From: tracy@scoraz.resp-sci.arizona.edu (Tracy Scheinkman)
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian
Subject: re: scratches (bacterial type)
Date: 16 Nov 92 06:44:35 GMT
Organization: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

In Article 9918 in rec.equestrian reichard@nb.rockwell.com (Diane Reichard)
writes:

>>In article <1992Nov13.223348.3562@colorado.edu>, springer@khonshu.colorado.edu (Jann Springer) writes:

>> Someone suggested a mixture of
>> Desitin, Tinactin, and Neosporin. Will this help or just make
>> a gooey/dirty mess on his legs? 

>I've never used that mix.  I would guess it would work well, but since
>you say he's in pasture, you might find it a bit messy.

>Diane R.

	I used a mixture of Desitin (must be Desitin not other diaper rash
products because of the zinc oxide in it which acts as a sun block),  Desinex
athletes foot powder, Furacin antibiotic ointment, and 1/2% hydrocortisone
cream.  The proportions were (very roughly) 4 parts Desitin, 1 part Desinex,
3 parts Furacin, and 1 part hydrocortisone, mostly I just scooped dabbed and
mixed until it felt and looked right.  I used this mixture on my filly who
lives out on pasture and had a very severe case of scratches this summer
on 3 legs that I had been trying to treat (unsuccessfully) with other methods. 
I did not remove the scabs, it was too painful to her and too dangerous for me
as she was becoming a kicker which was not in her nature.  So I settled
for this procedure:  hose legs thoroughly with cool water, wash with 
ordinary shampoo thoroughly but not rough enough to make her pull back,
rinse legs again with sprayer set on a steady strong stream that I aimed
heavily at the scabs often knocking some of the smaller ones off, pat dry
with a clean towel, finally apply Desitin mixture very liberally working
deeply into the skin and hair and very thickly over scabs.  It does make
a gooey dirty mess on the horse's legs, however it is a helpful gooey
dirty mess.
	I did this routine every other day and after the second treatment
it was working, the size of the scabbed areas were half what they were
4 days earlier, my filly's attitude toward my handling of her feet changed
dramatically indicating that the scratches were hurting her less, and
the lameness in the worst affected leg went away.  At that point I was
able to stop the frequent shampooings, shifting them to once a week.  I
still applied the Desitin mix every other day, not worrying whether the
old application was dirty just slathering more of the stuff on
and working it in.  After two weeks the scratches were almost totally
gone.  I switched to applying the mixture once every 3 days.  By the time
I took my filly to the dressage show 3 weeks after I first started using
the mixture the scratches were almost gone.  The only remnant was a slight
thickening which I could feel under the skin behind her pasterns and a 
slight redness where the old scabs had fallen off.  At that point I
shaved her feet so she could be shown.  After the show I immediately
reapplied the mixture.  I had a small recurrence of the scratches which
I attribute to the lack of hair to protect the skin and to the keep the mixture
on longer, but it went away fairly quickly.  At this point I stopped 
including the hydrocortisone.  Within a few weeks after the
show I went to applying the mixture once a week.  Two weeks after that
I discontinued it completely.  She now has long winter hair protecting
her feet from the sun.  When it threatens to rain I apply the mixture as
it is extremely repellent to moisture when worked into the fur and against
the skin, however it hasn't rained in about 3 weeks so I haven't applied
any.  She is still free of scratches.  
	I have been fighting scratches continuously with her since last 
November.  Prior to being given this recipe nothing had worked for long.
The hardest part about using this mixture was that my hands got covered
with it and it is very hard to wash off (that's part of why it works).
My filly got scratches not through being wet but because of an alfalfa
induced photosensitivity which is very common in the southwest.  
Regardless of the reason why a horse gets scratches all scratches act
similarly causing swelling and painful lesions.  The bacterium is very
hard to get at topically and while oral antibiotics work wonders for a 
short time once stopped the scratches come back again.  Shaving the hair
off which is often recommended makes photosensitivity caused scratches
to worsen, so I recommend leaving the hair long.  Also with little
hair their the mixture could not stick to it well.  Finally, the owners
of the stable where my horses are had several fillies in the pasture 
come down with scratches and on the advice of their vet brought the
fillies inside the barn and treated the scratches with sweats and
Furacin alone, while my filly was treated out on pasture without wrapping
and with the Desitin mixture.  My filly's legs were completely clear
of scratches while theirs were still fighting it, one of theirs still
has a minor case.  I don't know if this will work for every horse,
I also don't know what will happen next summer when she sheds out and
the thin summer coat allows more sunlight to irritate her white markings.
However for the first time in a year she is totally scratches free for
longer than a one week period.

					Tracy and everybody