Help for scabs/dirt in ears?

I have just bought my mare and she was delivered Sunday. The previous owner only had her three months and have delt with her being under weight and with skin fungus when they rescued her. I noticed today that her ears are VERY dirty and full of scabs. I cleaned her ears by wipeing them down with a rag soaked in povidine scrub. Once the dirt and scabs were cleaned she had several sores on the skin going all the way down the inside of her ears. Some were bleeding. I plan to continue the wipe down each day to prevent infection. However, I need advice as to what is the best treatment to aid in healing.

You're on the right path to keep her ears cleaned and free from infection and it's great that she will let you clean her ears like that

If her ear hair has been shaved for showing or for neatness to sell her, I would let that hair grow back to keep the bugs out --- that is most likely what those sores are from.

Once you have her ears wiped out with the povidine, if it's affordable and you can find a health food store that sells Patchouli oil (it's about $12/ounce in the health food stores) buy a bottle. It will last you a LONG LONG time.

Buy some mineral oil in WalMart.

When I mix it for fly spray, I put one cup mineral oil, 1/8th cup Patchouli oil in a fly spray bottle and fill it the rest of the way with water.

It always has to be shook up good before spraying. You could then spray some on a paper towel and rub her ears with it.

Don't soak her ears with it because it is oil and will draw dust like a magnet. Use just enough to lightly moisten the skin. The smell of the Patchouli oil should keep the bugs out.

It will keep the bugs out of her ears and also serve as a moisterizer.

If you can't get the Patchouli oil, buy the mineral oil and wipe it in her ears full strength after you clean them.

Diet is important too. I bought a horse three years ago that had warts in one ear. I took him off oat & corn based grain, started him on 2000 I.U. Capsules of people vit E per day and all that's left are the scars from those warts.

Not saying that would work for everyone, but Vit E is an immune booster and the body dumps what it doesn't need. There is no toxic build-up like there is with Vitamins A & D.

Hope this helps

I use a lite coating of Swat in my horses ears and her udders and belly button. When you put it in the ears you must wipe it out and reapply daily to prevent dirt build-up. On second thought, maybe that not a good idea for your horse since he has infection. But it works great on healthy ears Some "Nats" can cause scabs and sores in the ears from a virus that they carry that can also cause warts. Good luck!

Scabs or is it Aural plaque?

Thanks to everyone with the advice. These look like nat/fly bites. Her ears have all the hair -not shaved. She loves to roll, hence all the dried dirt in there. Stopped at the vet and picked up a tube of Otomax that he says will help with healing. She's a good baby and loves the attention. It's easier to clean her ears then to clean any of my 5 cats. LOL

I use a sponge and apply a little MTG. Great help for healing and keeps the knats out of their ears for a couple of days.