Thursday, August 20, 2009

Something to Watch For - Girth Itch

Girth itch is another member of the ringworm family. It is spread through contact with contaminated tack, grooming supplies, and environments; is highly contagious. Tack friction also plays a role in the cause of this fungus.

It appears as clusters of small hairless circles, one quarter to one inch across, covered with tiny scales in the girth or rein area. These may balloon into larger barren patches or may form crusts as the surrounding hair falls out in clouds of dandruff. Though not painful, this condition is often mildly to tremendously itchy. Treatment for girth itch is identical to that for other ringworm infections.

Early this summer when we contacted this fungus we immediately started using a fungus spray that you can find at this website, http://www.horse.com/Fungasol-Spray-BKA11.html enter this code at check out CULBR.

We have learned that living in Utah our cinches get sweaty and then because of the moist, mucky conditions from riding in the winter months this causes a fungus in your cinches. Because it is cold they never get a chance to dry out like they do in the summer time. So we have learned that you need to try and keep things as clean and dry as possible. Also sharing tack as mentioned above can be a problem so try and eliminate this if possible. Spring cleaning of tack and grooming supplies can help eliminate this fungus from your herd. http://www.horse.com/EZ-ALL-MULTIPURPOSE-CLEANER-BRC41.html use this code at check out CULBR.

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