Use of Smrekovit Products in Animals

This section contains practical instructions for using Smrekovit products in animals. We have the most practical experience with cattle, horses, dogs and cats, but the products are also used in other domestic and farm animals.

For most problems, the same basic approach applies as in humans. This is particularly true for wounds, injuries, joints, fungal infections, skin problems and inflammations. With animals, however, a few practical factors also need to be taken into account, such as fur, licking the product and the difficulty of keeping dressings in place.

Some uses are more specific to certain animals, for example mastitis and elevated somatic cell counts in cattle, ear inflammation in calves, and repelling insects in horses. If you already know what you are looking for, you can select the relevant animal or problem below.

Using Smrekovit Products in Animals – Quick Guide

• For wounds, joints, injuries, fungal infections and other local problems, the same basic approach generally applies in animals as in humans.
• Smrekovit Klasik is the most common practical choice for wounds, joints and skin problems. SmrekoVET Klasik is the same ointment in a larger 2500 ml pack for larger animals, larger areas or more frequent use.
• In animals with thick fur, the product must reach the skin. Part the fur or, if necessary, trim it slightly at the application site.
• Licking is usually not a major problem. If the animal frequently removes the product by licking, apply it more often.
• For wounds, use Smrekovit Klasik or SmrekoVET Klasik on sterile non-woven gauze whenever possible. For most other uses, direct application is the most practical option.
• Early application is particularly important in cases of mastitis in cows. If the animal’s condition worsens significantly, severe pain, marked fever or general weakness develops, a veterinary examination is necessary.

General instructions for using Smrekovit products in animals

For most animals, the same basic principles of using Smrekovit products apply as in humans. Apply the product directly to the affected area, while taking into account a few practical considerations specific to animals, particularly fur, licking and whether a dressing can be secured in place.

We have the most practical experience with cattle, horses, dogs and cats, but the same basic principles can also be applied to other domestic and farm animals.

Which Smrekovit product should you choose?

For animals, Smrekovit Klasik is often the most practical choice. Its greasy base helps it stay on the application area, so it is used primarily for wounds, joints and various local skin problems.

SmrekoVET Klasik is the same ointment in a larger 2500 ml pack, intended primarily for use in animals. It is particularly suitable for cattle, horses and other larger animals, for use on larger areas or when the product is needed frequently. For dogs, cats and smaller areas, the smaller Smrekovit Klasik pack is usually more practical.

Smrekovit 365 Prima, in cream form, is easy to apply and is our first choice for certain specific uses, for example for udder problems in cattle.

In animals with fur, the product must reach the skin

The product should not remain only on the surface of the fur. In animals with thick fur, part the hair before application. If the coat is particularly dense or long, it can also be trimmed slightly around the application area if necessary, so that Smrekovit actually comes into contact with the skin or affected area.

In dogs and cats, thick fur is often one of the main practical reasons why application may be less effective than it could be.

What if the animal licks Smrekovit?

Licking is usually not a major problem. Because of its greasy, hydrophobic base, Smrekovit Klasik tends to remain on the application area quite well, and licking often simply spreads it further over the affected area.

If the animal frequently removes the product, apply it more often. Where practical and appropriate, the affected area can also be suitably protected.

Do we use the Smrekovit dressing in animals?

For most animals, a dressing is less practical than in humans, so Smrekovit is often used mainly by applying it directly to the affected area.

The main exceptions are wounds and other areas where gauze or a dressing can be secured safely and practically. For wounds, whenever possible, the preferred option is Smrekovit Klasik applied to sterile non-woven gauze.

When is a veterinary examination necessary?

Smrekovit can be used as practical support for the problem, but the animal's general condition should also be monitored. If the condition worsens significantly, severe pain, high fever, general weakness or other signs of a more serious illness or injury appear, a veterinary examination is necessary.

