Clipping problems

[galaxy]

Thanks - has taken a while but fingers crossed we're getting there. Once its cleared i'm planning on using pig oil & sulphur to keep the area supple and hopefully prevent any future infections. Just want my girl mended

My friends cob gets this. He's had all sorts of treatments to try and clear it up (mites treatment, anti-b's) and nothing touched it. She now keeps the hair short. She clips his legs, but then keeps the bad areas really short in between clips with scissors.

She tried pig oil and it made it worse! She then realised that of course on sunny days she was putting OIL on already troubled pink skin. Massive no no!!! She was just burning the skin!

So she keeps the hair very short the whole time and smears e45 or MSN cream on it to keep the crust supple, then it doesn't crack and bleed.

 

[Dexydoodle]

My friends cob gets this. He's had all sorts of treatments to try and clear it up (mites treatment, anti-b's) and nothing touched it. She now keeps the hair short. She clips his legs, but then keeps the bad areas really short in between clips with scissors.

She tried pig oil and it made it worse! She then realised that of course on sunny days she was putting OIL on already troubled pink skin. Massive no no!!! She was just burning the skin!

So she keeps the hair very short the whole time and smears e45 or MSN cream on it to keep the crust supple, then it doesn't crack and bleed.

Good point, although I was thinking more of using the P&S during the winter to prevent her mud fever, but may reconsider for the scabby bits behind her knees. Probably being dense but what is MSN cream?

 

[galaxy]

Good point, although I was thinking more of using the P&S during the winter to prevent her mud fever, but may reconsider for the scabby bits behind her knees. Probably being dense but what is MSN cream?

After seeing what it did to my friends cob I would be careful using oil on pink skin.... even in the winter some days are very sunny. Have you looked at udder cream?

You can get MSN cream in most saddleries and feed stores. It is a very thick cream (similar consistency to sudocream) so stays on well. It has MSN in it which is an anti-inflammatory as is great on cuts, grazes and sore skin.

 

[Dexydoodle]

Nope not yet, before the vet came out i'd tried aloe, vaseline, muddy marvel, sudocream, aqueous cream and the list goes on. Think the aloe is working to soften and the fuciderm to clear the infection, just need to figure out the next step to prevent her getting it again.

And get her legs clipped so she doesn't look like I just forgot! Or ran out of enthusiasm 95% of the way through

 

[only_me]

If a twitch works, then I would use it

If we are clipping a horse's head, we would always twitch - safer for both horse and clipper, plus cuts down the time taken by over half!

I see nothing wrong with using a lip twitch, if it takes 10mins to do her legs then there wouldnt be any nerve damage

 

[galaxy]

Nope not yet, before the vet came out i'd tried aloe, vaseline, muddy marvel, sudocream, aqueous cream and the list goes on. Think the aloe is working to soften and the fuciderm to clear the infection, just need to figure out the next step to prevent her getting it again.

And get her legs clipped so she doesn't look like I just forgot! Or ran out of enthusiasm 95% of the way through

I don't think any of those products will help with mud fever while it's still there (it used to say that on the back of the packets? Does it not any more). Your only option is to get rid of all the mud fever scabs first.

Don't worry, my friend cob looks very "interesting" sometimes, when she hasn't clipped his legs for a while and just has a hge scissored bald patch behind his knees!

 

[Dexydoodle]

I don't think any of those products will help with mud fever while it's still there (it used to say that on the back of the packets? Does it not any more). Your only option is to get rid of all the mud fever scabs first.

Don't worry, my friend cob looks very "interesting" sometimes, when she hasn't clipped his legs for a while and just has a hge scissored bald patch behind his knees!

Was trying them cos we couldn't figure out what it was (the scabby knees not the mudfever) - her previous owners told me it was just where she got sweaty and they used to brush the scabs out so I was trying to soften them as they were very sore for her. Turns out to be a chronic skin infection. And the sudocream is actually working wonders for her mud fever (she's not got it really badly, just a couple of small patches) and when I told the vet what I was using he said it was great for healing it and what he would have recommended as a first port of call. Different courses for different horses I guess

 

[littleme]

Tried the leg, doesn't work! she's a smart cookie (and think this has been going on for years so she's learnt little tricks) and knows she can lean on you and she will put her full weight on you and keep picking up the leg she doesn't want you to touch.

Is sedalin the paste that you can get from the vet?

Ah I see. YEs it is A lot lot cheaper than paying for the vet to actually sedate!

To be fair I just sold a pony who wasn't easy to clip but i managed it, but her new owners struggled and are going to get vet to sedate, so she may not have been sedated before, i think clipping tricky horses is more of a skill than most people think!

 

[Carefreegirl]

Just a tip that maybe useful for a nervous horse whilst being clipped like mine is. For a few days before I use hand held massagers on her bits that she doesn't like and the vibration is similar to clippers but as she fidgets you can keep the massager held on the spot moving with her without any fear of cutting her as obviously no blades. As soon as she stands still take them away. I used to have to clip my horse bit by bit over a period of 6 days but now can clip out totally in one go although I don't do her legs. You could do that with your mare straight away and all through the summer.

 

[Dexydoodle]

Just a tip that maybe useful for a nervous horse whilst being clipped like mine is. For a few days before I use hand held massagers on her bits that she doesn't like and the vibration is similar to clippers but as she fidgets you can keep the massager held on the spot moving with her without any fear of cutting her as obviously no blades. As soon as she stands still take them away. I used to have to clip my horse bit by bit over a period of 6 days but now can clip out totally in one go although I don't do her legs. You could do that with your mare straight away and all through the summer.

Thanks will try that - guess if I can get her used to that, and heal up the sore bits, then eventually the association of pain with clipping will go. Fingers crossed anyway!

 

[Ditchjumper2]

I am another one in favour of a twitch, don't see the problem. I am happy to use one on anything that needs it. It makes the whole clipping job quicker and easier and most importantly safer for you. It is all very well people saying they disagree or it is cruel but you need to safeguard yourself. Once you have clipped the area make sure you keep clipping his legs every 3 weeks otherwise the scabs will break out again behind his knees. If he still walks off or strikes out tie a leg up!!

 

[riversideeu]

Hi
I too use a twitch when clipping my cobs front legs due to previous mite infestation and sore knees and her memory of pain. Her previous owner told me how she has broken up the concrete in her stable stamping ! I only need it on a few minutes and is much better for her than having to sedate her once a month. Try dermisol for the sores, I find it better than anything. I found pig oil was a little harsh and seems to scald her skin even in winter.