Eczema????

[NoviceNic]

I have bought a cob who has brown/yellow scabs on his legs. Anyway the owner was not very forthcoming to what it was so whilst I had him on trial I got the vet out. The vet thought it may be mites. My friends think its mudfever. So I went with the vets recommendation and I have been using Benzyl Benzoate for a month. A forthnight ago the front legs were almost clear. This week the all 4 legs are really bad. So sore and bleeding. Today I have scissored all hairy bits and soft yellowy/brown scabs and applied sudocrem. I have spoken to the previous owners who stated it was a type of Eczema. Does anyone have any experience of this and any advice on clearing it. Also my baby will be kept out all year. Will this hinder him???

[notpoodle]

no expert on this at all, but you could try sticking aromaheel (www.aromesse.com) on it once scabs have formed. its very good for the healing process of scabby areas :)

julia
x

[NoviceNic]

Thanks for that. I got Wonder gel as I had read somewhere on here that was good but found it got all goey and didn't seem to improve. Used sudocrem last night and seem to be less sore. So will try this for a week and then see how go. Any more advice appreciated.

[amandal]

If it is eczema you'll need a proper eczema cream to clear it up if it's really severe, you could try aqueous cream too, or Oilatum as both can help get rid.

[gypsydust]

Horses can get exzema, but it is not very well known, and many vets will not diagnose it as such (they claimed my pony had sweetitch!)
Monty's exzema is more apparant in the summer, starting from about May/June. He has very scurfy dandruffy skin all year round, but in the summer the heat dries his skin right out and it gets very itchy and scabby, particularly on his neck - I had to resort to clipping his neck this year, and usually he has his mane hogged to keep his neck cooler, because it is made worse by him being hot and sweaty.
Cobs often have quite thick feather, so if you are not showing, I would suggest keeping the legs clipped - not a mega-close clip but just enough so that a) you can treat the sores while he has them, and b) so that any heat and sweat will not make it worse. The downside of this of course is that any long grass/plants etc in his fielkd may irritate him as he will not have his natural feather to protect him, so keep an eye on this.
Monty wears a 'sun rug' all summer - it's basically a reflective summer sheet so it keeps him cool by reflecting the sun's rays - it also keeps the flies off him which is an added bonus! His exzema means he has quite sensitive skin even though he is a native, so the rug really helps to protect that. I also use EquiNeem lotion, as that is really soothing, is entirely natural, and also helps hair regrowth where he has itched himself bald and sore. This year, with a combination of the rug, lotion and briding him in out of the sun in the peak of summer, he's not had any raw areas, but has gone bald or scabby in some places.
I found sweetitich treatments like Benzyl Benzoate really aggravated his poor skin, you have to be really careful with strong chemicals like that. I only use natural soothing products on Monty, and don't use any coat shine or similar products that might trigger and allergic reation. I also keep his grooming kit clean and make sure it is not used on other horses, and only use non-bio washing powder to keep his rugs clean (they are washed regularly which helps) so as not to aggravate his skin any more.

[Maria]

My vet usually prescribe Frontline spray to clear mites. Has certainly cleared up the problem with my cob mare when required.

[horse_crazy4eva]

I have eczema but I've never heard of horses having it. when mine gets really bad I use this laniline(sp?) cream. its what nursing mothers use for their umm... iritation. the thing that works best for me are thoughs sav(sp?) type of creams. in the summer I ice my legs, it takes most of the iritation away. hope your horsie feels better.

[NoviceNic]

I am using Sudocrem at the moment and it is really easing it. I heard someone say that Mud Fever is a form of eczema. Is this right?