Mastitis in cows

For mastitis or the first signs of udder problems, we recommend starting to use Smrekovit as early as possible. Based on our practical experience, early action is one of the most important factors when using Smrekovit in cows.

What do we recommend for mastitis?

Our first choice is Smrekovit 365 Prima. For regular use on the udder or when treating a larger number of animals, SmrekoVET Klasik is also a practical option. It is the same ointment as Smrekovit Klasik, but in a larger 2500 ml pack intended for use in animals.

The basic method of application is the same for both products: apply to the udder, paying particular attention to the affected part of the udder, painful areas and any hard or swollen areas.

How should Smrekovit be applied to the udder?

Apply Smrekovit directly to the skin of the udder and spread it mainly over the area where you notice the problem. If the problem is localised, focus particularly on the affected part of the udder and the area of hardness or pain.

Start using it at the first signs of a problem, continue applying it regularly and monitor both the condition of the udder and the animal's general well-being.

Why is it important to start early?

Based on our practical experience, the best results with udder problems are achieved when the farmer acts at an early stage rather than waiting for the condition to become more severe.

If the cow is already seriously affected, is unable to stand or has a markedly elevated body temperature, Smrekovit should not be the only measure taken. In such cases, a veterinary examination is necessary.

What is our practical experience?

Mastitis in cows is one of the areas in which we have the most extensive and best practical experience with Smrekovit. The most important rule remains simple: act as early as possible.

Elevated somatic cell count in cows

When somatic cell counts are elevated, farmers often report good practical experience with regular use of Smrekovit on the udder. This issue is closely related to udder health, so monitoring the udder and acting early at the first signs of problems are particularly important.

What does an elevated somatic cell count mean?

Somatic cells in milk consist mainly of leukocytes and, to a lesser extent, epithelial cells from the udder. An elevated somatic cell count is an indicator of inflammatory activity in the udder.

For this reason, an elevated somatic cell count should not be considered separately from the condition of the udder. It is important to monitor the individual udder quarters and watch for hard areas, tenderness and other changes.

What is the practical experience of farmers?

One of the more common reports from farmers is that regular use of Smrekovit helps them keep elevated somatic cell counts more easily under control.

These are practical observations from users, not a veterinary claim or a guarantee that Smrekovit will produce the same result in every animal.

How should Smrekovit be used?

Because elevated somatic cell counts are related to udder health, follow the same basic approach as with the first signs of udder problems: apply Smrekovit regularly to the udder and pay particular attention to the affected quarter or areas where you notice changes.

Our first choice is Smrekovit 365 Prima. In practice, farmers also often use Smrekovit Klasik, mainly because of the larger pack size and the economics of regular use.

Does preventive use of Smrekovit make sense?

From a practical point of view, it makes sense to monitor the condition of the udder and act as early as possible at the first signs of a problem. Applying the product to the teats or udder after milking may also be reasonable, but we currently have little systematic feedback on this kind of purely preventive use.

For that reason, we do not present preventive use with the same degree of confidence as use when problems or elevated values have already been observed.

When is a veterinarian needed?

If the condition of the udder worsens, marked fever, pain, general malaise or other signs of more serious illness appear, a veterinary examination is necessary. In such cases, Smrekovit should not replace the required veterinary treatment.

Ear inflammation and drooping ears in calves

If you notice a drooping ear or early signs of ear problems in a calf, farmers' practical experience suggests acting early and applying Smrekovit to the outer ear. At the same time, monitor the animal's general condition.

Does a drooping ear mean an ear infection?

Not necessarily. Some farmers associate drooping ears with the first signs of health problems, but a drooping ear alone does not necessarily mean that the calf has an ear infection.

It may be a sign of reduced well-being, the beginning of an illness or reduced vitality, so it is important to observe not only the ear but also the calf's behaviour, alertness and general condition.

How should Smrekovit be used?

According to farmers' experience, Smrekovit is used by applying it to the outer ear. Spread the product evenly over the external part of the ear and repeat the application as needed.

