Scratches

[Doc-t]

I’ll have an article on this by this Sunday evening. In essence, it is an immune suppression issue. For me, this is why only 1 or 2 horses get scratches in a herd turned out in the same environment. Topical remedies are abundant but until the underlying cause is improved, scratches (and rain rot) will continue. It is NOT the environment as the primary cause but it is the inciting cause. The bad guys came into town and took over because the Sheriff and the deputies were absent.

[Sandy_K]

Interesting! I have one horse in my little herd that has had scratches.
He is also the one that is IR (insulin resistant) and has recurring
corneal ulcer problems. Looking forward to Doc T’s article.

[Lei]

So I haven’t been here in a while. I wanted to share what has worked for me over the past few months. I took my mare off the SBM and replaced that with Kelp. I started covering her legs with a combination of Coat Defense paste on the actual areas that were active, and cheaper poultice over the entire leg apparatus. Whenever I see an active bug raised bug bite, I’ve been using the Coat Defense paste. With my old horse the Coat Defense powder has really helped keep the grubbies away. The combination of these actions has gotten me to the other side. We have had a very humid and hot summer here, and I am quite relieved to have found a solution that works for my horse. The Coat Defense people are highway robbers in my opinion because the ingredients are pretty cheap, but the product works great so I pay the price.

[KarenM]

Hi Lei,

My horse has battled scratches this year for the first time. We moved in late winter to a farm that has some wet areas and a good amount of grass in the pasture so it’s tough to keep his lower legs dry. I also have used the Coat Defense products and found the powder very effective at keeping things at bay. I think the clay is way too expensive, although it does work fast. Someone lent me their Equiderma shampoo a few months ago and that worked, but since then I’ve just used regular Dawn dish soap when needed. That works as well as anything, then I dry the legs well and apply the CD powder. I imagine any sort of very mild powder would help. I was trying to recall what our race trainer used on legs when he had to but that memory has gone. I know it was something he mixed together that was simple and inexpensive. Premier Equine in the UK sells turnout boots specifically for keeping legs clean. I’d invest in a set if we didn’t live where it’s so hot.

[Doc-t]

Why take her off of a high quality protein source and replace it with kelp? Please explain. And also remember that goiter is common in horses fed kelp as an iodine source.

I also want to apologize for never writing about scratches. To me, scratches are a reflection of a horse with a high degree of body inflammation. I seem to be able to alleviate it with once a week deworming for 3 weeks with ivermectin. This helps along with removing all inflammatory ingredients and the replacing of lost amino acids. This said, in some horses a year of this is needed to get them over having scratches and the “Florida crud” that affects their lower legs. Before it returns the following year, it is necessary to stay ahead of the problem with frequent cleaning with iodine based Betadine scrub.

[Lei]

Well, my naturalpath and myofascial release practitioner that works on her recommended that due the the fact we had not been able to clear inflammation. If you recall I did the recommended wormer and tested for worms twice which was zero both before and after I did the worm protocol. The removal of the SBM and replacement with kelp has seemed to be the best for my animal. Her immune system has proved to be much better. We are not having to work on her as often. Our hay is good quality and high protein. Her guts have cleared, which we were unable to effect while feeding the SBM. Every animal is a little different. My other two horses are doing just fine on SBM. Currently she is eating a 1/2 oz of Kelp, tablespoon of Spirulina, 2 cups of Cool Stance twice daily. She gets about 5 pounds of Alfalfa hay, some Alicia Bermuda in the stall during the hot time of day, and grass in the field rest of the time. They did want me to add sunflower seeds to the kelp, but I did not add that and found that the spirulina has been acceptable. She is currently competing successfully at the CCI** level as a 7 yo. I will look out for goiter.

[Doc-t]

I am continuously fascinated by the diversity of responses between individual horses. I listen to human podcasts looking for evidence or techniques to understand this more but in humans, they are also stumped. The testing measurements which seem logical to perform are not available or too expensive to use in humans, let alone horses. Looking at the gut microbiome and then adjusting it looks like it would compensate for individuals not responding to routine adjustments. But we are far away from implementing this in horses effectively. Adding different foods, probiotic bacteria (including spirulina) or a ball of horse poop all are effective in one way or another in one or more horses – but nothing where one size fits all.

I am left with 1) removing all gut inflammation and 2) replace lost amino acids. But I know there is much more. This is why the researchers who study research have concluded that ALL nutritional research should be thrown out! It is the infinite variability of individuals (and their trillions of gut microbes) that make solid conclusions unobtainable.

I really look forward to hearing your future reports through this winter and into the next summer. I want to learn what the addition of microbes (spirulina) and minerals (iodine) to the gut does to the overall health of horses and why they survive the acid bath of the stomach. I have so much more to learn and cases like your horse helps me with this. Thanks @Lei for your updates and I’m glad your horse is responding!