ringworm

[Deleted]

My poor horse sultan has ringworm starting on his neck head - has anyone had any experience of this?
Can you make any suggestiuons as to useful treatments that will stop it spreading, especially if its homeopathic or herbal.

Theres another horse he hangs out with in the herd that has it too but much worse.
His owner told me her this horse gets sweet itch, so for months Ive been looking at his head thinking it was sweet itch which isnt contagious until sultan started getting a similar thing this week, round bald scaly patrches, and black scaly bald patches on his face... Its awful to see it happening, I dont want him to lose his coat like this.

[leannwithconnie]

You have my sympathy as my my pony gets it too from time to time.
I have to say that the only thing that appears to clear for her is a product called Mycrophyt . Its a powder that you make up into a wash and bathe the horse in it.
When she first got it I tried some oral paste that I was given but it didn't clear up. It would be wise to wash all the brushes and numnahs etc too in it.
I'm not sure if it is only available from vets but it does the trick for Connie and she rarely gets an outbreak no.
hope this helps

[Deleted]

I'll look into that, cheers - did you have to isolate connie? Im just wondering if I need to put him in my freinds field for a month.

[leannwithconnie]

No no need to isolate but if you do go down this road it may be worth washing the other horse too so as not to reinfect. [obviously you will need owners permission]
edit to add it lives in wood but horses do eventually build up a resistance to it...as I said Connie used to get an outbreak every year but now it is only now and agin.

[mickey]

TBH Id not try herbal / homeopathic- Id go and get something from the vets and get it cleared up. Speak to vet re treating other horse as it is contagious- so a bit pointless treating yours and not the other. Keep an eye out for it on yourself as I believe humans can catch it from horses.

[rose]

If you want to save on vet fees any antifungal cream should work. Our vet once told us to use Canasten Cream which can be bought really cheaply over the counter. This cheap but effective method might be more effective in early stages of ringworm. Good Luck.

[dalesponyrider]

I used to use canasten cream on D. That was my own idea so I'm glad your vet agrees Evie! LOL!

[Deleted]

hi, ill talk to my vet tomorrow. Im doing herbaly stuff right now lavender oil/cider vinegar and about to get some hilton herbs to build up his immune system. willalso ask the vet about canasten - it is just fungus after all so should be fairly straight forward to treat and so far only half a dozen patches of ringworm.

did the canasan work?

Also the vets scared me by telling me to wear gloves and hibiscrub everything - seems a bit impractical to me as he lives out and i dont share tack or brushes...

thanks for all your replies btw its really helpful to hear different ideas.

[dalesponyrider]

Yes it worked a treat. It also worked on the bit on Joe's chest that he caught from her! LOL!

[Deleted]

great - will get some then!

[SuzieP]

Canesten didn't work on me when I caught it from my cat - but Lamisil fixed it. It's sold to treat athletes foot, which is a fungal thing like ringworm.

Lindaaaaaaa - how did Joe get ringworm on his chest from D? He didn't go visiting her barechested did he? LOL

Mind you, by the same token you could ask how I got ringworm on my bum from my cat? It was really embarrassing, but my lovely GP said I'd probably given myself that patch. I got it on my arms from the cat.

[zeldalithgow]

Oh Sue your poor cat imagine sitting on it

[SuzieP]

ROFL - poor Mojo!

[Debbie]

In the US, we're taught its highly contagious, and to isolate any horse from the others. As your friend's horse has it too, they can buddy up for the recouping.

Yes, you'll want some form of an antifungal to fully remove the problem. And YES! Humans do indeed catch it as well, so protective gloves wouldn't be a bad idea.

For homeopathic remedies, skip any for direct contact with the ringworm, and focus on immune boosting.

[leannwithconnie]

I must have been really licky never to have caught it from Connie in all the time she has had outbreaks. I suppose perhaps some people are more easily infected than others.
Sue...lol at the ringworm on the buttocks ;D