I have a gelding who has had this problem for years.  This mixture is the only thing I've ever tried that works for him.  It usually only takes one or two applications and we have it licked.  Mix together 2 parts Dema Clens (available from KV Vet), 2 parts Desitin, 1 part Tinactin (or generic brand), 1 part Neosporin, 1 part hydrocortisone cream.  Apply to dry legs.  Do NOT pick at the scabs - the Dermaclens will cause them to fall off on their own.  If its a bad flare up, I will wrap the legs overnight as this helps absorb the ointment.  Try to keep the area dry.  It seems that scrubbing it only makes it worse.  Good luck

All of these suggestions are good and what works for one horse won't work for another. So we are left to experiment.

I agree with not wrapping it and although you were letting your horse out at night because of the heat of the day, that actually might have been part of the problem because of the dew that settles on the grass at night.

I think you mentioned that your vet put your horse on an oral antibiotic? That is important too, along with all the topical treatments, because with scratches, dew poisoning, mud fever, what ever you call it in your area, can be caused by either certain bacteria, fungi, infection, etc.... That is why some treatments work and some don't. It is hard to diagnose which one is causing it so it is treated for any of the above. The antibiotic is called Tucoprim and it is a white powder that is top dressed on feed. It is very important to finish all of it as sometimes the wound, scratches, or whatever your treating may look like it is gone, but could still be there and flare up again if the antibiotic is not used long enough.

I had a mare that was a sorrel sabino and she had a lot of white. Not only did I have to tend to dew poisoning, I also had to deal with rain scald. Kind of like rain rot, but instead of little places all over her body, it only was on both sides of her tail. Right on the point of her hindquarters. It would be on both sides at once and each place would be solid and the size of pie pans. Her skin would be hot to the touch and weep. She could not stand any one to touch her there. After washing it with betadine scrub and drying it out, it would form a big scab, then in a few days it would fall off leaving huge raw spots. That is where all of the previosly mentioned treatments would come into play. My vet had never seen rain scald before. And calling it "rain" scald is kind of misleading because rain has nothing to do with it. Some where, somehow, a tiny cut, scrape or other break in the skin has to happen. Most of the time owners never find a place. Then the bacteria, fungi, infection or what ever gets under the skin and bingo! She also had it on 3 of her 4 legs because they were white too. Especially after we would go trail riding or something like that. I couldn't ride her without wrapping her legs first. When we would get back from trail riding, I would wash her legs like a mad woman with every kind of soap I could find. Then I would take a hairdryer and plug it into any outlet I could find and dry her legs completely. I would do anything to try to prevent her from coming down with it. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it wouldn't.

Any way hope some of this helps and it takes time and dedication to get rid of it. Good luck!!

Okay, I wanted to post these pics in here so you see what I'm seeing here, etc.  The first photo is taken when the big scab was there and only coming up a little on the edges.  The second photo is from this a.m. after the big scab came off during the night on its own.  I have the rest of the area covered in Desitin including the back of pasterns.  I can't apply the desitin to the open sore as he cannot tolerate someone touching it.  I was lucky to be able to blot it dry with a towel after squirting Hibiclens and Colloidal Silver on it.  Any suggestions what I do now with the open sore?

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/hh5131/MaxSores005.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/hh5131/MaxSoreDay2b.jpg

Hi HH5131,

Bless your heart, and your pony's as well- that poor baby.  My white guy has had this several times, and the best and only treatment (IMHO) is clean, treat, and protect.  You're going to be bombarded with advice, some good and some not so good.  First off, please, please stay away from well-meaning home remedies.  Yes, they may work for some, but in the long run they may (or may not) be harmful to your horse's skin, as they were not designed or intended for use on horses.  Sooner or later you run the risk of making things worse, causing him more pain, or both.

