Medicated shampoo, which one?

JennBags

JennBags

HHOSS Wonder Woman
Joined
21 May 2002
Messages
18,432
Location
West Sussex
Visit site
My horse has got a nasty skin infection, which the vet thinks stems from some sort of eczema and has suggested getting medicated shampoo to clean it up, there are loads out there and just wondered if there are any that you wise lot recommend.
 
Only horse medicated shampoo I have used for minor things is Dermoline.

However, if it is something a bit more stuck I prefer something that also has a fungiside in, as often I believe bacterial infections that won't shift are also partly fungal in nature.

I have had great success with Malaseb shampoo, sold for dogs. Clears up mud fever very well.
 
I washed the donkeys once a week in neem oil shampoo and put neem oil on their weird skin infection/reaction thing they had in spring time, worked really well!

you could always wash in hibiscrub and put neem oil on afterwards, I did that the previous year and worked well too!
 
Yeah hibiscrub is quite drying, I washed less often when using it, donkey had weird coat thingy last year but did the first 2 washes with hibiscrub with neem on in between and then didn't wash anymore.

Think neem oil shampoo is better, tried that this year (donkey seems to develop a sort of sweet itch reaction to something but isn't sweet itch as only lasts for a month max, not contagious as other donkey didn't get it and donkey still had mane?!) and seemed to be more soothing for donkey, but hibi is harsh.

Not sure on most else, sorry!
 
I have the dermoline one it's pretty good and works well for itchy skin in the summer, I have used malaseb for rain scaled but you need to get that from your vet, I wouldn't use hibiscrub it's not good for prolonged use and can irritate some skin conditions.
 
When my horse had a skin condition my vet recommended dermoline which worked well.

I would though ask your vet, if they recommended you use one I would expect them to give a view on what would work best for your specific issue.
 
Hibiscrub is a surgical scrub not a shampoo, and can cause irritation and delay healing. I have a bottle in my first aid kit but tbh I can't remember the last time I used it. Iodine is a much better option if you need to clean wounds etc, but I wouldn't use that either for rain scald.

Malaseb is great stuff, but last time I checked it was a POM
 
Last edited:
I’ve used Fungatrol shampoo on mudfever successfully which is pretty much the same as rain scald. It’s good at softening any scabs. Despite its name it also contains anti-bacterial properties. Other than than on small patches like they get on their faces I just smother in Sudocreme and rub off scabs when softened, then apply a bit more.
 
If theres a fungal element I would use Malaseb or head and shoulders which is a good anti fungal you need to dissolve it in a bucket because it’s very thick . I always started with hibi to deal with infection then moved on to H and S you will may need something topical to put on something’s a steroid or flammazine if it’s infected the vet will need to advise you .
I never buy Malseb now I just use head and shoulders .
Fatty was immune suppressed for years after his brush with death so got very good at dealing with things like this .
Always dry well with towels that you wash in very hot water and I add hibi or dettol to water .
Don’t mix towels and use them on others it’s best to keep a bucket and sponge for use only on this horse .
Has the horse a raised white cell count or any other symptoms ?
 
Red-1 said:
Only horse medicated shampoo I have used for minor things is Dermoline.

However, if it is something a bit more stuck I prefer something that also has a fungiside in, as often I believe bacterial infections that won't shift are also partly fungal in nature.

I have had great success with Malaseb shampoo, sold for dogs. Clears up mud fever very well.
Click to expand...


I only use Malaseb on DP when he has mud fever. He had a slight hair loss/bald patch issue this summer for reasons unknown as it wasn't rainscald or lice and one treatment of Malaseb cleared it up immediately.
 
I've always just used the CD&M medicated shampoo but not had to deal with anything that would really test a shampoo, just a bit of mild mud fever, for which it did the trick. I put the wound cream on after too.
 
I alternated between Medivet and Polytar on M when he had a skin infection, which seemed to work well.
 
Last edited:
I use Head & Shoulders on my vet's recommendation for my very scurvy sweet itch horse - it works a treat and leave's her coat lovely and soft and her skin clear. I only need to use it about once a month in summer and the difference in all the crud and yuck on her skin this year has been remarkable.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top