The main purpose of this use is early action at the first signs of problems. Do not apply Smrekovit deep into the ear canal.

When is a veterinarian needed?

If the animal's condition worsens, the calf becomes markedly weak, or fever, severe pain or other signs of a more serious illness appear, a veterinary examination is necessary.

Repelling insects in horses

Horse owners also often use Smrekovit to repel bothersome insects. For this use, the characteristic scent of spruce resin is particularly important.

Where should Smrekovit be applied?

Apply the product mainly to the head and the area around the eyes, where insects are often most bothersome to the horse.

Use a small amount and spread it evenly over the skin or coat in the desired area. When applying around the eyes, take care that the product does not come into direct contact with the eye.

How long does the effect last?

Based on practical observations from users, the effect generally lasts for about one day. We do not have precise measurements of the duration, so repeat the application as needed depending on the amount of insects and the conditions in which the animal is kept.

What can you expect?

The main purpose of this use is to reduce insect nuisance and improve the horse's comfort. This is a common and well-accepted practical use of Smrekovit in horses.

Wounds in animals

For open wounds in animals, we recommend Smrekovit Klasik or SmrekoVET Klasik on sterile non-woven gauze. Because of its larger pack size, SmrekoVET Klasik is particularly practical for larger animals, larger wounds or frequent use.

How should the wound be dressed?

1. Using a disinfected blunt object, apply Smrekovit Klasik or SmrekoVET Klasik to sterile non-woven gauze in a layer approximately 2 mm thick.
2. The gauze should extend about 2 cm beyond the edges of the wound or cover the entire reddened area.
3. Place it on the wound with the ointment-covered side facing down and secure it appropriately.
4. For a dry wound, the dressing should generally be changed once daily; if there is heavier discharge, change it more often.

When changing the dressing, follow a simple rule: old gauze off, new gauze on.

Does the wound need to be cleaned at every dressing change?

As a rule, the wound does not need to be rinsed, disinfected or scrubbed at every dressing change. Remove mainly sand, foreign material and other obvious dirt.

Always use non-woven gauze, as fibres from woven gauze can stick to or cut into newly forming tissue.

Can other products also be applied to the wound?

On the open wound itself, we recommend using Smrekovit Klasik or SmrekoVET Klasik without applying other products directly to the wound at the same time.

If you have not used Smrekovit products on the animal before and the wound is larger or long-standing, you can first test the ointment for a few days on a small area of healthy skin.

What if the animal licks the wound?

Licking Smrekovit Klasik is usually not a major problem. If the animal frequently removes the ointment or dressing, apply it more often or protect the dressing appropriately. This is described in more detail in the general instructions for use in animals.

How should healing be monitored?

With most wounds, meaningful progress becomes visible over several days. Good signs include the wound beginning to close from the edges and decreasing redness.

For more difficult or slowly healing wounds, it is useful to photograph the wound about once a week, each time from a similar distance and under similar lighting. This makes progress easier to compare.

When is a veterinarian needed?

A veterinary examination is particularly necessary for a deep or extensive wound, heavy bleeding, injury to deeper structures, or if redness is spreading, foul-smelling discharge appears, tissue begins to die, or the animal's general condition worsens.

In such cases, Smrekovit does not replace necessary suturing, surgical treatment or other veterinary care.

Joint problems in animals

For joint problems in animals, we mainly recommend regular application of Smrekovit Klasik to the painful or affected area. For larger animals or frequent use, SmrekoVET Klasik can be used.

We have the most practical experience with dogs, horses and older animals that experience difficulty getting up, stiffness, discomfort during movement or other longer-lasting problems around the joints.

Which product do we recommend?

The most common choice is Smrekovit Klasik. Its greasy base is practical for animals because the product stays in place longer and is more difficult for the animal to remove completely by licking.

For horses, larger dogs, larger areas or frequent use, SmrekoVET Klasik is a practical choice.

