - 7:04 am:

And what is in Micro-Tek?
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 29, 2001 - 1:11 pm:

I have not used it.Friends who have tried numerous things for rain rot say that is is very effective. I am going to order some from Valley Vet Supply (1-800-356-1005)Early Fall cat. page128 . I also would like to know whats in it. It claims to be effective on rain rot,scratches, ringworm and stops skin problems from spreading.Will not burn or affect open wounds. That is all I know. Daryl

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 29, 2001 - 5:19 pm:

I have the shampoo. It's made by EQyss Grooming Products. I used the shampoo on my horse when I suspected a couple of spots of rain rot on him last year. What ever it was cleared up. The product claims that it's formula was developed by NASA research and that it combines ingredients to "create the healthiest environment for healing". The shampoo also claims to not sting or hurt open wounds, controls dry, flaky skin, and contains no soap or harsh detergents. The second ingredient is "sodium laureth sulfate", isn't that a soap? Oh well...To me, it smells good and gets my horse clean. I don't use it every shampoo. They carry it at Valley Vet and at PetsMart if you have an equine center there.

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 29, 2001 - 5:22 pm:

Here are the ingrediants in the shampoo, Daryl. I know you are looking at the spray, but maybe they have similar ingredients:

Deionized water, sodium laureth sulfate, cocamide MEA, sodium PCA, triclorsan, hyDrOlyzed mucopolysaccharides, citric acid, allantoin, tetrasodium EDTA, DMDM hydantoin, methylparaben, cocamidopropyl betaine, extracts of aloe vera, clove, lavender, thyme, fragrance.

Posted on Thursday, Aug 30, 2001 - 11:55 am:

Tammy thanks for listing the ingrediants in the shampoo.As I am not a chemist nor a Dr. I don't have a clue as to how they help the conditions of the skin, I.E. viral,fungal or bacterial. I do know one thing I have a terrible respritory reaction to lavender..Dr.O will you tell us if any of those ingredients help with any of the skin conditions that our horses get?

Posted on Friday, Aug 31, 2001 - 9:49 pm:

You guys are reading my mind. I took a container of chlorhexidine to the barn and a friend who works for the Poison Control Center was surprised. She thought they had taken it off the market.... at least for humans. I was going to ask about it on the Forum but I thought Dr. O would think I've gone off on the deep end.

The info that we know so far is that they stopped using as a disinfectant in ambulances, but she could not remember the particular report.

Anyway, the vet was out last night and we asked him. He was not aware of any problems. We were guessing it might be when it's combined with something. Anyway, she's looking it up and if I get some info, I'll let you know.

So now I'll be brave enough to ask my other question. I purchased the chlorhexidine for rainrot and diluted it according to the package directions. My container (Chlorhexiderm from KV Vet Supply) is labeled 2% chlorhexidine. The instructions are to dilute it one ounce to a gallon of water. So what percentage solution do I have at that dilution? (Is it a 2% solution as it comes out of the bottle or is it a 2% solution once diluted?) I used to be good at chemistry and math but the brain cells have gone.

Posted on Sunday, Sep 2, 2001 - 8:25 am:

Hello All,
Let's see to answer Darryl's question the triclorsan is antimicrobial but without a concentration I cannnot know if it is helpful.
I too am not aware that chlorhexidine when used as recommended is a problem. I believe there did use to be a soapy form that was used for washing and bathing, called Phisohex, that was removed from the market ecause of some problem. However there is research as late as this month about its use in humans including its use as a mouth wash. it must not be too bad.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Sep 3, 2001 - 11:46 am:

Just saw a Nolvasan Suspension for use in treatment of metritis, vaginitis, otitis, conjunctivitis, preputial infections and wound infections. It is a sold in a syringe type applicator.
It's at KV Vet supply, www.kvvet.com. It's on page 48 of their spring catalog. 28 cc syringe for 6.99

I did notice that the active ingredient is Chlorhexidine dihyDrOchloride (as opposed to the Chlorhexidine gluconate which is the disinfectant that I purchased) Don't know if this will help but I thought I'd mention it.

Sandi

Posted on Monday, Sep 3, 2001 - 4:57 pm:

Hello Sandi,
This should never be used in a meritis, there have been serious inflammatory reactions when used in contact with the enodmetrium (uterus).

Concerning the percent solution it is 2% coming out of the bottle. I would not use it like the label suggests for the treatment of rainrot. See, Equine Diseases: Skin Diseases: Rain Rot and Rain Scald: Dermatophillus for specific recommendations.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Sep 3, 2001 - 9:34 pm:

HA! I know this one! Yes, Dr. O, chlorhexedrine IS used as a perscription mouthwash to treat periodontal disease ( I KNEW all that money spent on college would pay off one day ). Also, I remember using Phisohex when I was a kid. I never put it together that it was chlorhexedrine. I believe it was over the counter then....and when it was taken off the market, it came back as Phisoderm. I'd really like to know what the problem is. Many of my patients have been perscribed Peridex for long periods and the only thing that happens is a characteristic brown stain on the teeth.

