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Question:  I bought a horse this fall that had slight aural plaques in her ears and treated them with vetricyn that helped some.. now with the winter coat she has it inside her legs and ventral stomach area... I have not treated her for a few months but she has become very head shy and very touchy under her belly.. any information would be helpful.. Thanks Rose

Answer:  Thanks for your question Rose.  Aural plaques are always limited to the inside of the ears,  I suspect a fungal or bacterial infection on the other parts. -Dr.D.

Q: My horse has a bad case of thrush, I have been usuing many different store bought remedies to cure it but it seems to only be gettting worst.. what home rememby can i use... ?  thanks Devin
 
A:  First the black infected soft horn  tissue has to be removed with a hoof knife by a skilled individual, preferably your farrier. Then scrub out well with betadine or chlorhexidine scrub or even dandruff shampoo.  Rinse and dry with a towel.  If you put any medication on top of the dead tissue and the discharge it will not get to the origins of the infection and will not work. After this preparation you can apply the thrush treatment.  
Then if copper sulfate hasn't worked [the most common treatment-coppertox] you can use bleach one or maybe two times, using a small brush to get it into deeper areas .

Dr. Lisa Wayman
CPVS