Best horse wound care products according to redditors

Hi, pharmacy tech (for humans) here.

I noticed that the active ingredient in several of the shampoos/lotions/wipes you're using is chlorhexidine gluconate. Now I'm not sure if the strength is comparable, but that solution is available over the counter under the brand name Hibiclens (along with whatever store brands there might be). You can also buy a whole gallon of the stuff on Amazon for about $23 (I just googled the name of the chemical). I'm sure there's other ingredients in those expensive wipes, but if that's the only active ingredient, maybe it could save you a little money to buy it in bulk online!

Anyway, you're great for doing this for your animal and not just abandoning him! Kudos OP :)

Edit: here's the link to the product I found http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00061MU9W?vs=1

Try a chlorhexidine soak. It's people safe, used in mouthwashes and pre surgical scrubs but also used as a disinfectant in veterinary medicine. I found several studies that says it's very effective against yeast such as candida. This study says it works at only .2% solution. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4834379/

We buy it on Amazon in a jug of 2% solution and dilute it for cleaning. We learned about it when we got a ball python because they are very delicate but it's a safe option to sanitize the tank. This is the listing we buy from. It's for animals but I'm sure it's fine since you'll be washing it out afterwards anyway. I'd do an overnight soak of anything diaper related.

Chlorhexidine 2% for Horses & Dogs, One Gallon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HHNZVW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-OdJDbSJY84W3

As has already been suggested, a vet visit is your best course of action.

Until such time as you're able to do that, i would suggest cleaning it with Chlorehexidine. It's a good anti-bacterial/anti-fungal and safe to use on her skin - just keep it away from her mouth, nose, and eyes.

I'd put some on a toothbrush and scrub that area with it, then rinse with warm water and dry.

That will help kill off any surface nasties that might be on that area, until you can get her to the vet.

I highly recommend it. It helps me get support for my hands and other joints. I like it more than compression gloves or other options. I can choose what areas need support, and the tape only sticks to itself. I buy a variety pack of different colors and usually coordinate with my outfits.

Link to the one I buy for anyone interested: 2 Inch Vet Wrap Tape Bulk... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UEHDRQI?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Go to your local tack shop. They have something very similar to bondage tape called vet wrap that only sticks to itself. Near me it's only a couple dollars a roll. It also comes in a variety of colours. If you can't find it locally, there's always Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Tape-Adherent-Adhering-Stick-Bandage/dp/B00TNJJOCE/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1464183012&sr=1-2&keywords=Vet+wrap

Vet Wrap! It's cheap, easy, and replaceable (if it ever gets gross and poopy). Not as hard on their feet either.

All good recommendations here – having a harness / backpack with a good sturdy handle on top is invaluable in situations where you might need to help your pup up and over an obstacle.

Things that haven't been listed yet:

• Vet Wrap is a great addition to your first aid kit for both canine and human injuries. It sticks to itself, but not to anything else – perfect for fur (and really hairy human legs)
  
• Quick Clot is nice to have for dog injuries since dogs cannot understand "stop moving and hold pressure on this point."
  
• If your hike is somewhere with rattlesnakes, the rattlesnake vaccine is recommended. (Note – the rattlesnake vaccine doesn't make your dog impervious to snake bites, just gives you more time to evacuate them in the event that the do get bitten. It's not a miracle drug, but worth it if you need it.)
  
• Booties are nice to have in your pack in case the terrain is rougher than you expect – easier to throw on a pair of booties preemptively than carry a dog with roughed up paws. Make sure you're keeping an eye on the paws so that you can add extra protection before the pads are damaged.
  
  Hope that helps! The most important thing to remember to bring is your own common sense. Your dog will push himself past his limits if you let him – it's your job to keep both of you safe. Have a great hike!
  

Get some blu-kote

I had a tweak playing racketball on a rainy day and it took nearly a year to get to 90% recovered. I did some rest, but eventually had to start playing again and avoiding the hits that I knew caused re-igniting the issue (backhand on the stretch).

What I did was I used "vet tape" with a wristband on top. It helped me a lot. I love it and I use it virtually every time I play.

I bought it as "athletic tape", but when I saw the brand ("Horse Supply" or something like that) and researched, I realized this is more commonly sold as "vet" tape. It's basically non-sticky soft tape that kind of "engages" with itself. It's used in animals as a bandage, because it does not pull their hair when it needs to be taken out.

This is the tape I got. If you dry it, you can reuse it a few times even though after the third time it does not stick well to itself, however, the wristband keeps it in place.

Also, do wrist warm ups!

