Scratches

The gel version of Cut Heal is ah-mazing! My horse had a more serious "little scratch" and it healed up in no-time. Daily: hose clean (allowing the scratches/cuts to heal from the "inside out"), apply the Cut Heal, rinse and repeat (literally) the next day until healed.

I had a bad case of scratches on my mare's white legs a few years ago and tried all of these things, including prescription meds. It turned out that I had accidentally done too much -- too much picking scabs, too much ointment, too many different kinds of antibacterial or antifungals. It ended up killing off some of the 'bugs' but the really strong ones were left behind and totally took over. Vet ended up putting IV in her neck with the last remaining antibiotic that these bugs were not already resistant to. So...... you don't want to go that route. If you've already been dealing with this for a while, or have tried different over-the-counter products without success, please get a bottle of Vetericyn gel spray. This is what finally finished clearing my mare's scratches when they came back after the IV came out. You should clean off any ointments already on the legs so that the gel can get to the skin (use the very mildest shampoo you can get for horses, or Betadine scrub). Rinse well, and dry if possible. Then thoroughly coat the horses's legs with the Vetericyn spray and allow to dry. I used it 2-3 times a day at first. You'll know it's working when the scabby spots dry up, there's no more oozing, and -- most important -- no more spreading of the scratches. If it doesn't work in 2-3 days to stop the spreading and start drying up, or if your horse won't walk because of painfully swollen legs, then get the vet out. The lymphedema condition is one that can be a life-threatening condition and even if they recover, it can cause lifelong lameness.

Very best of luck with this.

You can get hibitaine from the vet, or ask him where to get some. For the scabs if they are going to soften and come off with the hibitaine - great. If not then leave them. You don't want any bleeding or oozing. The cream should take care of the scabs as far as softening them so that in a few days the next time you wash, they will come off.

Eta hibitaine is a fairly mild soap and scrub. It's useful for cleaning small wounds and is used in sterilization of an injection site prior to injection into the joint. Great stuff to have on hand anyways.
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Athletes foot spray, works amazingly fast, pain free. If I ever have a horse again that has scratches that's what I would use. Towel dry the area before each application to get the mud off, make sure hair is shaved, apply twice a day. No need for painful picking of scabs.

Here's what I've done:

Wash with a hospital-grade antibacterial soap
Dry thoroughly
Apply an antibiotic cream (drugstore purchased)
Apply an antifungal cream (drugstore purchased)
Apply zinc oxide cream overtop

Repeated daily, minus the washing part. I only washed once a week.

Cleared up a bad case of scratches very quickly, with relief from the pain within a day. After the legs were looking healthy again, I applied Gold Bond medicated powder on a daily basis to keep the skin healing nicely.

Would >>>Povidone-Iodine Surgical Scrub<<<< be a good soap to clean her legs with be for I put the ointment on her legs....Also do you think I should shave her legs before I start all this?

Well I have seen that a few people keep talking about the scratches oozing or bleeding or her legs being swollen but her scratches aren't oozing and never have and only a few bleed when I was picking them off awhile back and her legs aren't swollen or hot. Does this mean it could not be scratches? They don't hurt her even when I pick them off she doesn't mind. I added a few pictures

I'm sorry I don't no why the pictures are side ways and upside down :(

First of all - no you do not want to use the iodine scrub. You need to get your hands on some hibitaine.

From the pictures it does not look so bad. You may want to shave, yes.
At this point actually even using an unscented shampoo might work, and use your nails to take off the surface scabs which will come off easily.
You don't want an ointment, you want a water based cream. Polysporin might work as they don't look deep.
Apply the polysporin up to 2 times a day and wash every 3-5 days and they should clear up. IMO they do not look so bad, but you need to treat them properly before they get really bad.
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Hibitaine, Polysporin would my vet need to get that for me or can I order it? I will try to shave her legs once I move her to my house (which should be soon) So you think I should only wash her legs with the shampoo every 3-5days?

Polysporin you can get at any drug store.
Hibitaine (generic name Fluorhexadine) I don't know you can try to get it over the counter, in my area there is a drug store for pets where you can easily buy it. If not your vet should have some.
The shampoo is only if you can't get some hibitaine. And yes, don't wash every day.
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