Mare gets callouses on nose from muzzle.. help ? ? ?

[sublimequine]

So my mare has finally adjusted really well to using her muzzle. She grazes all day, drinks fine, and doesn't hardly seem to notice it. BUT, today when I took it off after all day grazing in it, I notice she is developing two little round callouses on her nose, right above her upper lip. The hair is worn off, and the spots are tough like callouses are. They don't seem to hurt her, but I feel badly they're there. :(

Is this normal? Is the muzzle not fitted properly? It's somehow caused by the bottom of the muzzle, the rubber part, not the webbing side parts. She has a pink-skinned muzzle, which is rather sensitive, so I wonder if that has anything to do with it.. :confused:

Any suggestions? :(

[sublimequine]

Anybody?

[J Swan]

I looped some vet wrap on the areas causing rubs. Wrapped enough of it to make it cushiony/pillowly kinda, not just a couple of little pieces.

[sublimequine]

I looped some vet wrap on the areas causing rubs. Wrapped enough of it to make it cushiony/pillowly kinda, not just a couple of little pieces.

I don't think that'd work for me though, as she's getting rubbed/calloused by the bottom of the muzzle, the rubber part, specifically right around the hole where the grass comes in. :confused:

[Rancher]

That happened to me with my shetland X pony. Huge callous type thing right on his top lip by the hole. He lost his muzzle in the trees (never to be seen again) not long after I noticed the callous and he has been in a large dry lot with hay ever since. They callous did go away after not too long. I don't have any tips to prevent it from happening. If you were to pad that area of the muzzle it would block the hole and defeat the purpose.

[sublimequine]

That happened to me with my shetland X pony. Huge callous type thing right on his top lip by the hole. He lost his muzzle in the trees (never to be seen again) not long after I noticed the callous and he has been in a large dry lot with hay ever since. They callous did go away after not too long. I don't have any tips to prevent it from happening. If you were to pad that area of the muzzle it would block the hole and defeat the purpose.

Exactly. :(

It doesn't seem to bother her any, it's more just rubbed off hair and kinda hardened skin, but it's kinda unsightly and I worry about it getting irritated.

[sublimequine]

Any other suggestions?

[Over the Hill]

Perhaps if you rubbed something like Corona Ointment ( do they still make that???) or udder balm on each time you take the muzzle off, it would help to soften and prevent the callous build-up?

[sublimequine]

Perhaps if you rubbed something like Corona Ointment ( do they still make that???) or udder balm on each time you take the muzzle off, it would help to soften and prevent the callous build-up?

I was thinking of that, but I'm afraid the corona would attract so much dirt and such overnight when she doesn't have it on, that her nose would be filthy in the morning and then putting the muzzle over a dirty nose (barn employee that turns her out puts it on her for me, I'm glad he does that, so no way I'm askin him to clean maresie's shnoz every day! :lol: ) would make it worse.

[sublimequine]

I'm surprised there aren't more responses, as I know there are quite a few muzzle users on the board! Does no one else have this problem or had experienced it in the past? I wonder if it's because I modified the muzzle to make the hole bigger? :confused:

[appychik]

Well, my guy has been wearing his muzzle for the better part of two months (since mid August). The only rubbing he's experienced at all is on the back of his head... where the muzzle rubs again (where the "chin piece" would be if it was a halter). I've thought about purchasing the fleece that Best Friend's sells to compliment the grazing muzzle, but haven't done so yet. I'll probably try the vet wrap route first.

I did not increase the grazing hole. Gringo's made the hole larger (slightly) just with normal usage. So, no help on the with the callouses... but I second the idea of using Corona. But, you're right it would attract more dirt/grime/etc. Perhaps vaseline would work??? Not nearly as thick as Corona, FWIW.

[Simkie]

Perhaps a lighter lotion would soften the area and not pick up grim. Something like Aquaphor?

[sublimequine]

Perhaps a lighter lotion would soften the area and not pick up grim. Something like Aquaphor?

I could try it. I'm so discouraged, it seems hardly anyone has this problem but me! :(

I wonder if it because she has a pink-skinned muzzle? Her muzzle has always been very sensitive. It gets chapped/sunburned/windburned easily.. :confused:

[Rancher]

I could try it. I'm so discouraged, it seems hardly anyone has this problem but me! :(

I wonder if it because she has a pink-skinned muzzle? Her muzzle has always been very sensitive. It gets chapped/sunburned/windburned easily.. :confused:


Like I said..my fattie sheltand got a callous too.....he is sorrel with a normal coloured sorrel muzzle with lots of fuzz. Not sensitive at all and he got one. Maybe it's because he is such a pig that when he tries to eat he really pushes down hard. He also somehow wore a bunch of the hole off with his teeth so the hole is/was a bit bigger than it should have been.