I'm allergic to adhesives too! Medical tape and bandaids give me that awful rash. Its really been trial and error with me, trying out different products to see what works. I've used bandannas, or cut the toes off a sock to make a little mini "sleeve" to hold gauze on the cuts. I've also discovered from my tattoo artist a self sticking wrap that doesn't use adhesive vet rap its usually used for animals, but it works!

I get Durvet Nu-Stock Ointment from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HHSIYQ/

Important tip if you order this ointment: put it in two ziploc gallon bags before storing it in your bathroom closet. The double bagging makes sure none of the rotten egg smell permeates you closet. Also, store the tube cap-side up. The ointment is only sulfur and mineral oil (safe even to use on cats!) but the cap doesn't hold the oil in very well. I know it seems like a lot of hub-bub, but it's the best and most inexpensive way to get a good amount of skin-safe sulfur in my bath.

For the bath: I add some nice smelling bath foam first. I let the water fill about half-way, then sqeeze a couple tablespoons-ish of ointment into my hand. Sulfur is a bit heavy, so I mix it into the bath away from the drain so it doesn't sink into the drain stopper before it has a chance to get dissolved by the bath. There's usually a yellow residue left behind when I drain the bath, but it splashes off easily. Another plus, there's been no mold or mildew to scrub off my bathtub in months.

Hey! Of course my advice to you would be to take him to a vet but since you've said that you can't see one for another month and a half, I agree with other commenters that you should discontinue frequent bathing and get him a cone. To add onto this, however, I would give this product a try. It is non-toxic, stops itching, and helps to promote healing and regrowth of new skin and fur. Because it smells (and tastes) absolutely foul the animal shouldn't lick it off either.

It has worked extremely well for my cat when she develops hot spots and has worked wonders for my pup when he cut himself on his belly.

Good luck and I hope your pup feels better.

I use self-adherent wrap.

It sticks well, doesn't adhere to hair, easy to tear/cut/remove.

It does get tighter with time though, and be careful over the nose because of this. Otherwise it's great.

One of my subs has tiny flexible hands, prone to escaping any wrist tie. I bind her hands into fists with this stuff - no more escaping.

https://www.amazon.com/Adherent-Adhering-Stick-Bandage-Inches/dp/B00MKAHMFO/ref=pd_sbs_121_9?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00MKAHMFO&pd_rd_r=YSRSCFZV9AN9BEYVXD1T&pd_rd_w=qclDb&pd_rd_wg=beZhd&psc=1&refRID=YSRSCFZV9AN9BEYVXD1T

If the splint is wrapped, you can get bitter bandage at pet stores these days. It's basically coban with a bittering agent already added.

Once had a German Shepard that did this, we wrapped the paw in gauze, then put a sock over it until he healed up. Or there is a self adhesive bandage that sticks to itself that you can use to wrap it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00MKAHMFO/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_199_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0VHTZMPQVSDETGQB9TQA&dpPl=1&dpID=91gVYfVUntL

TOTW is a great kibble, keep him on it. Just add a simple puppy multivitamin to his daily food. I would also maybe stop the fruits and veggies for a wee bit just until his mange clears up. Added sugar can cause extra yeast in the hair follicles and that's where the mites are. Unfortunately, there's no way to get rid of the mites, they typically live on the dog problem free, but the issue they cause is when the dogs immune system is unable to keep them in check and they start to eat the healthy hair and cells. I would suggest just taking him off the fungal shampoo, there's no need for it, since the mites are not fungus related. I would try to find a benzoyl peroxide shampoo (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00JBCGQNS?pc_redir=1404533472&robot_redir=1) and an ointment like this (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000HHSIYQ/ref=pd_aw_sims_1?pi=SY115) and you should be set!

My dog also has allergies so I know how exhausting this fight can be. I just want to share some of what I've picked up along the way, some of it might be new, some you've probably heard before...
Also, it seems like you've done a lot to address the symptoms, but what about the root cause? Steroids, Apoquel, Benadryl, etc are not cures. You need to get to the source of the problem!

-Have you tried probiotics? Has your dog ever been prescribed antibiotics? If so, you definitely need to read up on probiotics if you haven't already. And yeast infections. Especially if your dog has recurring ear infections, which is a sign that her normal, healthy flora is out of balance.

-Nu-stock ointment works wonders on hot spots, ear infections, and more. Read the reviews on Amazon for more details
https://www.amazon.com/Durvet-001-0530-Nu-Stock-Ointment-12-Ounce/dp/B000HHSIYQ

-Povidone Iodine soaks have been very effective for us. Like Nu-stock, this only addresses the symptoms, so you cannot expect this to resolve the skin issues forever. They will return if you don't remove the trigger.

