First application on a horse with CPL

There is no way to predict exactly what you will find once you look under the hair. CPL can range from miserable to terminal; we strongly suggest that if the horse is on its feet you go ahead and begin treatment.

Wear gloves! The organisms in an infected leg can infect you, also.

If you are using a fresh bottle of Equinell™ Shampoo, remove the safety seal under the cap before you begin.

The first shampoo is the most difficult. You will wash a larger area, spend more time, and use more shampoo than at any other time. As the involved area shrinks, you will use less and less time and shampoo.

Before you begin: It is helpful, but not necessary, to clip the legs. Clipping will allow you to see the areas, they will dry more quickly, (not very important) and it will minimize waste. However, clipping is not a small undertaking. If the hair is matted or covered with drainage it will be nearly impossible, and the horse will not enjoy the process.

If you do not already own a clipper that is capable of the task, you may find that it is more economical to just use more Equinell™ Shampoo. If you do clip, do not try to clip close and risk injuring the skin.

For horses will hair matted on their legs that cannot be removed, or maggot infestations, stop here, and read When it Gets Serious: about CPL (click here).

Horses with CPL commonly resist having their legs wetted, because this seems to greatly increase the discomfort. If your horse is one of these, apply Equinell™ Shampoo on the dry leg. Use a spray bottle and cool water to work it into the skin. Use your fingertips to gently massage it into the skin folds and scars, and be very gentle on wounds, but try to remove any crusting. If the legs are very dirty you may need to wash more than once.

The tip of the bottle is designed to penetrate hair. Do not insert it into skin folds.

If the horse allows, rinse the legs carefully with cool water to remove dirt before applying Equinell™ Shampoo. You can use a mild shampoo to remove dirt, before using Equinell™ Shampoo, to maximize effect.

Work your way around the horse, carefully shampooing each leg. Cover the entire area under long hair, and a little beyond that area. In most cases it is sufficient to wash to about two inches above the knees and hocks. Allow ten minutes or more, before beginning to rinse.

By this time the worst of the discomfort should be gone, and the horse will allow you to rinse with a hose, once he discovers it doesn’t hurt. Use a firm spray (not a hard stream) to rinse, paying special attention to folds around the fetlocks and pasterns. If the horse has nodules be very gentle with them.

When you think you have rinsed well enough, rinse again.

Allow to dry completely. You can towel gently, but this is unnecessary. A hair dryer set on cool may be helpful. Leave the area open to air.