cantharidin/ spanish fly/ red blister

[Firehorse]

anyone heard of or used this stuff before?? my vet said i should try this on an old scar my horse has, as tried conucrescine and aloe vera without any effect. googling the above tells me its a sexual stimulant, a wart remover and poisonous to horses, human etc etc. he said its a very old treatment he's not sure you can even get now, but swears by it as he saw it used on coronets to help feet grow while he was training. i'm not so sure i want to try it after the few things i've read about it. either me or my horse my end up jumping every other horse/human we see,!!! or end up poisoned from it. just wondered if anyone knows of it and if it works or not, thanks.

 

[amage]

I've seen Red Blister used for Blistering horses with Tendon injuries....NEVER heard of it working on scars

 

[onemoretime]

I thought red blister went out years ago. I would be surprised if you can still get it. You have to be very careful using it as is does just that "blister" the area where you put it. Yes, it would help hooves to grow because in effect it causes a wound (blister, rather more like a running sore) so that the body rushes to speed up the healing process thus making hooves grow if put on coronet band.

It was used a lot years ago in racing stables when horses had tendon injuries as was firing which is banned in this country. I have used and still have a bottle of "Workalin" which is a working blister (meaning you can work the horse whilst using it (providing its sound) unlike red blister where horse has to be tied up 24 hours a day otherwise will knaw the leg and do a lot of damage). I dont think you can even buy Workalin now though, though you may be able to still get it in Ireland. It only causes a dry scab to form and the horse is not aware of whats going on. I use it for splints and its very effective.

I would not use Red Blister even if you could buy it, its nasty stuff.