 Please try this:  Keep the area clean, you can just blot the sore with a soft cloth, dampened with a little saline solution (inexpensive contact lens cleaner).  Since you're not soaking the area, it will dry fast.  Then treat it with a large dab of Farnam Tri-Care (aka three-way) Ointment.  Don't rub it in, just dab it on gently, but cover the entire sore. Three-way is an antibiotic ointment, pain reliever, and insect repellent all rolled into one ointment specifically intended for horses.  You can find it at most tack stores, or in most horse-type catalogs.  The pain relief is almost instantaneous, so you'll have a little time to do the next step- protect.  Just for one night, put a couple squares of gauze on the wound, and wrap it gently with vet wrap.  If you don't have gauze in your tack locker medicine kit yet, you can use a big bandaid or folded paper towel, just make sure it's covering the wound.  Remember, only wrap it for one night.  Tomorrow, dab it clean again, but from now on I recommend T-Zone Equine Dermal Care Cream.  I found it in Valley Vet catalog for $10, but my tack store stocks it for us now because everyone was asking for it.  FYI- my tack shop charges $18.  That's all you're going to do from now on, is gently rub in a little T-Zone cream once or twice every day, or as many times as possible.  It will only take two or three days to completely heal.  Keep his fetlock hair trimmed during the rainy/humid/dewy season, and check those areas every time you pick his hooves.  If you feel a tiny spot, just rub in a little T-Zone cream, and it will never get this bad again.

I wish you and your sweet boy the best- I know how frustrating this is.  Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt.

Robynne  (rcatheron@verizon.net)

HH5131:

Okay, I wanted to post these pics in here so you see what I'm seeing here, etc.  The first photo is taken when the big scab was there and only coming up a little on the edges.  The second photo is from this a.m. after the big scab came off during the night on its own.  I have the rest of the area covered in Desitin including the back of pasterns.  I can't apply the desitin to the open sore as he cannot tolerate someone touching it.  I was lucky to be able to blot it dry with a towel after squirting Hibiclens and Colloidal Silver on it.  Any suggestions what I do now with the open sore?

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/hh5131/MaxSores005.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/hh5131/MaxSoreDay2b.jpg

UGH, actually it looks good.  I would slather some desitin or even some triple antibiotic on a telfa pad and slap it on there, then tape or wrap it if possible.  If you can't wrap it at all due to the "NO, that hurts" reactions then just try to slide some of the med onto the ouchie.. Actually leaving it alone for a day to let a bit of natural healing happen may make it easier to apply a bit of med to it. Nothing is going to stick to that moist area..  

HH5131:

I noticed about 4 days ago that my gelding had a couple sores on his right rear pastern area.  Above the hoof, below the ankle and it seemed there was something sticky also around the pack part of this area.  I tried everything, thinking he hurt himself somehow, always had an antiseptic ointment on it, but it seemed to spread quickly and it would dribble blood and ooze also.  It also looked like some of the sores were getting necrotic tissue.   Didn't look good to me, so I realized this was not an injury type sore and took him in today to vet.  Vet said it was greasy heel/scratches.  Said it's called many different things.  The sores aren't as big as a quarter (yet), but there are several of them and they're starting to team up and spread to each other.  The places in the back look like scratches to me because they look like just that - scratches where the skin folds are.  The vet wrapped this area in furazone, cotton, and vet wrap and said to change it about every other day or so and to ride him with or without the wrap to keep the swelling down.  Said to keep him in where it's dry.  Also gave me Nuciprim? (don't know if that's correct spelling - will check)  I believe it's an antibiotic.

I've tried to look up pics on the internet of greasy heel and I only saw one photo where it was just nasty thick scabby things, very dry looking.  My guy doesn't have that.  maybe because I kept ointment on it?  His are clearly sores that ooze and there is an odor of infection.

anyone have experience with this and can you share your thoughts?

I just looked at your pictures. It looks very sore, but you can heal it. My horses have had this before and the only thing I have used that works on an open sore like that is a salve called ISP you can use it wrapped or not. The one thing I have found to use that kills this stuff when you first see it is MTG you bath them and then put that on and it removes the scales and heals all ot once. Several years ago we had a horse with this all over his croup and this cleared it up in a week.

Wow, this is a big problem in the UK as well.   I think we all have our ways of treating scratches (or mud fever as we call it over here) and we do so according to our individual horses.    But the most important factor is to make sure our horses are in the best condition and that their immune systems are fit enough to fight the bacteria.   Whatever treatment you use, make sure the area is very clean and DRY before applying any creams/potions.   Also remember that the area can be very painful and don't rub too hard or you might just get a leg in the face!

Funnily enough, I have found that diaper cream affords the best healing and is also very good at keeping moisture at bay.   Always have plenty of tubs of that around.    Also be aware that this bacteria can spread rapidly, so be very vigilant!    One of my friends had a grey Arab and one winter the mud fever was up his legs and all over his belly.   She had a real tough time clearing it up.

