PINEHURST, NC - February, 2017 - It starts with a tiny scab that you pick at thinking it’s just a little something crusty. The weather is cold, wet, and muddy, and fussing with your horse’s legs is the last thing you want to do. So you say goodnight and the next morning that little scab has not only quadrupled in size, but has spread to another leg. Welcome to Scratches Season.
The term "Scratches" refers to a chronic and progressive equine dermatitis, which can be both fungal and bacterial that infects the deep layers of skin in the heel and pastern of the horse. It is known by many names including: greasy heel, mud fever, dew poisoning, cracked heels or equine pastern dermatitis. The conditions for its development are primarily damp, muddy pastures and the constant wetting and drying of skin in the area of the leg and hoof. Horses with white legs or socks tend to have this dermatitis more often because their un-pigmented skin is more susceptible to chaffing and abrasion, which opens the way for infection. Other causes for scratches include insects and parasites, excessive washing of legs, and long feathers that retain moisture, sand, and grit.
There are different approaches to resolving Scratches and many involve harsh, stinging chemicals and painful scab removal. Banixx® provides a 2-step effective remedy that will keep your horse happy, while quickly eradicating both the fungal and bacterial components of this dermatitis.
Step 1 - Shampoo the affected legs/pasterns with Banixx® Medicated Shampoo with Marine Collagen. Removal of hair around the affected area is not required, but can be of benefit when working with long winter coats and feathers. If you do remove some hair, be sure not to nick the scabs and cause bleeding. Allow the shampoo to remain on the legs for 3-5 minutes, rinse thoroughly, and dry with a clean towel.
Step 2 - Saturate the entire area two times a day (AM and PM) with Banixx® Horse & Pet Care Solution until the situation resolves. If possible, move your horse to a drier location. Within a few days, the scabs will naturally fall off and the infection will begin to clear. Shampooing does not need to done daily unless the horse lives in a muddy environment. Observations made by veterinarians are that Banixx®, unlike many harsh anti-infective treatments, does not cause additional trauma to tissue that is already compromised by Scratches. Though gentle on the skin and non-toxic, Banixx® creates an environment that is hostile to bacteria and fungus, and enables your horse to harness its total energy into healing itself.
And the next time you notice a little nick or scab on your horse’s body, don’t hesitate, grab your bottles of Banixx® and get to work!
Banixx®, a division of Sherborne Corporation, was chosen by Horse Journal as the Top Product Of The Year. Banixx® fights infections associated with wounds, fungus, rain rot, ringworm, hot spots, dog ear infections, scratches (mud fever), abscesses, thrush, white line disease, bacterial & fungal infections, and secondary infections from bug bites and itches. In addition to be being highly effective in treating a wide variety of infections, Banixx® is non-toxic, odorless, colorless, does not sting, will not stain or discolor fur/hair, does not kill live tissue, and contains no essential oils, making it safe to use on sensitive animals such as cats, birds, alpacas, llamas, and reptiles. The company recently added Banixx® Medicated Shampoo with Marine Collagen to their stable of safe and effective anti-infective products. Banixx®, made in America, is available nationally through retails stores and online catalogs, and can also be purchased in China, Central America, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas.
For more information on Banixx® products, please visit www.Banixx.com, or email Banixx® at [email protected], or call us at 877-944-0795. Please contact Banixx® for high-resolution photograph requests. And be sure to join our lively Facebook page with over 26,000 fans.