My horse recently came down with scratches. I know darn well that there is an easier way to deal with them then the vets say. I just haven't found it yet.
The truth is that somebody out there knows a better treatment. Please, if you know a less agressive method of treating scratches, let me know. Have a great day, y'all.

Uhh what does your vet say to do?

ok--

don't know what your vet says, but here is what we do...wash legs in warm soapy water, and work at getting the scabbs off. then dry them completely, and put a layer of desiten (baby diaper rash stuff) on. has never failed yet!

betsey

OK, for being around horses most my entire life...I'm about to sound REALLY dumb here! But this is something I've never encountered to my knowledge...what the heck is "scratches"???? Please elaborate in depth.
thanx!

Lona - slightly red in the face, LOL

lona--

scratches are known by a lot of names...but essentially it's a type of fungus that shows up on horses' legs--scabbs show up, and they won't go away on their own. in severe cases, they get really thick and oozy. it's not pleasant. usually, horses get them from standing in muddy or damp areas.

betsey

and they gennerally only get them on white legs.

rafter-

you might notice them more on white legs, but i've seen plenty of instances on all colors-light and dark!

Thanks! The reason I aksed is 'cuz my mom's TB was diagnosed with photosensitization by the looks of his legs and slightly burned muzzle alone...his back legs, which have stockings, were cracked and scabby, almost looked like a jigsaw puzzle last year : ( but this year, they look great..we've had to make some radical dietary changes for the diagnosis, and around here in WY, where we're at anyway, straight grass hay is hard to find...we were told that his legs were a result of the photosinsitization and alfalfa. Now I'm curious if it was just this "scratches" you've described to me! Thanks!!!
Which ever it was, we treated it by cleaning the area regularly, and using net wrappings to protect him from the sun, we kept them on all winter and this summer he looked fine : )

only part that don't make sence is the part about standing in muddy or wet areas...it's drier the a dog bone in the noon day desert sun here! Although we are fairly close to a river...the horses don't have oportunity to stand around down there, it's several blocks from the pasture.
Just try'n to figure out if the diagnosis might've been wrong.

they dont have to be in the mud while they develop sometimes they come well into the summer after a spring of standing in mud, it could even be mud from spillage around the water trough though, thats how ours get em. Ive never had a horse with non white legs develop scratches. I didnt think a dark legged horse could.

Just a note, but another use for the baby cream is to prevent those pesky gnats out of the horses ears! Be warned, only use a fingertip coating and just reapply when you notice the gnats are back. If you do it too often or too much, the hair will go away. It will grow back though.
phlinx