Aural plaques: a possible cure??

[Heidi_123]

Hi all. My horse has always had aural plaques (scaly wartlike things on the inside of her ears preventing hair growth) since we bought her 3 years ago. Over the last six months we have been feeding her NAF Biotin for increased hoof growth and have noticed a significant improvement in her aural plaques. Research about biotin has said that it can be used to improve skin conditions such as cradle cap and dermititis in humans. Her ears have gone from being completely covered inside with no hair, to ony a small strip in the centre of each ear and a little at the base inside with hair growth everywhere except where the few plaques remain.

I would be very interested to see if biotin had the same effect on other horses with aural plaques as I know what a frustrating thing they are (we used to have to undo the cheek pieces on the bridle, couldn't wear a flymask with ears), and also there is currently no complete cure except a cream which has had mixed results and you have to rub it on the plaques which my horse would have problay killed me for doing! Since this dramatic improvement I can now do both of these without any fuss at all.

Thanks

 

[vicijp]

I feed biotin as standard, and have had plenty with plaques it makes no difference to whatsoever.
I got some of that cream and asked my vet to have a look at it, he said it was basically well marketed Savlon.
His only approach would be to sedate, scrape off and soak with iodine, but it would still be a temporary solution in most cases.
Don't see the point in trying to fix what ain't broke.

 

[Jericho]

interesting. my little welsh mare is very nervous around her ears, the vet couldnt see any aural plaques but her ears are very tiny and very hairy so they may have been lower down. I might try her on biotin (the others are on it anyway) to see if it makes any difference

 

[CarolynDorey]

Interesting mix of views here - SecretH if this appears to be working for your horse keep on with it and let us know if the improvement continues.

You are correct in saying that biotin has given positive results in the treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis in humans and as views on what causes aural plaques are mixed (hpv, flies, autoimmune response) perhaps the biotin has caused the improvement you mention.

vicijp - maybe it depends on the level of biotin fed? Have to say that sedating, scraping and soaking may only serve to exacerbate problems in a horse that doesn't like having its ears handled.