Posted on Monday, Sep 3, 2001 - 9:52 pm:

Thanks Dr. O. for the heads up on the Nolvasan Solution. This was the text listed in the catalog.
I thought it was interesting that some chlorhexidine solutions are glutonate and this one is dihyDrOchloride. When I was searching the web for any contraindications there was tons of info about the oral administration for people. This was the glutonate form.
I appreciate the interpretation of the percentage. Since the recommended dilution (on the bottle) worked out to pretty weak (compared to the recommendation in your article), I started wondering if I was reading it right. I've been using it on girth crud and also bumps that meet the rainrot description that break out during high humidity. It has helped, but slowly. Hmm, undiluted it should really do the trick then.

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 4, 2001 - 1:43 pm:

I have started using a natural remedy which I love even more than Nolvasan, so I don't miss it at all!

Posted on Friday, Sep 7, 2001 - 9:27 am:

Jordan, would you mind sharing with us the natural remedy you are using?

FYI, I got an answer from my friend who works with the Poison Control agency about cholorhexidine. She received this info from another co-worker. Evidently it was being used in the ambulances for quite some time and they started having an increased number of allergic reactions (it was a higher concentration than 2%.) Around the same time there were some newborn deaths who had all been bathed in a chlorhexidine soap (possibly phisohex but that's a guess) more than two times.

Sandi

Posted on Thursday, Nov 15, 2001 - 4:24 pm:

Dear all

Thought you might be interested to know my vet has just prescribed liberal quantities of Nolvasan ointment for my mare's deep skin wound (which is now down to about 1.5 inches diameter circle!).

Thank God it takes the EU's complex veterinary drug regulation system some time to follow the FDA's lead sometimes...

Now, what offers do I hear for a few tubes?[joke...]

All the best

Imogen

Posted on Friday, Nov 16, 2001 - 8:02 am:

Actually, Nolvasan is definitely BACK!!

Saw it for the first time in my local tack shop - both large & small jars. Small price difference. I paid $10.00/jar for the six small "contraband" jars I purchased from Valley Vet Supply a few months ago. My tack shop was selling the the small jars for $12.00 each!!!! The larger 1# size was $22+change.

Posted on Friday, Nov 16, 2001 - 12:27 pm:

Spoke too soon - have just been told to change to something called Novugen produced by Chassot, active ingredient policresulenem 18mg/g in a gel base, but I can't find anything useful on the web about this product. I wasn't there when the vet came so I don't know what the new stuff is... anyone else heard of it?

All the best

Imogen

Posted on Friday, Nov 16, 2001 - 8:55 pm:

Don't know what all the heydey is about the Novalsan creme, but just reading the posts makes me wanna try it! What is this miracle creme? I use the surgical scrub, but never knew it came in creme form. Do you use it as a wound ointment? If so, is it thick like Corona, or thin like Happy Jack?

As for the Micro-Tek / Eqyss spray. I have a gelding that I must constantly watch for rainrot; especially in the rainy season here in Florida. The Eqyss spray and shampoo work very well with the body's own immune response. It is expensive, but smells wonderful and works easily and quickly. HOWEVER, when my boy has to go on dexamethazone for his heaves, his immune response is suppressed and neither the shampoo nor the spray help. It that case I have to bathe him daily in Novalsan surgical scrub for 3-5 days. It lathers well, smells nice, gently removes the crusts and heals quickly.

Can't be anything too toxic in this, since I washed him daily with my bare hands .....undiluted strength .... while 8 months pregnant. (Yes, my son is just fine ! :-) )Hope this helps!

Posted on Friday, Nov 16, 2001 - 10:51 pm:

Re: Nolvasan Creme - it is much nicer, I think, to use than anything else I've tried. Neither thick & gooey or thin & runny - more like a light, almost whipped, pale blue cream.

Not only is it great for wounds & scrapes, but I've been seeing MARVELOUS results applying it once or twice daily to a sarcoid on my mare's face. After only 2 months or so the little bumps are gone & new hair is growing back. I can't wait for my vet to see it the next time he comes out!

I also like the Nolvasan scrub & have had a lot of success using it to treat a mild case of ringworm on a weanling. (Lord knows where that came from!! Ugh!)

Anyway - I think that if you try the creme, you'll like it. It's a great addition to any horse's first aid kit.
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