Is thier another product beside

[zoey829]

My subject line says it all! I was just wondering because it tends to get messy and would prefer another solution. I thought sone suggested sthing before and I cant remember what the product was.

 

[Michelle@wescofarms]

We use Nolvasan. It's a great disinfectant and buy it by the gallon.

 

[chandab]

I know its still iodine, but I use betadine. Its still a bit messy on the horse, but what I get on me is gone in a day (guess I must be iodine deficient or something).

 

[disneyhorse]

My vet always gives me a little bottle of diluted Nolvasan for navels. Less burning. And it doesn't stain!

Andrea

 

[Matt73]

I use betadine.

 

[palsminihorses]

I read on here last year that some folks are now using Vetericyn. I have some, and I am thinking of trying it this year.

Pam

 

[GrullaBlue]

I use diluted nolvasan as well. Used to use iodine...but less mess and not as harsh.

 

[zoey829]

How much do you dilute the Novasan?

I use diluted nolvasan as well. Used to use iodine...but less mess and not as harsh.

 

[Riverrose28]

iodine can burn, you can use nolvisan, betadine or alcohol. Dr. Taylor just commented on another thread and said it wasn't even necessary, so you chose. As for vetcyine, ( probably spelled it wrong) I bought an expensive bottle of it, and it works for some things and not for others. Never used it on navels.

 

[eagles ring farm]

We have always used Betadine and we bought

those little disposable condiment cups for dipping

at a party supply. Just dip and toss

 

[Windhaven]

I use nolvasan and it works great.

I use 3 parts water to 1 part nolvasan.

 

[disneyhorse]

I use a syringe cover to dip navels. It's deep enough if there is a lot of cord left on.

Andrea

 

[Nathan Luszcz]

Its kinda the point to burn.... you are cauterizing the "wound". Any disinfectant works fine, but its not truly necessary to do at all.

 

[wildoak]

Any disinfectant works fine, but its not truly necessary to do at all.

Nathan, can you elaborate? I've always been told that it is important...esp for mares foaling in a stall or somewhere other than clean pasture.

Jan

 

[Annabellarose]

Nathan, can you elaborate? I've always been told that it is important...esp for mares foaling in a stall or somewhere other than clean pasture.Jan

A pasture is not exactly "clean". I can think of all kinds of ways that a "clean" paddock or pasture could be far worse than a stall, even a dirty one. Wildlife traffic (no fence can keep out all small wildlife and insects, etc.), the poo of various farm animals, wildlife, and insects that may have roamed the land, birds, bird poo (birds can harbor all kinds of nasties), dogs, dog poo (a lot of horse people have dogs), cats, cat poo (a lot of horse people have cats and/or the neighborhood cats aren't as easy to keep out of paddocks and pastures as dogs), lots and lots of potential for poo obviously (LOL), anything that the soil could be harboring (all kinds of bacteria, mold, etc., etc., etc.).

I have never dipped a foal's navel into anything and I have never lost a foal (and I am certainly not saying that I will not ever lose a foal to something, just that I haven't yet) for any reason or had any major (or even minor) complications or illnesses in foals, ever. I do not look down on this process, I just know from experience that it is not 100% necessary nor fool proof. I have a very, very healthy, happy, useful 14 year old gelding and 11 year old mare, both of which I bred and foaled out myself, standing on the farm right now (as well as several others that have long since gone on to other homes) to prove it.

 

[Magic]

Oh sure, it isn't strictly necessary to dip umbilical cords-- after all, there's no one there doing it for wild horses and other wild animals, right?

Then again, I've got a lot of money and time (eleven months of pregnancy on the part of the mare) invested in each foal, and the very quick, easy and inexpensive process of dipping a newborn foal's umbilical cord drastically lessens the chance of that foal contracting "navel ill". Trying to treat it if they get it can be expensive, heart-wrenching, and it isn't always possible to treat, and the foal may die.

So, dip umbilical cords? Oh yeah. Prevention is a worth a pound of cure, as they say.

And to answer the original question, I prefer Nolvasan but use iodine if I'm out of Nolvasan.

 

[wildoak]

I didn't mean to imply that a pasture is sterile by any means

, just that a grassy pasture has the benefit of sunshine on it, rain to wash away manure, etc (unless you live in the drought we've experienced)...as opposed to a stall which certainly can harbor bacteria. I'm with Magic, I kind of like that ounce of prevention even if just serves to make me feel better lol. Stands to reason that a new foal with very little natural immunity should benefit from sealing an open wound.

Jan

 

[drmatthewtaylor]

Weak, frail little day old foals actually have a better immunity than they will as strong active 4 month olds.

Nolvasan is probably better than iodine. Tincture has been shown to cause problems.

E coli enters more often through the mouth or respiratory system.

Navel ill is a multifactorial disease which means many factors work together to cause an illness those include virulence of the bacteria, dystocia, environment, passive transfer of immunity, stress, and more....

Dipping a navel may help with but one of those factors while potentially hurting >1 of the others.

I don't mind if someone decides to dip. But the 'what harm could it do?' argument needs to analyzed a bit more.

Dr Taylor

 

[Nathan Luszcz]

In humans we used to use alcohol, now its recommended that nothing at all is used. If its good enough for humans and their lawyers, I'd assume its good enough for animals

Me myself, I'd use Nolvasan, its more mild than 7% iodine. Betadine works in a pinch though, I wouldn't hesitate to grab that either. The big thing I'd probably avoid is the dipping for hours and days after birth. Maybe just a few times right after birth.