Ringworm

[Jade2007]

Okay, so I've just found out we've now got ringworm up our yard. We've been so unlucky this year, firstly we had equine influenza and now ringworm.

I don't really know much about ringworm tbh, so though I'd ask about it - quarenteen time, what it looks like, personal experiences etc. and any advice.

Also, lately my horse as had a scab on his rump, which we peeled and it was just flesh underneath. He's only had the one so is it just a coincidence or could this be ringworm?

 

[shadowboy]

One of the first yards i kept shadow in had ringworm- it spread slowly to start with but then very quickly- it was odd because some horses had it and others didnt and some had the circles on their faces and others on their bums. We were in isolation untill 3 weeks after the last new horse to show the symptoms, I think in total this was just over 6 weeks. The whole yard had a disinfecting day- where all our rugs etc was sorted and all the stables treated- every livery fully mucked out their box (which meant £80 worth of hemp bedding was lost for me) and the bedding was burnt. All horses were treated even if no sign of the hair loss. Tack all had to be done and the medication cost a fortune too! £52 for two bottles! which treated either 4 horses or 2 horses twice. The younger horses all got it, some of the older ones too- but generally the 8/9/10-12 year olds bar one never caught it- either immune from a previous infection or better immune systems
Ringworm can look soo diffenent from horse to horse. Shadows spots were tiny- some horses had massive big circular hair loss on their faces which were quite nasty.
It came in with a new livery. I was told thrush cream can help but never tried it- stupid girl didnt bother telling anyone as she didnt want us to kick her off the yard!

 

[catembi]

Scab sounds like ringworm.

Basically it looks like a ring of manky fur... It starts as a circular patch, then the scab falls off as you've described, then the 'middle' heals but it spreads outwards, hence the ring appearance.

It honestly isn't the end of the world. My old mare had it once ages ago. I had a tiny bottle of liquid to dilute in water & I had to wash her & all her equipt in it, then repeat 10 days later.

Don't know re quarantine as there were only my 2 on the yard. Can't rem if I had to wash the other one or not. All the horses should prob be treated at the same time, maybe??

It will be gone in no time & the coat will regrow the right colour ie not white.

 

[Jade2007]

Based on Shadowmonkey's description, if the fungus is kept under control we will hopefully be able to start goin out in december.
It started when a horse came up the yard (young) and had a rash all over its face, they were just small spots, however the vet said that it wasn't ringworm. Another horse came up the yard and about 3 days ago came up with ringworm, and today another. So we're not sure which horse brought it up the yard. The stupid thing is that no one was told and I only found out today, meaning I could have easily touched an infected horse! Atleast this time it's not serious, like the influenza.

 

[shadowboy]

When the first horse to show signs of the ringworm had the symptoms, the vet also said it wasnt ringworm, but further tests by another vet confirmed it was.....

 

[Tia]

The best thing for ringworm is MTG made by Shapleys - you have to import it from the States but it is fabulous for ringworm, rainscald, mud fever and any other bacterial infection....pretty much cuts it dead!

Povidone Iodine is another thing which is readily available at your local pharmacy, once again, it kills the bacteria on contact but it is very messy to use and it stains you and anything it touches.

Ringworm only has a short lifespan so it really isn't too big a deal, however quarantining until the last signs are well and truly gone are by far the best way to deal with this and stop the spread.

 

[Jade2007]

Okay so guess who got out of his stable and ate everyones feed?! Yep, Milo, one of the infected horses (on his nose). And to make it worse some stupid person has put all of the empty buckets in the horses stable so that they can clean the bucket. Well THANKYOU VERY MUCH who ever that was. Sometimes people are so thick.

 

[Lauren1234]

also a good treatment for it is imavernol which is what i used when paddy got it.

 

[Wishful]

Be careful where you touch, I'm sure it's transmissible to people. I've heard stories of a bloke who got it on his privates - imagine explaining that one to the doctor...

 

[Malibu]

When I bought Rupert he had just had Ringworm, the owner of him said it was not active as there was no new rings and was clearing up but i disinfected my stable for a week cleaned all his rugs and tack everything he had contact with including horse box and me and it never came up again so i must have done something right; we also got a liquid from the vets which you can ask for but do wear gloves etc as you could get it from the horse.

 

[henryhorn]

The best way is to get the stuff from the vet , dilute it and spray everything. Use a plant sprayer to do rugs, walls, etc and power wash all buckets and brushes etc.
We got it last year and I am expecting it to surface again come autumn, we did wash everything but it can live on rubbing places in spores and re-attach itself to horses/people/rugs etc.
I don't envy you, it's a mammoth task to clear it. ps don't forget daft things like your riding boots, you have to do everything with the stuff.
I did read somewhere that tea tree is very effective against it, so perhaps use some of that too.