Do you ride your horse with scratches?

Normally it is a fairly mild infection and as such doesn’t cause lameness or prevent me from riding. However, if left untreated or not treated adequately the infection can become chronic and can develop into a far more serious condition, apologies if the following image grosses anyone out.



I was unfortunate enough to actually see a similar horse in the flesh when I did work experience with a horse veterinarian many years ago. It was so sad because the horse was permanently disfigured and couldn’t be ridden again (ever), all for a condition that is perfectly treatable. That photo taken from a veterinary journal article, you can find the article at:

http://www.vetlearn.com/Portals/0/Media/PublicationsArticle/PVE_02_07_214.pdf

Obviously that is an extreme case but it does show what can happen if the condition is prolonged and not addressed correctly. Since there are several different types of bacteria that can cause mud fever/scratches, treatment can vary depending on area, time of year and severity of infection.

So in answer to your question, no I have never had a horse go lame from mud fever as I have never had a horse that had severe mud fever.

            

Funny, I'm posting on two threads right now about scratches. :P

LHP: That's interesting about the vitamins. However, I am already feeding high dose vitamins and I would worry about feeding any higher amounts of the fat soluble vitamins like A or E. It is possible to overdose on those. Mainly it worries me because of those horses in Florida a couple years ago who had the vitamin toxicity from the mix-up at the vitamin factory.

Sarahver: Wow, that was a nasty photo. I've never seen it nearly that bad, even on a horse that was neglected and standing in deep mud all winter. I guess my question was too general as I was thinking of mild cases like my horse has and wondering if it was generally thought to be mean to the horse to ask them to work with scabby pasterns.

Anyway, my horse has improved drastically in three days and she answered my question for me (as far as she is concerned). When I did a short bareback ride yesterday she was reluctant to go even though she will gallop around when loose, so I could tell it was bothering her enough to make her not want to work. I'm one to baby my horses so I won't try again until her skin is all healed up. I guess in a horse's mind it is different to have a burst of energy and run when your skin is a little sore than to be asked to actually work.
Maybe it's like when I'm sick: I can do the dishes or a little housework but that doesn't mean I feel like going in to work.

            

Those horses died of Se poisioning.

There is no documented cases of toxicity of Vit A in horses or for that matter a real RDA of the vitamin. You will see the "upper" level at 16,000 IU per Kg of DM so to simplify the math, if your horse ate 22# of hay (10 Kg) they can consume 160,000 IU/day. Vit A also degrades in forage over time so what was there is now probably 50% of that value.

            

Sorry Gottatrot, my post came off a little more severe than I intended

I have never had any of my own personal horses become lame or miss riding time as a result of mudfever since it is usually it a mild condition and resolved easily. Makes it hard if you are constantly in damp conditions though! Cases like the above are of course in the minority thank goodness.

Now I wish I hadn't posted that picture, it turns MY stomach!!

All the best

            

Sarahver, actually I was more intrigued than anything to see how bad it can get. Something new to have nightmares about...

On a side note, what do you think causes the lumpiness? Is it a reaction like proud flesh to the infection?

            

            

My horse has it in all four legs and she has black legs...

            

Yeah, my horse (almost well now) had it on her three black legs and her white leg was unaffected. The last time she had it a couple years ago it was only on her white leg. I think it just depends on which legs have the skin breakdown where the bacteria enters.

I was wondering why several horses in the barn had it all of a sudden when we'd gone through most of the muddy winter without it. The barn owner shed some light when she told me that the mud had frozen last week so when the horses went out their legs were breaking through and getting abrasions from the sharp ice.

            

I put Desitin ointment on Scratches. Works for me. When you wash off the mud, make sure you towel it dry well.

            

I have had good luck by putting Frontline spray (you know, what you use for ticks and fleas on dogs and cats...) on scratches once every three days for three weeks (per recommended by my vet). Clears it up EVERY time.