UPDATE - Can we PREVENT scratches with iodine supplementation?
Pastern dermatitis or pastern folliculitis. It is also known as "mud fever", "dew poisoning", "greasy heel" or "cracked heels".
UPDATE: Jack has been free of scratches since the initial treatment with MTG oil last fall. I attribute this to his improved immune functioning with the iodine-containing seaweed base supplement Focus HF. The key is a properly nourished and functioning immune system - prevention and healing from the inside.
People need iodine! But the original research on iodine was done because animals were not reproducing adequately, and researchers were concerned that the food supply would be impacted. Follow up research led to adding iodine to the nation’s salt supply, which mostly eradicated goiter in this country. It was not until much later that iodine’s essential participation in all glandular tissues became known. Especially reproductive tissues like breast and ovary.
Dr. Brownstein’s patients take between 25 and 50 mg. of iodine. Milligrams, not micrograms. Orders of magnitude times what people get who are not supplementing specifically.
Now for an update on the iodine test case horses. Ashal the Dragon had another hoof abscess this year. I was disappointed that it was not prevented by the iodine supplement (about 18 mg/day - note this is less than what Dr. Brownstein recommends for humans, so I might have to reconsider best dose for horses). Jack, the horse with bandaged feet, is now mostly sound. However, he did have some deep thrush in the central sulcus in one foot. I’m treating that with liquid sugardyne, and it looks like it is responding. (Feet are complicated, let me know in the comments if you want more details on that).
Scratches - if you have had this problem, you know. Chronic infection of skin above the hoof. Difficult to treat, partly because horse will kick at you because it can be so painful. ArtiMud makes an excellent product, as does Farriers Formula, for topical treatment. But who ever says “immune deficiency”? Nobody that I am aware of.
Reporting, tentatively, success with scratches with Jack. He has always (8 years that I know of) had pretty severe scratches, and one time his owner had him on antibiotics as they would not heal with just topical treatment. Jack is on the 9 mg/day iodine supplement. Recently I have been treating his scratches with just MTG oil (mineral oil with elemental sulfur) and his scratches are mostly resolved. No need for expensive vet formula. (I love the expensive vet formula, though, because it takes care of itchy spots like tick bites like magic!) I am curious to see if once all the crusty spots are gone if he will be ok with no treatment at all.
Here is the standard recommended treatment for scratches:
Ointments that your veterinarian will recommend for scratches include antibiotics, antifungals, steroids and other medications. In more serious cases, systemic antibiotics may be needed.
The primary defense to allow healing is a dry, clean environment. This means you may need to find an alternative living situation for your horse if he/she is fighting a case of scratches. Horses should be kept off wet pastures and housed in a clean, dry stall. Shavings should be of the large, fluffy variety. Milled shavings should be avoided as they contain more moisture. Applying a layer of zinc-oxide based cream (ie. Desitin®) to DRY affected areas may also help soften scabs and provide a moisture barrier to allow healing to occur.
https://vet.purdue.edu/hospital/equine/tips/understanding-and-treating-scratches-in-horses.php
Seriously, isn’t this a problem you would like to PREVENT? And with just a simple widely available supplement, not relocating your horse to a drier climate.
I would love to have some discussion in the comments about people’s experience with hoof abscesses and scratches. Whenever I mention these problems, people just start telling me how they treat them. So far, I have failed in my mission to turn the conversation to PREVENTION. Any help or advice appreciated.
About the video:
“This comprehensive discussion explores how iodine affects breast density, fibrocystic breast disease, and overall breast health, particularly in a world where exposure to toxic halides like bromide and fluoride is increasing. Dr. Brownstein also sheds light on the iodine loading test, debunks common myths about iodine's role in Hashimoto's and Graves' disease, and explains his preferred protocols for iodine supplementation. If you're interested in natural approaches to thyroid and breast health, this video is a must-watch!”
https: // www.youtube.com/ watch? v=rpg3JSA1nI8 (just take out the spaces to make this into the link)
Update - Jack has no recurrence of scratches over the whole winter. Is now walking pretty sound.
Coat defense powder has been a game changer for my one horse that had a case which resolved with easy treatments I use it on wet dewy mornings or evenings as a dry preventative. I have now started him on Source Hoof for the iodine content as well as the hoof support (as seen here on the blog) we're growing out a nasty front hoof crack. We'll see how it goes over the winter and fall here with the iodine being added! Thanks so much for all your lovely articles I'm learning a lot from you!!