Milk of Magnesia for Horse Sores

Horse sores occur from ill-fitting saddles and tack that rub against the skin. The site of a sore will start with inflammation on the hair follicles, which will be apparent on a visual inspection. If you do not adjust the saddle or tack to remedy the problem, the hair will rub off and the skin will swell. It will be hot to the touch. At this point, you can be sure it is painful to the horse. The area progresses into lesions or galls that require the use of a veterinary topical solution containing magnesium hydroxide, which is the main ingredient in milk of magnesia.

  1. Horse Sores

    • Sores on riding horses are also known as saddle sores; on driving horses that wear harnesses, they're often called collar galls. Riding horses can develop sores on any area under the saddle and tack. Driving horses develop collar galls on the side of the neck where the harness is located.

    Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide

    • The veterinary form of milk of magnesia is aluminum/magnesium hydroxide. This is a topical suspension containing magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, diphenhydramine HCL and lidocaine.

      Magnesium hydroxide is useful in humans to reduce heartburn and indigestion. According to the Simple Remedies website, it is a ̶0;cure against canker sores when used topically and a relief for symptoms of seborrhea.̶1; This is a thick milky substance that clings to the skin to relieve horse sores.

      Medline Plus describes aluminum hydroxide as a product to ̶0;promote the healing of peptic ulcers.̶1; Peptic ulcers are internal but mimic the same form as external galls that secrete liquid.

      Topical diphenhydramine HCL is a cream that, according to OTC, safety ̶0;relieves skin irritation and itching.̶1; The addition of this product to the veterinarian suspension keeps a horse from trying to rub the infected area on stall doors or fences for relief, which will cause further damage.

      Lidocaine ̶0;is a local anesthetic (numbing medication)," according to MSN Health. "It works by blocking nerve signals in your body.̶1; Saddle sores and galls can become very painful. Relieving the pain allows a horse to continue eating on a normal schedule to speed up healing time.

    Application

    • Pat the infected area with sterile gauze cloths to remove any dirt or oozing pus from the area. Pour aluminum/magnesium hydroxide onto a new sterile gauze cloth and apply it gently to the horse's sore. Repeat the treatment process every 12 hours.

    Tips

    • Do not ride or drive a horse in tack if it has sores. The sores need to heal completely before saddling or harnessing the horse again.

      Adjust tack to fit better after the sores have healed. If the D-rings on a rope cinch are causing sores, you can change to a padded neoprene cinch that cushions the D-rings so they do not touch your horse.

      Use the correct-length saddle cinch for a horse, and adjust the off-billet on the right side so its center is in the center of your horse. Attaching a breast collar to a cinch that is not centered will cause gall on a horse̵7;s chest.