Enough said - Good Luck; be patient and it will get better.

 Scratches are no fun and painfull to your buddy. What I have found to work is this:

I do not peel off the scabs. I apply the product M-T-G directly to the area. Area should be dry. Fungus hates "dry". Even once I have washed my horse, (I try to avoid the affected area with water unless it really is muddy or dirty) I let it air dry.  Then apply the MTG liberally to the area. If it is really oozy and swollen, I put my horse on SMZ's from the vet to combat infection. Also, keep the stall super dry. I like to use a pelleted bedding as it is more drying than regular shavings. Also, avoid the mud as it supports the fungus with it's moisture and warm temperature do to the sun. Should take less than a week to clear up. Once clear, keep this area clipped so it dries faster.  This product can also be applied to rain rot and summer itch with good results.  Painful scab picking can be avoided with this product as they will slogh off on their own.  Horse is a lot happier in the long run. Good Luck!

HH5131:

I've tried to look up pics on the internet of greasy heel and I only saw one photo where it was just nasty thick scabby things, very dry looking.  My guy doesn't have that.  maybe because I kept ointment on it?  His are clearly sores that ooze and there is an odor of infection.

That's what my mare had.  I put some cream stuff on it and it was still dry and scabby, no odor.

In the US, greasy heel is a name that is not used that often to describe scratches. Plus, what you find online will generally be a worse case senario. It really sounds like you do have a mild case of scratches. Just try a offered cure and see what happens. It think all will be well.  

I started a thread on an update, so wanted to post here as well.  I ended up treating his sore with MTG, which was a mistake.  I got worse quickly and was a bloody mess, blood all over his foot.  It was very alarming and I felt so bad for making him worse.  I am in communication with my vet as to how to proceed according to what it looks like each day.  I am keeping it wrapped with Furazone at this time and it is getting better.  I am taking pictures daily to monitor the progress/regression.  We'll see what he has me do with it next.  So far, my experience with MTG is no good, and I will not carry it in my medicine cabinet nor recommend it.

Dear HH5131,

Oh no!!  That's so awful, and I'm SO sorry-  I should have told you I never use MTG on a wound of any kind, it's just not intended for that.  Skin conditions, yes, but not open wounds.  I ONLY use it on rain rot, dry and itchy tail (when they rub up against a post to scratch their tail area, I'll rub it deep into the dock of their tail- they actually love it), or if I see they have dry skin in their mane when I clip their bridle path.  It also helps to speed up growing out a mane.  For wounds I only use Farnam Three-Way ointment, and for scratches/mud fever I only use T-Zone Derma Care Cream. 

I'm finding out for myself that MTG doesn't work on ALL horses.  I'm taking care of a friend's bay gelding, and he's been getting rubbed down with it nightly for a week.  There's been no improvement in his mild case of rain rot (but it hasn't gotten worse), so I bathed him last night with Equus Microtek shampoo, towel-dried him, and rubbed him down with Microtek spray.   We'll see how that goes.

Again, I'm so sorry for your frustration and your horse's discomfort.  I hope there's a speedy recovery for you both in the very near future.

RCatheron.

So sorry to hear that!  Thank you for sharing though, for those that don't know.  And I'm not trying to be a smart-alec at all, but that's why I don't buy MTG because it's very limited; why buy 50 different meds for 50 different things?  And that's why I recommend useful, general purpose, everyday stuff that most people have on hand anyways, like the triple antibiotic ointment, it's good for lots of stuff and especially rain rot.  Again, sorry that happened, keep us posted please.

Sorry to hear about MTG doing that to your horse. Personally I don't use it just because to me it smells like bacon grease! I have a couple of boarders at my barn that swear  by the stuff and use it all the time, but her mare got rain rot one time and she rubbed it all in and all ( and I mean ALL) of the mare's hair fell out!! It grew back without the rain rot anywhere, but she had a bald horse in the middle of winter for two months. She spent a fortune on blankets. She still swears that it is the best stuff.

I hope your vet put your horse on an antibiotic? Tucoprim works good for skin wounds. You might want to ask about it if your horse is not on it. Especially if the wound has an odor.

Good luck!