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[RC] Scratches Information And An Old-Time Remedy - Long - Diana M. MaloneyHere's a remedy that I've used that worked. It's out of "How To Be Your Own
Veterinarian (Sometimes)" by Ruth B. James, DVM. See the sauerkraut remedy
at the bottom of the information. It's smelly and messy but I left it on for
the prescribed amount of time and when I removed it - the scratches were
just about gone, just as described.
Hope it helps!
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Scratches
Also called grease heels, grease, cracked heels, or mud fever, this
condition is a dermatitis (inflammation of the skin) of the heel and rear
side of the pastern area. While it is most common in the hindfeet, it may
affect the front ones, or be any combination thereof. It was very common in
draft horses, helped by the long hair on their legs. This long hair held
dirt and moisture, and often covered up beginning signs of the scratches, so
it was not noticed until quite advanced. The disease is not contagious, but
several horses in the same stable may be affected because they are exposed
to the same conditions.
Scratches is frequently associated with dirty stables. It can also occur
when horses stand in muddy corrals for long periods of time without relief.
Horses whose legs are "stocked up" (swollen and tight) for longer periods of
time may have scratches. Shoeing the horse at an improper angle--forming a
fold of skin on the rear of the foot--may provide enough irritation,
friction, and moisture to cause the problem.
Soaps, salt solutions, or irritating liniments may cause enough dermatitis
to start a case of scratches. Lime dust from roads or floors and other
chemical irritants may do the same. Photosensitization caused by poisonous
plants or chemicals may initiate scratches. Contact dermatitis from alsike
clover (dew poisoning) or poison ivy can also start scratches. Infection by
bacteria and/or fungi usually occurs as the disease progresses. In some
cases, it is impossible to determine the original cause of the problem.
Early in scratches, the skin is sensitive and swollen; it may itch severely.
As it progresses, the skin may show heat and be reddened. Serum begins to
ooze from cracks and sores on the skin. The exudate may be yellowish or
grayish and will have a foul odor. Edema (swelling with fluid) may extend up
the leg. By the time it has reached this point, the animal is usually lame
and shows severe pain in the area. Dead patches of skin may begin to slough,
leaving raw, red sores.
If not treated, the problem becomes chronic. Granulation begins; growths
commonly called "grapes" may appear. The skin becomes thickened and hard.
The foot may be so swollen as to look like an elephant foot. In severe
cases, the infection may extend into the frog. It can even undermine the
frog and sole.
Begin by removing the cause, if it can be determined. Cases of scratches
which are diagnosed early have a good chance of recovery. Clip all hair from
the affected area. Remove feathers if the animal has them. If the weather is
wet, it is best not to clip them off totally, but remove most, and leave a
pointed tuft of hair on the back of the fetlock to help drain water off the
leg. If you remove all the hair from the fetlock, any water that falls on
the animal will run down over the affected area. Wash the skin gently with a
mild soap, such as pHisohex. Then pat it dry with paper towels or a soft dry
towel. Remove any loose, dead skin. Apply a mildly antiseptic product such
as calamine lotion or purple lotion for a few days to help dry the area.
Then change to ointments such as zinc oxide to prevent overdrying it.
If the infection extends deep into the heel or into the frog or if severe
granulomatous growths are present, call your veterinarian for treatment of
the problem. Small granulations may be removed with a pressure bandage,
placed over a soothing ointment or a product containing a corticosteriod,
such as Panalog. Corticosteroid ointments are also useful for cases of
scratches where the skin is not broken. A mixture of sulfanilamide powder
and mineral oil is said to work well when the animal cannot be removed from
wet conditions. The oil would act to keep moisture off the skin, and the
antibiotic would help to heal the lesions. Larger growths ("grapes") will
require surgical removal, again, a project for your veterinarian.
The basic theory in treating a problem like scratches is to dry it up if it
is wet, and to moisturize and soften it if it is dry. Now that I've told you
all the fancy cures for the problem, let me tell you about an old-time
remedy. It has cured many minor cases of scratches and also seems to work
well on rope burns in the heel area.
Get a large can of sauerkraut, a plastic bag (a bread wrapper or 2 gallon
Zip Lock bag works) and some bandaging material--adhesive tape, Vetrap, or
Elastikon. Pull the bag up over the affected foot. Pour the entire can of
sauerkraut into the bag, putting most of it on the back side of the foot.
Wrap the whole thing well with the tape, (Note: wrap and tape - duct tape
works well - the you-know-what out of it or the horse will walk right out of
it! And, buy an extra can of sauerkrat if you're going to try this one.)
putting on gentle pressure and wrapping plenty of tape around the bottom of
the hoof to help protect the plastic bag there. Leave it unchanged for three
days. When you remove it, the skin is usually clean and fresh-looking and
the problem is much improved. Treat it with either softening or drying
products as needed. In a few cases, sauerkraut treatment for another two or
three days may be necessary. The treatment works especially well with those
cases that are exuding pus and are generally messy.
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Diana M. Maloney
DiaComm
Marketing Strategy and Communications
4131 Briarglen Drive
San Jose, CA 95118
(408) 978-9246
Fax: (408) 978-9276
diana@xxxxxxxxxxx
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in
a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside,
thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -- WOW-- What a
Ride!"
-----Original Message-----
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Barbara McCrary
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 7:10 AM
To: Ridecamp Guest; ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [RC] Scratches
I used Cut Heal once. It has an interesting combination of ingredients:
fish oil, turpentine, sulfuric acid.... It must have been the sulfuric acid
that cured scratches, but whatever, it surely worked.
Barbara
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ridecamp Guest" <guest-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 7:21 PM
Subject: [RC] Scratches
Please Reply to: Alicia Mansuetti mmansuetti@xxxxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================== Does anyone out there have a wonder cure for Scratches. I am using Shapleys MTG from Jeffers. Seems to be helping but would like a faster cure for this nasty stuff. I have tried Micro Tek and Destin before and it does not seem to help any better. Help! Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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