Greasy Shins / Equine Cannon Keratosis

[Northern Hare]

Hi, my horse gets greasy shins on his hind cannon, particularly in the summer, but this year they are worse. I have tried washing them with Nizoral shampoo, and used Flamazine, but that hasn't helped. He has quite sensitive TB skin so I need to be careful so as not to make him sore.

Any suggestions please?

 

[DonskiWA]

If you soak them in baby oil overnight, they wash off really well. It's not a cure, but does clean it up for a week or so.

 

[epemberton94]

Someone once said about using Hibiscrub for this I'm sure? Although if he has sensitive skin would you be able to use that? My dog has sensitive skin so I use my horse shampoo on his (Show Ready), it has all the ingredients on so you know what you're using. May be worth looking into if you have to be careful with shampoo?

 

[Frumpoon]

Quite common I think, I used to use hibiscrub diluted in a bucket of water then rinse thoroughly

 

[tallyho!]

Greasy as in flaky? Gunky? Crusty?

Shins are notorious areas of general crud.

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

If its those scabby bits on hind cannon bones, I have always smothered in sudocrem, loosely cling filmed and then bandaged/booted for 24 hours. Then do it again the next day. After a day or two of being wrapped in clingfilm, they scabs tend to come off really easily.

It doesn't really matter if the horse has boots or bandages on but I would put boots on to go out in the field and bandages when stabled. The sudocrem is oily enough to remove the scabs and soothe the new skin below.

 

[noblesteed]

I use hibiscrub to wash them off very gently. I put gold label wonder gel on, that seems to soothe them but they always come back.
My horse's are worse this year too, maybe it's the damp?

 

[Northern Hare]

Dear all, thank you very much for all of your recommendations. I washed the shins in a very diluted solution hibiscrub in warm water, and then applied a load of Sudocream. I left it on during the day whilst he stood in his stable and reapplied later in the evening and the next day, the "crud" had softened so I was able to remove it from the front of his shins. I then applied more Sudocream.

The near hind was great the next day - mostly clear, but his off hind felt quite warm to the touch and was puffy and swollen. I applied some Flamazine to the area twice a day for a couple of days. The skin developed scabs a bit like mud fever, but the Flamazine has helped that and that leg is now clear as well!

Thanks again for your advice - I hadn't thought of using cream/ointment to soften the crud, but I knew I didn't want to scrape it off dry in case it damaged his skin. Now I know how to clear it off, I will make sure I keep on top of it.