Everyday human products that work as well as products labeled for equine use

Saving money is especially important to a lot of us right now...Especially with more than one horse to feed, or if you take in a "rescue project" that needs a little TLC.

Feel free to add your tips/tricks/remedies in the comments. Here are just a few I've used or read about over the years that work!

- Yellow Listerine (or generic yellow mouthwash) - put in a spray bottle - used to treat rain rot. Great for winter months when a bath in iodine shampoo is not possible, too!

- Skin-So-Soft or Skin-So-Soft + apple cider vinegar - Great fly spray

- 1 part bleach to 4 parts water - good thrush remedy - but will dry out feet if used over long period of time

- Gentle iodine - also a good thrush remedy - good for soles on newly barefoot horses to help toughen soft sole

- Good old fashioned generic "vegetable oil" is soybean oil - puts weight on hard keepers quickly (start at 1/4 C per day, work up to as much as 1 C per day if needed until horse regains healthy weight)

- Baby oil - works as well as showsheen on manes & tails - doesn't dry them out and makes them look silky shiny soft. Can also be used as pre-show hoof dressing instead of hoof-black which dries out feet!

- Maxi-pads make the greatest, cheapest sanitary bandages ever. Use on wounds, abscesses, etc.

- A cheapy human digital thermometer works just as well as those more expensive "livestock" thermometers, plus it's more accurate and easier to read!

Lots of human medications are the same as some horse supplements. For example, if you have your horse on "SandClear", a generic human psyllium laxative is the same stuff - I know several people who give their horses a couple teaspoons of Metamucil daily. Generic human Mucinex is the same as horse "AniHist" - great in a pinch if your horse has a minor cold and no other symptoms. In the case of minor hives/insect bites/allergies, human Benedryl will help with allergic reactions. (Disclaimer of the day - fever, loss of appetite, other scary symptoms - CALL A VET if it's not something you feel comfortable handling on your own!! A phone consultation is FREE and could save you money, time, and heartache in the long run! )