Now that autumn is upon us for many horse people it also means that it's once again time to wrestle with scratches. For that reason, we've put together some quick tips and advice that we hope will help you and your horse to beat the scratches.
Scratches is a general term for infection of the lower legs caused by bacteria, fungi, mites or dermatophilus congolensis. It is an eczema-like condition.
Horses gets scratches because of a chronic damage to the epidermis from the cannon and down. The skin's normal defensive barrier has been breached by small wounds, cracks, chemical exposure, etc. This allows naturally occurring microorganisms on the bone to establish themselves in the tissue.
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Signs of scratches can for instance be:
Source: Netdyredoktor
As scratches are often associated with dirt and mud, it can be a good idea to clean your horse's legs after every ride, for example by washing them.
But remember, that you should dry your horse's legs well and thoroughly - as wet legs can lead to scratches. You can also use water only every two or three days to reduce moisture levels.
Use only your own brushes, and make sure to keep them relatively clean to reduce the number of bacteria.
Keep a close eye on your horse's legs so that you can start treatment quickly if it develops scratches.
Once the horse has gotten scratches, make sure you clean the area, for example with a good disinfectant soap.
You can remove crusts, for example, by soaking them well with water and then removing them with your fingers. But only remove those that are loose and ready to be removed. And remember to dry the horse's legs completely after using water.
There are many different opinions on which products you can use, as for instance antibacterial creams and sprays, Vaseline and ointments. We recommend that you find out what works best for your horse so that you can get rid of the scratches as quickly as possible.
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