Horse with scratches (greasy heel), any natural treatments?

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I came across this forum recently and have enjoyed reading many topics here on homesteading and also other lively discussions. But to get to my question, my daughter noticed some scabbing on her horses fetlock and looked it up and it appears to be scratches or greasy heel. We would like to know if anyone has any natural remedies for this condition before we tried the medical route. The horse is kept in pasture 24/7 and though we have had rain lately, the pasture drains well. We have emailed a holistic vet for his advice but have not heard from him yet, so thought we might see if anyone here had any suggestions. Thanks in advance for any help.

-- Sherry S, N.Fl (natmatters@mail.istal.com), September 04, 2001

Answers

I use the following recipe for scratches. It is kinda expensive but is used sparingly. You can substitute ingredients but be sure they have the exact components.

4 oz. Desitin baby ointment (Walmart has zinc oxide in a tub that works perfectly)

2 oz. triple antibiotic ointment (any brand)

1 oz. 0.5% hydrocortisone ointment (or 1/2 oz. of 1% strength)

1 oz. Desenex foot ointment or powder (Walmart brand has the same ingredients)

Mix together very well. It keeps practically forever in a tightly closed tub. I like to clip the horse as closely as possible then apply the mixture to the scratches. The thickness of the Desitin keeps the stuff on the horse quite well. This works on "cannon crud" too.

Stacy in NY

-- Stacy Rohan (KincoraFarm@aol.com), September 05, 2001.


You first need to kill the fungus that causes greasy heel. I've used bleach. First time use it diluted 50/50. Then you can use it full strength. Try to pick or scrape off the scabby area. Soak the area with the bleach. Now you have an "open wound" type sore. Put on some antibiotic just like you would any other cut. Definately try to keep the horse out of mud/manure. Greasy heel fungus can get in the tiniest little cut or scrape in the heel and/or fetlock area. It mainly will affect white legs. It usually clears up over the winter - if you get enough snow. (I'm from WI)

-- malinda (teneniel_80@yahoo.com), September 05, 2001.

The one time my horse had gotten greased heels (she was in someone's backyard at the time) I shaved the hair off first; picked off any scabs and let some of them drain; cleaned it with Benadine solution; dried well (important); then coated the area with Coronia (hate the stuff, sticks to my fingers. That's what makes it work so well for greased heels)

I know this isn't holistic or natural (then again, I don't have the Coronia ingrediants in front of me. It's been around forever) but it worked great.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), September 05, 2001.


I've treated horses with similar conditions, and almost universally it seemed to be appearing on horses who were out on wet pastures. Putting them into a dry stall seems to be a good start. We had one horse who was so painful from the sores and crusty lesions that you could hardly touch his feet. I finaly did get him to let me treat them with Oxygel, dabbed it on daily, and it started clearing up in a couple of days.

Betadine scrubs are also good for this, and some people I know use Gold Bond medicated powder.

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), September 07, 2001.


Scratches is photo-sensitive. You can treat it all you like but you will never heal it up all the way if you don't keep the infected animal out of the sun. (or use a light bandage) Keep the scabs picked and the area shaved. Keep one of the above "recipies" on the infected area. Once you have scratches on your place then your animals can be reinfected easily by the bacteria that is left in the ground. Try to catch any new cases right away. Sorry that you have to go thru this yucky infection. Good luck.

-- miller (smillers@snowcrest.net), September 09, 2001.


my horse has scratches and the remedy the vet told me to try is to soak his infected feet, one at a time, in five gallons of warm water with betadine or iodine solution. i use a clean bucket with every foot. Becuase the weather is cold right now where i am i then blow dry the wet feet. while soaking and blow-drying i pick the loose scabs off with my fingers. mickey is kept out to pasture all day too. i can't garantee this will work, as i just started this process with him, but it hasn't proved not to work yet.

-- (_salina_@yahoo.com), November 05, 2001.

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