😫😫 My wither rub issue….

[poiuytrewq]

I’ve posted before and taken on board suggestions.
This is driving me insane, absolutely insane. Horse doesn’t even have overly high withers, he had withers but not sharks fins.
I have “invested” in really good quality rugs for him as he’s hopefully a forever horse, figured I’d whip the credit card, get him fully kitted out and they would last years.
The sore is about egg size right on top of the wither. It’s permanently sore and scabby. I’ve improved it almost to the point of clean skin with Eqwax rug rub balm, a padded (sponge either side) vest and a cheap combo turnout.
Was really pleased with the progress.
Until now, have dropped him down rug weight wise, he can’t stay in a medium combo for ever. Back into a 100g Rambo duo, nice and light, still using the vest and balm but it’s already getting red and inflamed again.
He’s currently just standing in naked during the day to leave it completely uncovered but it’s so so annoying!
Think I’m going to have to sell my several horseware rugs, probably at a huge loss and buy cheap flimsy feeling combos!
So any suggestions?
I bought a cheap end Weatherbeeta which is the one that’s really helped. It doesn’t cover his neck much though so he gets filthy In it. A mark Todd, amazing second hand but new buy is perfect as the neck stays up further but think there is no weight between medium and light.
Shires? I want 100g, possibly 50g aswell I guess
I am going to try sewing a pillow to his vest to really hold it up but am worried it won’t all stay in place very well.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Is the wound healing? There may be something underlying, I would heal the wound fully before applying any rug rubs .Sorry if youv already done that. How about using a sponge and gluing it to the rug on the inside?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Could horse have fistulous withers?

 

[rabatsa]

I have found that Wugs put less pressure on the withers than other rugs.

Fistulous withers due to constant pressure is a possibility.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Heals really nicely yes, it’s been clear skin for a good few weeks now, until the past few days.
It’s still not a wound but it’s obviously getting sore again. It’s never bloody or manky looking.
Having googled fistulous wither photos I’m going with no, it’s no where near on that level thank god.
He is prone to being rubbed all over.
It’s definitely caused only by detachable neck rugs, which of course Is what I bought thinking they give more options.
His vest has sponges either side already, well memory foam pads. I figured that would do the same job without having to get a needle out!

 

[Northern Hare]

A horse at a previous yard had full blown "fistulous withers" which I believe is when the actual bursa becomes infected. It was difficult to get on top of, but she had high density foam cut with an oval hole in the middle so that there was absolutely no contact at all from rugs to the affected area. Also the vet prescribed antibiotics/steroid creams to treat it topically as week as I think courses of AB's.

 

[Goldenstar]

Could horse have fistulous withers?

That’s the key question now .

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’ll take a photo but I’m pretty sure it’s not that bad. If he wears his cheap combo it’s healed, bare skin but healthy looking skin.
I’ll pop out in a minute and take a picture.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I’ll take a photo but I’m pretty sure it’s not that bad. If he wears his cheap combo it’s healed, bare skin but healthy looking skin.
I’ll pop out in a minute and take a picture.

Hope it's not. A friend years ago had a grey horse. It was diagnosed with fistulous wither. The wound itself looked sore but not overly bad. I knew the horse for around a year and it had it all that time. Of course , I don't know if she followed vets advice etc.

 

[poiuytrewq]

This is now. It was clean skin but bald until
I dropped the rug from 200-100 this last week and it’s starting to look red again

 

[Roxylola]

Two car wash sponges either side of the withers sewn in to the rug?
Probably a bit of a pain as you'd have to work out placement then sew a piece of fabric over to hold them in the right place, but it might work.
Wugs as suggested seem to work well, also weatherbeeta have some sort of comfy wither padding in them

 

[dogatemysalad]

I had a young horse with Fistula Withers, possibly caused by a field trauma. The prognosis was poor, but 15 years later, the horse is still in full work.

 

[poiuytrewq]

From my photos does it look as bad as fistulous withers?
It would heal if he was naked 24/7
His old owner never had this problem.

 

[Mrs G]

Looking at pics - Id get vet I think - to check there is nothing underlying, then to discuss options re the 'wound' - it looks as though the skin may be permanently damaged (eg if the area no longer grows hair) and now gone to scar tissue which is more vunerable than normal skin to pressure, friction, moisture etc so it will keep flaring up and getting sore (with the possibility of then getting infected etc).

 

[splashgirl45]

Could he be naked now? If he has a decent coat and is not underweight it would be worth trying, the weather is warming up .. or would it be possible to have a covering over it with some sort of cream, like udder cream, so it cuts down the friction. When my mare cut her flank badly the vet used pads stuck either side of the wound then attached the covering to that. I cant remember the name of the sticky stuff but it was pink and it left a residue on the coat which did come off when she was shedding..

