Silver Honey scratches spray or Fungasol.

Im sure others on here have more experience with scratches but seems like you should be keeping them as dry as possible.

 

Thanks! I've been using the fungasol but after washing and toweling dry.

 

Scratches is usually caused by a bacteria, not a fungus.

Either way, after cleaning and drying the legs, you can coat the area with extra strength Desitin (diaper cream), and that will soothe and treat the area (and is effective against both bacteria and fungus).

 

Along with the topical treatments, supplementing with additional copper & zinc is also very beneficial for horses with scratches. I use Mad Barn's 3:1 Copper/Zinc.

 

We struggled with scratches for a couple of years on our senior Arab who tends to have skin issues. We tried everything to get rid of it. Finally, a vet noticed we had bee hives and suggested we try raw honey. I slathered his legs in it for a couple of days (I would wrap them just to keep the honey on as long as possible, then redo it the next day). Within 3 days, it was almost healed. Best part? It never came back. I couldn't believe it.

Worth a try. Though as other posters have said, diet is very important, but we had already covered that. None of the shampoos or creams made it go away entirely. The honey was an almost overnight fix.

I was told that it is best to use raw, local honey (partly so you know it's somewhat fresh). And it actually didn't require as much honey as you might think. Just a think layer with gauze and then vet wrap for a few days was enough.

 

We struggled with scratches for a couple of years on our senior Arab who tends to have skin issues. We tried everything to get rid of it. Finally, a vet noticed we had bee hives and suggested we try raw honey. I slathered his legs in it for a couple of days (I would wrap them just to keep the honey on as long as possible, then redo it the next day). Within 3 days, it was almost healed. Best part? It never came back. I couldn't believe it.

Worth a try. Though as other posters have said, diet is very important, but we had already covered that. None of the shampoos or creams made it go away entirely. The honey was an almost overnight fix.

I was told that it is best to use raw, local honey (partly so you know it's somewhat fresh). And it actually didn't require as much honey as you might think. Just a think layer with gauze and then vet wrap for a few days was enough.

That's so cool. I love when Mother Nature has the best remedy!

 

@Acadianartist that is why I like Silver Honey scratches spray, its Silver and Raw honey and it works wonders.

 

Thanks so much for all of your replies! I had no idea that adding some supplements to his diet could help. We'll definitely give that a shot and add a little Destin to the mix too.
Acanadianartist, that's a really cool trick with the honey! I think I'll try it on one leg first and see how it goes before covering the him up completely in vet wrap and honey, lol.

 

Is this horse a feathered draft breed or a light horse?

 

He's a quarter horse. Haven't clipped his fetlocks, didn't think it would make much difference.

 

Scratches (aka Mud Fever) is caused by a bacteria, so you're wasting time and money using a fungicidal spray or cream, you might even make it worse by trapping the bacteria underneath the cream and thus creating a perfect anaerobic environment for the bacteria to breed in.

You need to wash the legs with Hibiscrub - a regular medicated shampoo isn't enough of an antibacterial product to kill the bacteria

The legs need to be clipped to remove all feather because the bacteria thrives in places that get little exposure to air

The scabs need to be carefully removed as the bacteria breeds underneath them

If the horse is going to have constantly wet legs in the colder months, then that will also create a great breeding place for the bacteria.
You need to keep the legs dry and clean.

Anti-bacterial, medicated creams that provide a moisture barrier after treating with Hibiscrub will help, or you can buy purpose designed legs boots, if you've no option but to keep the horse on wet ground
Woof Wear Mud Fever Turnout Boots | Dover Saddlery

 

Both Fungasol and Vetericyn scrub are designed to treat both bacteria and fungus. Scratches and rain rot are both listed on the bottles as conditions they treat. We've been treating the condition for close to a month now and there has been a huge improvement. Since one element of treatment has been regular washing I thought I would ask since we won't be able to continue to wash when it gets too cold. Clipping would probably help especially as he begins to get his winter coat.

The boots look like a great idea. However this horse is not actually in a muddy or damp pasture at the moment. The environment is not an issue. I am guessing he's had this condition for a very long time and no one has bothered to treat it until now. I don't think he was groomed regularly until recently either.

 

Both Fungasol and Vetericyn scrub are designed to treat both bacteria and fungus. Scratches and rain rot are both listed on the bottles as conditions they treat. We've been treating the condition for close to a month now and there has been a huge improvement. Since one element of treatment has been regular washing I thought I would ask since we won't be able to continue to wash when it gets too cold. Clipping would probably help especially as he begins to get his winter coat.

The boots look like a great idea. However this horse is not actually in a muddy or damp pasture at the moment. The environment is not an issue. I am guessing he's had this condition for a very long time and no one has bothered to treat it until now. I don't think he was groomed regularly until recently either.

Chloroxylenol, the active ingredient in Fungasol, isn't in a strong enough concentration to kill the bacteria that causes scratches - which is why you're still battling with it a month after starting treatment

It's a useful cream to use as a barrier and a defense, after you've washed with Hibiscrub and thoroughly dried the legs
If you can dry the legs after washing in cold weather, then as long as it isn't actually freezing, it won't be a problem - we use hair drier (obviously be sure to desensitize a horse first), though the last horse we had to treat had no objection to us using a rechargeable leaf blower to dry his legs

Dermatophilus congolensis, the main cause of scratches, lives on the skin, several studies were done a while ago that showed that it wasn't present in the soil on any of the land that affected horses in the trial were kept on.
It's benign until the horse is subjected to conditions that create areas of softened, slightly damaged skin, that allows the bacteria to penetrate and multiple, causing infections, soreness and scabbing

This link gives some useful guidance
Mud fever in horses - World Horse Welfare

 

My horse Red tends to get scratches easily.

I keep his feet CLIPPED year round. That itself helps tremendously. It never allows moisture to get trapped in the "feathers".

I also try to watch him closely but if it ever gets away from me, then WRAPPING usually gets it under control quickly, and that is something you can do even if it is cold out.
If you cannot wash, I would lather whatever your medication of choice over the area, and wrap it really good.
Next day, remove the bandages and then pick off the scabs, as they should be soft. Re-apply your medication and re-wrap and then you may be able to leave it on a day or two.
Repeat until they are gone.

Seriously wrapping is KEY!

When I need it, my vet mixes up her won little ointment (has an anti-fungal, anti-biotic, and a few other things in it that works really well).
Otherwise, I use the Fungesol products.