Dew Poison

[TBG]

What treatment is recommended for dew poison? It's strange how it only effects the white legs. Thanks for your help.

[clh]

I don't know if dew poison, rain rot, scratches, etc... are one and the same or not - however, I do have a mare that has "rain rot" and she is not white legged. I was told to leave the scars alone (she was in Florida when purchased and her legs were a mess). I have another mare with white socks and she had what my farrier said was scratches. Told me to soak her foot and get the scab off and then put desitin or some other form of baby diaper rash ointment on it. I tried that for a few weeks and it didn't clear up. Lo and behold a few weeks later I got a book from the Blood Horse and there was a small article in there that said that alot of time "dewormer paste" worked on some of those kinds of conditions. So with this mare, we soaked the foot, made a mixture of dewormer paste along with a little neosporin and the diaper rash ointment and within one week she was all better. Supposedly the dewormer's fungicide kills any bacteria. Worked for us - so it is worth a try.

[freshman]

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by dew poisoning, but I'm assuming it's another name for scratches, rain rot, grease heel, mud fever--all colloquial terms for for dermatophilosis. All these common skin conditions, legs or body, are caused by a bacteria of the same name.

Chlorhexadine scrub works well to treat legs, or also a dilute betadine solute, which is somewhat cheaper but may not be the best looking treatment for those white legs.

Picking it up at your vet is usually cheapest (since they will have gallon-sized jugs of it, ordered wholesale), but can be had over the internet in the generic, medical grade version. Tack and feed stores may or may not stock the plain version, but will have name-brand products with these as the active ingredients, usually in smaller containers at higher prices.

If you do get generic or medical grade chlorhexidine/betadine, make that it is diluted properly--usually 1 part chlorhexidone to 4 parts water, and betadine can be diluted visually to the point where it looks like weak tea. Ask your vet.

With these products, you can usually rinse or soak leg with warm water to wash away dirt, losen scabs and soften skin, then apply the srub solution. Rinse well, and make sure to dry the leg as well as you can with a dry towel.

Some folks reccomend applying mineral oil to the legs after they dry, which does protect the legs from the much that contains the bacteria while alwaying the skin to breathe. Oitments can trap bateria in the skin, and thick applications can actually make things worse. Best to steer clear of those.

[teb]

I agree with Freshman above and the ointments. Do wash and clean up well. Then march down to Walmart and get yourself the Medicated Green bottle of Baby Gold Bond powder. It has zinc in it and works really well. Atletle's foot powder will help also. Here in Ireland I have to deal with the odd case when we start getting nasty mud and have found the powder the best. It doesn't gunk up and the area can breathe. The only bad thing is no Baby Gold Bond so my parents have to stock up on it for me and send me the big bottles a couple times a year. I use the foot powder when in a jam.
Good Luck!
Terri

[hpkingjr]

I have a neighbor who swears that Tea Tree Oil is magic for clearing up those assorted skin rashes, dew poisoning etc.

Tea Tree Oil

What is Tea Tree?

Alternate Names: Melaleuca alternifolia,

Tea tree grows in Australia and Asia. Historically, the leaves were used as a substitute for tea, which is how it got its name. The part used medicinally is the oil from the leaves.


Why People Use This Herb

Tea tree has a long history of traditional use. Australian aboriginals used tea tree leaves for healing skin cuts and infections, by crushing the leaves and applying them to the affected area. The oil contains constituents called terpenoids, which kill fungus and bacteria.
Acne

Athlete's foot

Minor injuries

Vaginitis

Thrush

As an antiseptic

Boils

Lice

Psoriasis

Yeast infection

Common Doses
Tea tree comes in cream, ointment, lotion, and soap forms.
Free Pure Tea Tree Oil
This Oil Relieves Foot Fungus And Helps Heal Acne. Complete Survey!
TeaTree.PersonalCare-Offer.Com

[sunnybroad]

Can the deworming mix be made in advance? Will it keep for any length of time ,I am asking for a friend I don't know how long she plans to make this in advance
Terri

[clh]

Dear Terri:

I did mix a batch of it up in a small little container (did not use a whole tube of dewormer) and since we were soaking her hind leg in warm water every day and getting the scabs and dirt off, we were applying the meds every day. The small container would last about 4 days of treatment, then I'd just mix up some more. Like I mentioned before, the farrier told me to just put some desitin or other baby bottom treatment on it to keep the moisture off but when I read the chapter in the book that I received from the bloodhorse (Care and Management of Horses) I thought it wouldn't hurt to try it and surprisingly enough it did work. Hope it works for your friend.

[Mood Swings]

I've found that special formula works very well. It's intended use is for treating mastitis. It comes in a small tube and is available through vets. Good luck!