 

[poiuytrewq]

Vet visit requested.
I feel awful now

 

[Mrs G]

Vet visit requested.
I feel awful now

Why?! Its just one of those things - you've been trying to sort it and its just unfortunate that you've got a sensitive skinned horse who's susceptible to rubs and this particular area is in a tricky place to deal with. Hopefully vet will have some ideas/treatment/potions/lotions that will help and we are heading into (hopefully!) rug-free weather which will help too.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I guess, it really needs sorting now though. The photos are redder today than yesterday so in a few more days I fear we will be back to square one.
I think I’ll try a thin stable combo under an LW turnout tonight instead and see how that go’s

 

[Red-1]

Withers like that were much more common before the advent of the modern duvet type rugs. The old jute or canvas ones were simply not as well tailored.

That does look like permanent scar tissue now. I would take the rugs off now, and allow it to heal before you need fly rugs. I would also have as lightweight a rug as you can next winter as I think being hot makes the skin more vulnerable.

Next year I would also have an arrangement with foam or thick felt so there is no pressure on that area.

 

[TheMule]

Just take the rug off, that will heal fine with a bit of air to it and the pressure off, and he looks hairy enough to cope

 

[foxy1]

I'm another that would leave the rug off now

 

[Love]

Just seen you have requested a vet visit now but thought I would share this just in case - a fellow livery had success with one of these when trying to heal a wound on their horse's hip after a fall. It kept getting rubbed by rugs which prevented healing. Never used them myself but might work for you if it does turn out to just be rub?

RHEVA Wound Protection Plaster

A must-have in any equine first aid kit! Made from medically-classed plastic, the RHEVA Wound Protection Plaster allows wounds to heal naturally, while protecting them from dirt, insects and moisture.

www.redpostequestrian.co.uk

 

[Bonnie Allie]

Thanks for posting your challenges and solutions. As we head into winter this is about to recommence for one of our retired horses.

Last year on vet advice we used this the wither as it gave a physical barrier as the wound was healing.

Spray On Bandage For Dogs, Horses, Cattle & Other Domestic Pets & Animals

A water resistant spray on bandage dor animal use. In-Silver water-resistant and adhesive properties make it an effective alternative to bandaging active animals or those hard to reach places, making it a must have for your medical kit.

eacanimalcare.com

 

[fiestiemaestie]

Hi my coloured horse had similar. Nodetachable neck rugs and the bib made it worse, I had to sew the sponges directly into the rugs I had and be really careful with placement. I got a 0 fill wug and then just used liners on it, I also cut out the liners (just used cheap ones) so they had a hole over his withers. He lived out 24/7 and seemed to work. He was fully clipped as well as having mane over it made it worse for him as seemed to trap and pull.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Just seen you have requested a vet visit now but thought I would share this just in case - a fellow livery had success with one of these when trying to heal a wound on their horse's hip after a fall. It kept getting rubbed by rugs which prevented healing. Never used them myself but might work for you if it does turn out to just be rub?

RHEVA Wound Protection Plaster

A must-have in any equine first aid kit! Made from medically-classed plastic, the RHEVA Wound Protection Plaster allows wounds to heal naturally, while protecting them from dirt, insects and moisture.

www.redpostequestrian.co.uk

What a good idea! how long did they stay on for?

 

[poiuytrewq]

Thanks for posting your challenges and solutions. As we head into winter this is about to recommence for one of our retired horses.

Last year on vet advice we used this the wither as it gave a physical barrier as the wound was healing.

Spray On Bandage For Dogs, Horses, Cattle & Other Domestic Pets & Animals

A water resistant spray on bandage dor animal use. In-Silver water-resistant and adhesive properties make it an effective alternative to bandaging active animals or those hard to reach places, making it a must have for your medical kit.

eacanimalcare.com

That's something I've not tried. One of few things it feels like!

As for just leaving it off, it is off all day when hes standing in and will be off a soon as i feel but we have had frosts several nights this week and heavy rain so it seems a bit mean to suddenly go from medium to out with nothing over night. Also on a slightly more selfish level, its still so muddy and i just don't have time to be brushing whole body filth off, id never actually ride and he needs as much of that as possible (weight!)
As soon as the weather is slightly more settled it can come off.

 

[Fieldlife]

That's something I've not tried. One of few things it feels like!

As for just leaving it off, it is off all day when hes standing in and will be off a soon as i feel but we have had frosts several nights this week and heavy rain so it seems a bit mean to suddenly go from medium to out with nothing over night. Also on a slightly more selfish level, its still so muddy and i just don't have time to be brushing whole body filth off, id never actually ride and he needs as much of that as possible (weight!)
As soon as the weather is slightly more settled it can come off.

Can you build a much higher frame of support from 2 carwash sponges over withers, so you are sure nothing is touching area?

I have done this to protect an ulcer wound on spine before. Use lots of duct tape and can sew too.

 

[Love]

What a good idea! how long did they stay on for?

I'm not too sure if it was always the same one or they kept having to replace - I will ask them for you!

 

[Spotherisk]

What rugs did the previous owner use? I would recommend half or full neck rugs to take the pressure off. To possibly add to the problem though that area will burn in sunshine - my old skewbald has thin mane hair (too much grooming with his buddy) and without being constantly in a full neck UV rug the area would be crusted and bleeding.

 

[J&S]

I had one particular rug that caused this on both ponies. (went in the bin!) I had vet and was given that sticky green stuff in a tube, dermo something? have a sad feeling it was something that got banned in the EU stage of our lives. May be around again now?