Wrestling with scratches

I've been scrubbing, drying and anointing Dude's back left heel for a week. A couple weeks ago, there were a couple suspicious little patches that looked like scratches, but they went away quickly. In fact, I think I only scrubbed and treated them once or twice.

Then, last Sunday, an ugly spot about a half dollar in size popped out seemingly overnight in his heel crease. I've been waging war with povidone-iodine scrub, then drying the heel and putting either Desitin diaper rash cream or Corona ointment on the patch. I started with the Desitin until Katie reminded me that what worked for us last time was the Corona, maybe four or five years ago when he had the scratches last. But then I read on the web that it's better not to use only one product because scratches can be caused by a variety of things. Both Desitin and Corona seem to provide a necessary barrier to keep the area clean, but it appears that Corona may have more of an antiseptic property to it.

My head is spinning from reading about all the home remedies that people try for scratches. I did read one suggestion to use a blow dryer to dry the heel, which is definitely valid since I'm sure my blotting with a towel is not getting the area totally dry.

The patch seems to have gotten less ugly over the course of the week. Early in the week it was scabby, then when the scab came off it looked red and painful, and now it just looks sort of pink. But that same leg around the fetlock joint has had swelling off and on for two days. No heat. He's been getting wrapped and is on bute. I guess I may need to call the vet if it doesn't look better soon. The swelling worries me, and it seems odd that it would develop as the area appears to be healing.

Yesterday the area seemed pretty ouchy. Today it wasn't as bad - he didn't seem to favor it, but that may be the bute taking the edge off. He's going out on grass and is not in mud, but it has been fairly wet so when he's outside his heel most likely is not dry. However, if he stayed inside with no turnout he'd be one very angry boy. Yeesh. You can't win sometimes.

There are a couple of other horses in the barn who also have scratches. Just seems to be the cooler time of year and the damp weather conditions.