-You said you tried special food, but you didn't mention what type or brand? We've had good luck with Orijen 6 fish and Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream. Both of these only have fish as a meat. I've also heard good things about kangaroo meat (seriously), but we haven't tried that yet. Chicken, beef, dairy, grains, are all common triggers. So is anything that yeast feed off of, like sugar. Apparently oatmeal based shampoos can also feed the yeast.

-She might have environmental allergies. It took months for my sister to narrow her dogs allergen down to her carpet. They replaced it all with hardwood flooring and her dog was relieved of his itchiness. I can elaborate on environmental triggers if you'd like. Just let me know...



So, that's just a few things I've picked up along the way. I'm not an expert on any of it, so please do your own research.

I genuinely hope this helps in some way!



**Edit- I forgot to mention fleas. It sounds like you are pretty on top of things, so you probably have that issue covered. Comfortis works best for us, as all topical applications seem to no longer be effective. If we are a couple days behind on his dose, the itchy fits return full force.

If you're having problems with cleaning your hides, go into your local vet and ask if you can buy Chlorhexidine from them. It's what they use to clean and sterilize their tools and cages, and works wonders for getting rid of odors and cleaning up.
You can order the generic from Amazon, but sometimes vets will give you the "for Vets only" stuff.) Chlorhexidine on Amazon

Don't worry about swapping out hides too much, unless you're doing it all the time. Too much swapping can cause stress, but changes every once in a while will encourage exploration. :D

I know I've seen it at Target/CVS/Walgreens/etc, and definitely on Amazon. It's amazing, and some places sell it in colors, so you can match to something fun! (first link I saw, not necessarily the best) -- I recommend doing a test run with it before you go to Disney, just so you're familiar with how it sticks.

https://www.amazon.com/WildCow-Wrap-Bandages-Assorted-Colors/dp/B01I62O0CM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1538520267&sr=8-2&keywords=vet+wrap

I use this. It's pretty expensive but it lasts pretty long. It allows the skin to breathe while keeping a barrier to the skin.

For anyone who is interested, look into chlorohexidine solution for cleaning up after the animals. You dilute it using water so a jug lasts forever, and it's much safer than bleach for animal boxes/cages/toys.

I bought some Chlorhexidine Solution but since summer's gone and my dogs don't swim anymore we haven't needed to use it yet. So I can't vouch for it's efficacy unfortunately, but if you haven't tried something similar, it may be worth it.

Check out the reviews, especially the most top rated one about proper dilution.

Ah, http://www.amazon.com/Bimeda-Inc-Chlorhexidine-Solution-gallon/dp/B00061MU9W

Just buy a load of lollipop sticks (tongue depressors) and stick the needles to them using medical tape or that sticky grip tape vets use
https://www.amazon.com/Tape-Adherent-Adhering-Stick-Bandage/dp/B00UEHDB4G

Vet wrap! It's this stretchy med tape that sticks to itself, is water proof, and creates grip for the lil guys. I also considered using some sort of fine sand paper on a couple spots for their nails like a 180 but I wasn't sure if it would hurt their feet. I got a multi color box of 4 inch wrap for about 20 bucks on amazon with plenty of leftover for future projects and injuries if need be.

I had looked for smaller, but the ace I went to only had 1/2 inch and bigger. Maybe they sell smaller pvc at a bigger store?

And just a tip if you're like me I would just buy a ton of extra connector pieces and then return what you don't use. I tried to be exact, but when I actually started cutting and building it I found myself altering the shape and design a lot leading to three trips to the store. The top platform is actually a cutting board I sliced up. Also I glued mostly everything together except to top perch and the individual stair pieces so they're movable still. Hope that helps--if you do make one post pics!

Here's the wrap I bought--
12 pack 4" Vet Wrap Assorted Colors

I like to use vet wrap for wrapping handles and bars:
https://www.amazon.com/Wrap-Adherent-Adhering-Stick-Bandage/dp/B00TNGMD7A/ref=sr_1_8?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1519737103&sr=1-8&keywords=vet+wrap&dpID=51XtIUOGlyL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Walmart and Tractor Supply also carry it.

A pretty good option is 3M VetWrap. Although not exactly comfortable enough to wear all the time, I love it for activities with a higher chance of the sensor getting snagged. Or times with lots of sweat that tends to take away the stickiness of the sensor. Another thing that's worked well (and better for everyday use) is Mastisol. It's super sticky, so you'd also need Detachol to remove it when it's time for a sensor change. I'm sure it's probably similar stuff to what others have suggested here, that's just what I've found to work for me. Good luck!!

