What's wrong with my horse?

Question

I have a 12 year old mare who for the past 3 years has started getting scabs in the hollows of her heel and around her pasterns. It seems to be in the start of spring and summer. I was told to wash them in hibiscrub and put sudocrem on. It seems to make them less red when I do this, but they just appear somewhere else.
Any ideas?

Answer 1

I agree, that it sounds like scratches. It is contagious so that's why it will move around on your horse. The hibiscrub and cream will work. You might also try betadine scrub. Just be diligent with the cleaning of the infected parts. We went to a horse show in the spring and half the horses came home with this. Very annoying.

Answer 2

Hi, It sounds like she is suffering from mud fever, which is usually associated with wet or muddy conditions, but can develop at any time of year. There is no cure but it is managable to some degree. Firstly, keep using hibiscrub (diluted) and try and make sure you get all the scabs off, then dry with a towel and apply a powder like keratex which you can buy in all good tack shops. The key is to keep her legs as dry as possible. If there is pus under any of the scabs then you will probably need some antibiotics from the vet.
One of my geldings suffers quite badly from mud fever (yes - even in the summer!) and I bought him some boots which are similar to brushing boots but cover the leg from below the coronet band to just below the hock. They are really good but cannot be left on for longer than 12 hours at a time, so if your horse winters out you might need to stable her for a while. They are made by a company called Equilibrium from a material called Stomatex. I hope this is helpful, Good luck!

Answer 3

Horselover 50 is right. Betadine scrub is great for this. And scrub away you should. Everyday. Make sure the area stays clean as much as possible. There is dirt, coat oil and water is mixing and making those red bumps and scratches, so keeping the area clean is important.

Additionally, designate a different body brush for the leg area. Do not use this brush for any other part of your horse since the "scratches" will only spread. Disinfect the leg brush after each scrubbing, so pretty much every day or you will only cure the scratches one day, then start the cycle all over again the next day if you use the same infected brush.

If all else fails and it only gets worse, give your vet a call and see what they instruct over the phone. :)

Answer 4

i have the same trouble with my mare and its to do with mites (field) the treatment you are using is okay and i do the same with her, But it never really cures it just helps relieve the problem, does she scratch her legs and stamp her feet also ? my mare also suffers from mud fever so i really have a year round thing but its a lot easier with all the products you can try has some work better than others. But if your still worried see a vet maybe a course of antibiotics and a diagnosis would be less expensive than trying lots of products. hope you find a solution soon. i find with my mare it varies with severity throughout the year.

Answer 5

That doesn't sound like mud fever, although that's the first hing that comes to mind. Mud fever causes a red, sweaty patch that is sore.
It sounds like your horse is being bitten by some insect. I wonder if it might be assassin bugs, although they often cause a swelling when they bite. Its probably something that lives on the ground.
Try applying fly repellent to two of her heels and see if those two stay free of the scabs. If it works, do that in future.
Hope you get this sorted out!

Answer 6

These are called scratches or dew poisioning.
Clean them and apply a medicated ointment and then if you can warp with vet wrap. So they stay clean and dry.
It will only stay wraped about a day or two then you hve to re warp.
Or if wrapping is not possible just clean and keep appplying ointment so they do not get infected.
When the grass is no longer wet in the morning or it stops raining and the ground dries up they should get better.

Answer 7

sounds just like scratches you have gotten very good advice from people here but in FL we deal with it every day. a cheaper treatment is Listerine (yep the mouth wash) every morning scrub the scabs off and clean with the Listerine. (keep brush's separate)
then follow up with diaper cream. lay it on thick!!
we turn our horses out at night cuz of the heat and sunburn, so this happens all summer. we cream in the am and pm to prevent scratches . It makes a waterproof barrier it should clear up in about a week.
but if it starts to oze or swell check with your vet. good luck

Answer 8

tlctreecare is absolutely right, couldn't said it better myself, although one thing I will do if scratches get so severe is to clip the air so it will dry more quickly and treat and bandage if neccesary I've had mares come into the farm with scratches so bad, especially the white leggers, it looks like someone to a hacksaw to there pastern where they bend at, takes quite awhile to heal when it gets that bad

Answer 9

Could be a fungal infection, cracked heels, over reaching or something completely different, even mud fevers a possibility... check with you're vet and give a liberal skoosh of purple spray to prevent infection until the vet comes out.
ttfn ;o)

Answer 10

It SOUNDS like mud fever - but hardly is if shes getting it when the ground is dry. Unless shes kept on wet mucky land? Id treat it in the same way anyway - if possible keep her off wet muck, wash them every day in dettol or somethingin similar, then apply sudocream liberally - if its not improving after this Id bring in your vet to have a look at it.