Pastern Dermatitis - tips for preventing in future

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hairycob

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HP has been to Vet &, naturally, he was hardly lame at all today!
Vet has found dermatitis on his pastern, caused by mites, that is very sore so we have a regime of antibiotics & cream for the next 2 weeks. They've put his feathers in bunches so they could clip of the minimum needed - hope the other horses don't laugh at him.
I feel like a really bad Mummy as I have not been using pig oil & sulphur over the winter. I was using it religiosly last summer & autumn, but as he lives out the mud never really gets dry enough to brush off so I can reapply. So looking for tips on how to manage next winter. Am I best off trimming his feather (I'd rather not but if needs must)? Is it best to bring him in every night to dry off or just say once a week or fortnight?
His feathers are really, really thick & you can't really see the skin very well at all (in my defence it was the 4th Vet who found the problem on the 6th checkup!).
 
You have to use P&S all year round, but can just use sulphur in summer - have you had my long PM about keeping hairies in top show condition and healthy legs. PM me if you want it.

Leave hair on but bring in once a week if you have a swamp field and every other week for normal conditions and let legs dry off - mud should fall off and then apply P&S. You can put it on muddy wet legs if you have to, but better on dry and reasonably clean ones.

Do not wash out legs unless you need them clean for a show in winter - this makes things worse.

Touch wood my four hairies have never had mites or skin problems since I learnt the dark arts of P&S.

For the sore spots, sudocream, sulphur and teatree mix I make up really does the business.
 
Thanks Theresa, I was sure I would get a response from you!
I have had your treatise on P&S but just found it difficult to get the mud off this winter. I didn't have access to a stable which didn't help. He is in borrowed stable at the mo & I should have my own to use in a couple of weeks.
 
Ok quick way round mud, with a little cold water and brush, get off the worst and use some straw, shavings, old towel to dry as much as possible. Then get with the P&S - damp hair will be fine if the worst of the mud is off.

Once you go down the P&S route, you have to stick with it, autumn and winter are the most vunerable times for mites. The stuff will also keep his hair in wonderful condition - protect from bog burn and stop it staining.

Hope it all clears up - do try the sudocream mix on the sore areas and leave the hair on unless they are infected.

The joys of hairy horses
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Not on hairy legs - the long hair takes in the oil, but the actual skin is normally white, clean and dry when you part the hair.

As said, ideally dry legs, but if they are slightly damp, you won't have a problem. You can dry off the heels with a handful of sulphur if you want - works a treat.

Hope it clears up soon and stays away.
 
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