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Post by racaille on Dec 17, 2011 3:56:08 GMT
Is it the season or what? During my last lesson there was a horse with scabs all over it and its owner was nonplussed. I suggested it looked like ringworm but the instructor M put me firmly in my place. For once I kept my big mouth shut. But my chum Mrs Vet took some swabs and guess what, it IS ringworm. Now, I am very careful to not touch anything at the club, I always tie P to the trailer and the Teenager's stuff never goes near my herd at home. But guess what? Mr T and Lad have been very itchy and scatchy recently, which I initially put down to the unseasonal warm weather and the little flies still bothering them. But yesterday I saw that Mr T has rubbed a bald patch on his nose and it looks suspiciously like ..... And Lad has a very small bald patch on his lower cheek too, and I know ringworm often starts around the muzzle. I shall have to put my specs on and have a good look today but I do fear it is la teigne. Bother it! How can it be?  |
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Post by brigadier on Dec 17, 2011 8:34:39 GMT
Well my computer is doing strange things this morning and seems to be quoting everybody.....just had to delete loads! Thats a pity Rac, its terrible the club has got it, so contagious and there will be sporadic outbursts for years. The spores can live for years. The stables where I was got it on and off for three or four years, each time we managed to keep the outbreak to two or three horses (out of twenty or so) but round about the same period the famous Tetley Shires, (sadly no more) had an outbreak and all of their horses got it, they decided the best treatment was clipping each horse entirely so they could treat each area affected but I think that is a debatable treatment as it is believed it can spread the spores. Poor horses or stressed horses are more susceptible I believe and once they get it they can get further outbreaks once they get stressed again- although some people dont believe this. I was gutted at the time as I was due to go to London for some training and I couldnt take my horse, had to take another- mind you that was quite sweet as he turned out to be a star.  Disinfect everything Rac  and the slightest bit of an itch or pimple on yourself treat with Canestan or other fungicidal cream immediately! Dont even wait to see if it develops as it seems to get quite deep seated and then reccurs spontaneously, Ive a patch on my hand that seems to re-appear when I get stressed.  |
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Post by brigadier on Dec 17, 2011 8:42:24 GMT
Just as an add on I use Trigene disinfectant in the cattery as its the most effective disease and fungal control- it is highly concentrated but you dilute it down and can put it in spray bottles so it last for ages, and I just spray everywhere, even in the air, a bottle costs about eighteen pounds but Im not even a thrid of the way through and thats since May- I use it daily several times- they also do an equine one so it may be worth taking a look. Probably worth giving grooming kits etc a spray everytime you use it, also your hands and your person everytime you have contact with the horses. www.medi-mark.co.uk/industry/equine |
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Post by racaille on Dec 17, 2011 10:16:25 GMT
I'll have a look for that Brig. I'm just going to inspect the boys now....
Funny that you should say that about poor or stressed horses, the YO was saying exactly that yesterday and the mare is both poor and stressed (navicular) and recently living out for the first time.
And I do think Mr T has started to look a bit poor and old (although well fed). But Lad is neither!
Wish me luck, I'm off to inspect .....
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Post by racaille on Dec 17, 2011 15:20:22 GMT
Grump grump  Yup, certainly looks like it. So I've swabbed the areas locally with Betadine scrub and will see what happens. Might have caught it early enough (unlike the poor mare - it was more than a fortnight ago that we had the discusion). Also noticed that Mr T's huge woolly coat was a bit scurfy so gave him and Lad a good going over and even Mr T stood quietly, I think he enjoyed it after all the rearing and plunging while I treated his face!  The Teenager finally got him in a headlock and we carried on like that  I read somewhere that horses can become immune to ringworm after having it once. Anyone else heard that? |
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Post by brigadier on Dec 18, 2011 19:13:38 GMT
I think thats where the poor or stressed thing comes in, once exposed they have it in their system but the body deals with it until something happens to trigger it again, so another general outbreak with other horses might not affect them but something that stresses them either physically or mentally causes them to break out again. Im sure thats what happens with me also, I got a nasty patch on my arm when I was a kid but after treatment it disappeared, but now I get one on my hand, I treat it with canestan and it disappears until I have a cold or a stresser with the OH and it appears again! Once it goes I should keep on with the cream but I always forget so never completely get rid, funnily enough the one on my arm never comes back!
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ceej
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Post by ceej on Dec 18, 2011 20:34:16 GMT
Still struggling to get willows away - he is still getting lumps and the odd scab although he had it really bad because of course I didnt see it because of his long coat (his scabs are small, not large bald patches so i just couldnt see them) he has had the 4 wash course of recommended wash as well as constant spraying by H10 whenever there are any lumps but I just dont seem to be able to get rid of it - its meant to be self limiting in about 8 weeks but its been longer and he still has it (whether this is because I caught it late or whether its because he is old and has a weak immune system)
I disinfected everything but as he is still having small lumps I suspect lou will get it - but at least i will catch hers really early and she is a healthy young un so i am not going to worry too much about it - whats the point? I (touch wood) havent caught it yet.
Pain in the bottom.
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Post by ceej on Dec 18, 2011 20:39:26 GMT
by the way - I dont think 'anti-fungal' is as strong as fungicidal? Do you use that on the horses brigs, or just on tack etc?
I am now using Virkon on willow - how terrible does that sound but it doesnt seem to harm his skin and is strong anti fungal - saw it recommended on H&H forum - it says it is not harmful to skin but very bad for eyes so obviously I dotn use it near his face and only on areas under his rug so he cant get it in his eyes..it worked really well at first but i think its starting to fail because you have to keep mising new batches which I havent. I ofund the D10 quite good but left his coatreally oily and then it turned scummy.
I have just bought another bottle of Imaverol and if that doesnt work Im going to have to get the vet I think
....although as I say its minimal now but he just cant seem to shake it totally...
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Post by racaille on Dec 19, 2011 7:31:53 GMT
I imagine that Willow's outbreak was sparked by the stress of losing Harry - or did it start before, I can't quite remember the timing?
I'm having a hard time thinking what is stressing Mr T! After his good groom he looks back at peak condition, coat all fluffy and he's fat as butter (naughty me but I've tried separating him at feeding time and he just ploughs though fences and is unhappy apart, so I think if he ever gets ill there will be just the one final vet bill at his age...) But that's it, he is SO old!
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Post by ceej on Dec 19, 2011 17:15:18 GMT
Its age racs - lower immune system.
Willow did get his after Harry dies but he too has a reduced immune system - hence the COPD etc.
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ceej
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Post by ceej on Dec 20, 2011 10:52:37 GMT
GUTTED - Lou has two small patches  FFS |
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Post by racaille on Dec 20, 2011 16:49:05 GMT
And Mr T has another very small patch on his face FFS with knobs on |
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for so much hard work we thank ye!!
FFS
