strengthening skin around heels

[angandstar]

hi all a bit of advice please my pony gets cracked heel always the same one on her black leg as oppose to white feathers - vet said its not typical mud fever but every so often it opens up again and is scabby (yellow crusty scabs) area swells and becomes warm i think it is due to previous use of overreach boots or sports medicene boots (not using now) which have weakened the area - anyway any ideas of how to strenghthen the skin when it has healed again i know you can put something on saddle areas to make the skin tougher to try and stop this keep happening - its not always mud related it happens in summer also thats what makes me think it may have overreach boots in first place rubbing when wet with sweat
thanks
angie

 

[Nailed]

If the skin is unbroken, rubbing medical spirit into it wil toughen the skin. Otherwise use a barrier cream whenin the field.. vasaline or oil.

Lou x

 

[angandstar]

hi nailed thanks very much wasnt sure if it was ok to use there or not will do that next time it has healed up properly

 

[Nailed]

You use it on human hands and skin.. Just make sure its healed up.. Does sound like mud rash tho..

Lou x

 

[angandstar]

yeah thats what i thought but vet insisted it wasnt but think it may be the same bacteria getting in the skin as its weak

 

[Vizslak]

winter hoof is great stuff for this my mare gets the same thing.

 

[Sharan]

I find baby oil applied will help no end as it's oil it repels the water.

Just a couple of thoughts,
if it is always the same spot, are you 100% certain there is nothing in it? Maybe a poltice session when it next opens up will draw out a foriegn body.

Bathing in salt water can toughen skin.

If it is a fungal infection then Caledula cream or Canesten are both very good at shifting them.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of it eventually.

 

[angandstar]

yeah thats an interesting thought re foreign body may try that next time and i use winter hoof already on her hooves you meaning to use that on the skin also?

 

[JoLane]

zinc oxide (nappy cream) is excellent for frog and heal health, has improved my mare once withered frogs no end. Obviously yours is a different prob but may help with this too?