Ringworm .. are we doing the right thing?

[no_no_nanette]

Our 2 youngsters who we took to an event at a local agricultural college recently have both developed ringworm - as none of the others have it, we think that they must have picked it up whilst they were there. We are getting the scabs off and dabbing the exposed skin with iodine, but apart from that letting it run its course. I remember being told by our vet at the time when the family pony got it some years ago that it was no longer regarded as "panic stations", and although unsightly that it was better to let it run its course as that would help the horse develop immunity in case of being exposed to it again. Is this right, and does anyone have any treatment advice? Just need to check that we are doing the right thing! Its very annoying, as had planned to take the yearling to a show in October, and I'm not sure that there will be hair regrowth over all the "rings" by then. Hmmm, horses!!

 

[em1]

I would worry about it spreading, since while it doesn't seem to affect the horses much - other than they might get a bit sore & itchy, it's highly contagious & can hide away & reappear so I would want to get it eradicated as soon as possible. Best way I know is to get some Immaverol (sp?) from the vet - you dilute it loads & wipe it over absolutely everything - the ringworm itself, headcollars, stable doors, mangers, etc etc. Repear it every 4 days or so I think.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Personnally I would be getting some treatment from the vet, rather than letting it run its course. I know they are supposed to develope their own immunity in 6 weeks, but who wants to wait that long??? In the mean time, make sure you take care to wash you hand thoroughly after handling and scrub any equipement used with virkon to stop it being spread. Additionally if you have any cats, be extra careful not to pass it on to them as I believe it is nearly impossible to treat cats for ringworm.

 

[alicejefford12]

Imaverol is the best thing for ringworm, you can get it from your vet but is loads cheaper if you get it off the net.

You dilute it alot so the bottle will last for ages. Also will clear it up quicker than iodine so you will have better chance of hair regrowth in time!

 

[OakeyT]

Imaverol is the best treatment, follow the instructions carefully and treat everything in contact. The spores can live on fence posts, stables etc for ages so ensure everywhere is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. It is highly contagious- including to people! but can be sucessfully treated in all species including cats (one of mine used to pick it up regularly). It is a fungus, very similar to that found in athletes foot. Whilst unslightly it is self limiting and will resolve with or without treatment.

 

[Laafet]

Imaverol doesn't always work, what we find is best at work is diluted Virkon wash upto four times a day, killed my horse's ringworm in a week which he caught off my clothes from work even though I had been careful. At work they would only use imaverol and the poor horses had it for weeks. No other horse at the livery yard where my own horse was kept caught it so must have been the right thing to do.

 

[no_no_nanette]

Thanks guys, am realising that we were really being much too casual about it, as we are a "closed yard" (our own little stud), without thinking through the implications for AJ who works on another stud and cares for the horses during the week - and also my poor cat!! Have ordered Imaverol on the internet, and will also treat stables, etc with Virkon. The weather hasn't helped, as we have had both the yearling and foal in rugs 'cos of wind and torrential rain, which the ringworm must have loved! So now have to treat rugs as well ..... grrrrrr. VERY fed up with the Ag College, as someone somewhere must have known ......

 

[Orangehorse]

Ringworm can affect horses if they get it badly enough. Mine was plastered down the whole of one side and despite loads of stuff from the vet it took quite a time to resolve.

He seemed a bit off colour even when the hair starting growing back again (absoluteley no trace of the ringworm at all, I'm glad to say) and I was talking to someone who had worked in a dealer's yard and she said it can affect young horses and drag them down, so I gave mine some time off as it was autumn. I also got some "Restore" from Global Herbs as he had lots of the medicine that said "not to be used by women of child bearing age" so was pretty toxic.

 

[Twinkletoes]

[ QUOTE ]
I would worry about it spreading, since while it doesn't seem to affect the horses much - other than they might get a bit sore & itchy, it's highly contagious & can hide away & reappear so I would want to get it eradicated as soon as possible. Best way I know is to get some Immaverol (sp?) from the vet - you dilute it loads & wipe it over absolutely everything - the ringworm itself, headcollars, stable doors, mangers, etc etc. Repear it every 4 days or so I think.

[/ QUOTE ]
I agree. Ensure tack, stable etc properly cleaned. V contageous.

 

[Livia]

My horse has had ringworm recently. I still have yet to do her fourth treatment with the Imaverol wash.
I have a problem - I plan to move yards at the end of this week, that being Saturday 13th Sept.
Her final treatment is Wednes 10th Sept.
Is she clear to move after the final treatment? Bearing in mind this is in fact an all over body treatment.

 

[dumpling]

I know that it should run it's course for about 4 weeks. I know someone that treated it with iodine and basics scrubs during that time.

Just make sure you burn bedding aswell as it can live in the bed and wood, etc