I wish I had more advice for you, but I don't. He just stopped wearing his not long after I noticed the callous.

[sublimequine]

Like I said..my fattie sheltand got a callous too.....he is sorrel with a normal coloured sorrel muzzle with lots of fuzz. Not sensitive at all and he got one. Maybe it's because he is such a pig that when he tries to eat he really pushes down hard. He also somehow wore a bunch of the hole off with his teeth so the hole is/was a bit bigger than it should have been.

I wish I had more advice for you, but I don't. He just stopped wearing his not long after I noticed the callous.

Maybe it's the bigger hole thing, or maybe it's the "vigorous eating" thing. She's still getting used to the muzzle, so she nuzzles and pushes it around HARD while grazing.

Simkie; Followed your advice and got some lotion, although I got a generic, not Aquaphor.. it was cheaper. :lol: I got one that's hypoallergenic and fragrance free (she hates smelly stuff on the shnoz, can't blame her!), and it's supposed to be fast-absorbing, so I'm hoping if I apply it right when I get her out, by the time I'm done grooming/riding/playing/etc, it'll be absorbed so won't attract crud.

[BarnBum50]

I'm surprised there aren't more responses, as I know there are quite a few muzzle users on the board! Does no one else have this problem or had experienced it in the past? I wonder if it's because I modified the muzzle to make the hole bigger? :confused:

Wondering why you made the whole bigger? Doesn't that defeat the purpose? One of my horses ate the bottom of the rubber muzzle to get at the grass. There are metal type grazing muzzles you could look into.

[sublimequine]

Wondering why you made the whole bigger? Doesn't that defeat the purpose? One of my horses ate the bottom of the rubber muzzle to get at the grass. There are metal type grazing muzzles you could look into.

I made the hole bigger because she was refusing to eat/drink with the original small hole. It's now about the size of a golf ball, so still limiting intake. :)

[sublimequine]

Well now I wonder if some of the black coloring or something on the rubber part of her muzzle is rubbing off on her muzzle and making the callouses look worse than they are...

..today it rained all day, so no grass, and no muzzle. When I went out there, I could barely see the callouses! I still put some moisturizer on them, which of course miss diva was NOT a fan of, but we'll see if it helps or not.

Any way to make the muzzle stop rubbing black dye or whatever it is off on my mare's pink shnoz??

[pattnic]

My black-muzzled mare rubbed off her whiskers wearing her (unmodified) muzzle... less nose hair to trim *shrugs*
I also have a muzzle by Jack's that I have yet to use... It seems softer, and if I remember correctly, is lined with a thin layer of squishy-ish stuff... haven't used it yet, but maybe it won't rub her nose like the other one?

[sublimequine]

My black-muzzled mare rubbed off her whiskers wearing her (unmodified) muzzle... less nose hair to trim *shrugs*
I also have a muzzle by Jack's that I have yet to use... It seems softer, and if I remember correctly, is lined with a thin layer of squishy-ish stuff... haven't used it yet, but maybe it won't rub her nose like the other one?

The lining is on the bottom part of the muzzle, the rubber disc part, or around the nose? Her muzzle has neoprene-like lining around the nose to prevent rubs, but no lining on the bottom rubber part, that's just plain.

The owner of Joy's pasturemate called me today to let me know she had turned them out for half the day (I guess there was confusion this morning and they weren't turned out like normal). Apparently the second my mare saw the lady walk into the paddock holding her muzzle Joy (my mare) marched right on over and just about put the muzzle on herself! So at least I know she doesn't hate it, and has definitely figured out muzzle = grass time!!! :lol:

[cloudyandcallie]

[QUOTE=sublimequine;3561987]Any other suggestions?[/QUOT

zinc oxide.

buy it in little tubes in the drug store. It not only protects, it helps heal.

And when one of my horses had a blanket rub, I put corona ointment on his rubbed spot.

Just do it every time you put the muzzle on or take it off.

[pattnic]

The lining is on the bottom part of the muzzle, the rubber disc part, or around the nose?

Hmmm... I want to say the inside of the muzzle is fully lined, but I don't remember for sure - I will have to check.

[kookicat]

Could you cut out the part that's rubbing her nose? I'd be wary of putting anything into it that she could chew etc.

[Auventera Two]

I'm surprised there aren't more responses, as I know there are quite a few muzzle users on the board! Does no one else have this problem or had experienced it in the past? I wonder if it's because I modified the muzzle to make the hole bigger? :confused:

Yes I've had this problem. What I do is alternate muzzle use with dry lot so the muzzle isn't on every day. I only use the muzzle a day or two a week.

[pattnic]

Alas, my muzzle is not fully lined. Sorry!