Vet wrap is cheap and easy. https://www.amazon.com/Adherent-Adhering-Stick-Bandage-Inches/dp/B00MKAHMFO

There's probably a human version of this, but I'm familiar with the pet version. It's a soft gauze type wrap that sticks to itself and you can wrap/unwrap as necessary. The pet store sells it sterile and cheap...plus you can get ones with decorations on it.

https://www.amazon.com/Adherent-Adhering-Stick-Bandage-Inches/dp/B00MKAHMFO

Also Vet Wrap? It may help bandaging it if the rest of his tail is shaved.

Try Vet Wrap. It's a self-adhesive cloth tape. It won't stick to your skin or hair or anything. A few times around works great for bondage. It's also rather nice as a blindfold (wrap it around your face a few times).
https://www.amazon.com/3M-Vetrap-Bandaging-Tape-PRICE/dp/B000RI3ZVG

We just took her to the vet Sunday so I didn't get to order it until Monday morning, but it shipped very quickly. Here are the links to what I ordered.

Shampoo

Goodwinol


Nu-stock


I would have done this last night, but I replied to you on my phone. The vet said apply twice a day to spots until healed. The Nu-Stock was of my own choice and I'm sure it's the same application, but I haven't read the directions yet. Regardless, it seems like a product I want to have on hand for just about anything....human or animal, so I figured why not? As far as the shampoo goes, I just looked around on Amazon and read reviews. I'm not expecting that to be the cure, I'm just hoping that helps relieve the itching until the ointment can kick in. I was initially going to order something else, but this was more shampoo for my dollar.....which is always best.

Scabies is incredibly infectious. If you are itching, you have it. If you notice little red dots on your skin, you have it.

Get this: http://www.amazon.com/Duvet-001-0530-Nu-Stock-Ointment-12-Ounce/dp/B000HHSIYQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

50/50 mixture with your favorite lotion, apply liberally to your whole body. Repeat weekly. You should be fine.

Don't hug your mom anymore. Make sure she gets this. She will feel relief in 12 hours. It is very effective.

apply it at night before bed, put towels on the ground, this stuff gets everywhere.

Smells like low tide, but fortunately doesn't stain!

Nu-Stock works like a charm!!
https://www.amazon.com/Duvet-001-0530-Nu-Stock-Ointment-12-Ounce/dp/B000HHSIYQ

This is the answer. Or the generic analog, which is dramatically less expensive. The point to which it can still be diluted and be perfectly effective is remarkable.


A gallon of generic costs as much as 32oz of the brand name

Worth noting that the generic is lower concentration.

FWIW, research shows that going as low as .4% does not affect efficacy.

Our vet recommended and sold us a bottle of chlorohexidine solution. The solution is very, very dilute. I found a gallon of 2% solution on amazon. This is enough to make 50 gallons of what you need. We used this when we first got our porkchop. It works great.

Chlorhexidine 2% for Horses & Dogs, One Gallon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HHNZVW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_LJVBDbYNCH7RD

I traditionally use Hibiclens Antimicrobial skin cleaner that is a Chlorhexidine Gluconate Solution 4.0% when I come into contact with something that is really dirty or that is likely bacteria-ridden (really dirty house work/yard work/bathroom cleaning, etc). Recently I saw that there are Chlorhexidine Gluconate 2% solutions on Amazon for much cheaper than the Hibiclens, but it says it is only for horses and dogs.

​

Is it possible to use the 2% solutions without skin irritation? Why are they just listed as for horses and dogs?

​

Link 1 to Hibiclens

Link 2 to 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate Solution

The first piece of advice I always give people is: Go to the Vet. Seriously. Do it. Just because someone else on the internet says "Oh that looks like XYZ..." doesn't mean it is. After 4 years volunteering/fostering for a Bulldog Rescue and with two of my fosters currently dealing with paw/skin issues, I can tell you there's many things it could be. The two fosters paw issues look similar, but are two different things so they must be treated differently. One has Inter-Digital Cysts and MRSA, and the other has Demodex. Both treated differently. Yours could be an allergy, hotspot, anything really. So go to the Vet and depending on where you live, look for a Vet that specializes in Bulldogs. If you're in the Southern California area, I can recommend two of the best.

Secondly, buy your self this stuff I'm going to link. You can use it for all sorts of things: Paw soaks, wrinkle cleaning, treating/cleaning of wounds, etc. This gallon bottle will last you at least a year, where as the 16oz bottle you'd get from a Vet wouldn't and could cost up to twice the price of the gallon. (My apologies for the link length/formatting, I'm in mobile.)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00061MU9W/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_mvV1tb0RC5WN07T7