The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Strange scabs?

4K views 21 replies 8 participants last post by  Tnavas 
#1 ·
Today when I was currying Sky's legs, I noticed not a lot of dirt was coming off of the backs of his pasterns..

So I ran my hand across the backs and there was this strange large scab. So Naturally I start picking at it because I thought it was mud at first.. well Sky starts getting testy so I conclude that it's hurting him for me to pick at it. It looks like rain rot so I'm thinking mud fever or scratches? It's just above the bulb of his hoof and below his feathers.

The parts of it I did get off made him have these raw sores.. which I put triple antibiotic on.

What is it... and should I just keep cleaning it off and putting antibiotics on it? Or should I be leaving it alone or scrubbing it (not the sores.. the scabs) with soap and water?

I'm lost.. :/

It didn't seem to affect his movement and he wasn't sore. Just more of a topical thing.

Oh and he is out 24/7 except when he comes in to eat morning and night.. and his pasture is a muddy mess.

Thanks!
 
See less See more
#2 ·
Sounds like mud fever. I had a quarter horse get that a few years ago. My barn owner and I washed the area with a mixture of betadine and water once a day and made sure to dry the leg. I got some anti-fungal spray that I applied afterwards as well. I would pick up the parts that were dry until they were all gone. It's a pain in the butt but necessary.
 
#5 ·
It could be? I only go out 3 days a week and he's out with a bunch of rowdy youngings so I may have over looked it or it may have happened in these past few days. There was a small scar that I found the other day and it's on the same foot as his old injury. It's possible I could have overlooked the smaller ones.

I'll try to get a picture of it bubba so I can get accurate help =)
 
#6 ·
My barn owner and I mixed betadine in the water and washed his legs with it and then towel dried that area. No need to rinse with clean water. We applied an anti-fungal cream afterwards. Took a week or two to totally clear up.
 
#8 ·
definitely sounds like a case of scratches:-( Previous threads on subject:
http://www.horseforum.com/horse-health/scratches-106155/
http://www.horseforum.com/horse-health/scratches-treating-winter-103698/
http://www.horseforum.com/horse-grooming/any-cures-scratches-103362/
http://www.horseforum.com/horse-health/mud-fever-aka-scratches-suggestions-100687/

I have had trouble with this on my white legged paint horses.I have tried everything .What has worked best?take your pick:lol:
Zinc oxide cream applied liberally
Scratches cream made by vet.{? Has steroid & antifungal}
Scarlet oil spray soak daily
"Scratches" vaccination obtained from vet.Don't know if he still uses them:? Expensive but worked all gone in 10days,no fussing with it just leave things alone:)
 
#18 ·
For sure don't use a triple antibiotic oint. because that keeps moisture in which the bacteria will grow in. Nizarol shampoo would work and betadine would work too. You have to removed the scabs and make sure you use brushes that are only for that horse or bleach yours before you use them on the next one. I have NO idea what a scratches vaccine is....can someone please tell me????
 
#22 ·
The initial cause of Mudfever is fungal and if treated with Nizoral as soon as spotted it can completely kill it off in just one treatment. Make sure you wash well beyond the currently affected area as fungal infections always spread outwards.

Removing the scabs is NOT a good idea, they are not normal scabs being lymph that has oozed through the skin and congealed around the hairs. When you pull the scabs off you pull out good hair by the roots, not only does it break the skin surface allowing bacteria to enter it hurts like hell for the horse.

Nizoral seems to dissolve much of the scabs which then come off during the wash or within a couple of days. Leave the scabs alone and you reduce the risk of the limb swelling, the horse going lame, and allowing bacteria into the wound causing it to be infected.
 
#21 ·
Yeah I'm keeping him in his stall (I'm going to be there more frequently this week) so he'll get turned out on the lawn and exercised but his pasture right now is 7+ inches of mud :/ so you can see how it wouldn't help the situation.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top