How should Smrekovit be applied to a joint?

Apply the product directly to the joint area and the painful tissues around it. If the animal has thick fur, part it or trim it slightly at the application site if necessary so that the ointment actually reaches the skin.

Repeat the application regularly. In animals, repeated direct application is usually more practical than using a Smrekovit dressing.

Do we use the Smrekovit dressing for joints?

For most animals, a dressing is not practical and is generally not necessary. If it can be secured safely and comfortably in a particular location, it may be used, but for routine joint care we mainly recommend regular application of the ointment.

When should you assess whether the application is helping?

With joint problems, monitor the animal's movement in particular: how it gets up, walks, uses the affected limb and responds to normal activity.

If the condition does not change despite regular use, or if mobility, pain or weight-bearing on the limb worsen, reconsider the cause of the problem. Pain around a joint can also originate from a muscle, tendon, ligament or another injury.

When is a veterinary examination necessary?

If the animal does not bear weight on the affected leg, suddenly develops severe lameness, the joint is markedly swollen or painful, or the problem followed a significant injury, a veterinary examination is necessary.

Injuries, sprains and bruises in animals

For sprains, bruises and other injuries to muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissues, we recommend starting to use Smrekovit as early as possible. Apply the product directly to the injured area and repeat the application regularly.

We have the most practical experience with injuries in cattle and horses, but the same basic instructions can also be used for dogs, cats and other animals.

Which product do we recommend?

The basic choice for injuries is Smrekovit 365 Prima. Its cream form makes it easy to apply directly to the affected area.

You can also use Smrekovit Klasik. For larger animals, larger areas or frequent use, SmrekoVET Klasik is a practical choice. It has the same composition as Smrekovit Klasik but is available in a larger 2500 ml pack.

If a Smrekovit dressing can be secured safely and practically on the animal, Smrekovit 365 Prima or Klasik may also be used with a dressing for more persistent injuries. For most animals, however, because of fur and movement, regular direct application is more practical.

How should Smrekovit be used for an injury?

Part the fur at the site of the injury or trim it slightly if necessary so that the product reaches the skin and the affected area.

Apply Smrekovit evenly to the injured area and repeat the application several times. For bruises and fresh injuries, start as soon as possible.

We do not recommend intensive massage of the injured area. It is sufficient to spread the product evenly over the skin without rubbing it forcefully into the injured tissue.

What should you monitor after an injury?

In particular, monitor the animal's movement, weight-bearing on the injured limb, swelling, tenderness and general well-being.

With minor injuries, the first improvement may be noticeable within a few days. For more persistent injuries, it is more useful to compare the condition after about one week of regular use rather than from day to day.

When is a veterinary examination necessary?

If the injury was caused by a strong impact or fall, or if there is a suspected fracture, torn ligament or tendon, or another serious injury, a veterinary examination is necessary.

Consult a veterinarian also if the animal's condition worsens, the pain is severe, the animal does not use the injured part, or its general condition deteriorates. Smrekovit cannot replace the necessary treatment of a fracture, complete rupture or other structural injury.

Fungal infections and skin problems in animals

For fungal infections and various local skin problems in animals, we mainly recommend Smrekovit Klasik. We have the most practical experience with dogs and cats, especially with fungal infections between the toes, local irritation and other limited skin changes.

Which product do we recommend?

Our first choice is Smrekovit Klasik. Its greasy base helps it stay on the application area, which is practical in animals because of both fur and licking.

For larger animals, larger affected areas or frequent use, you can use SmrekoVET Klasik. It is the same ointment in a larger 2500 ml pack.

How should Smrekovit be applied through the fur?

The most important thing is that the product actually reaches the skin and does not remain only on the fur. Part the fur thoroughly at the affected area and apply Smrekovit directly to the skin.

If the fur is very thick or long and makes proper application difficult, you can trim it slightly over the limited affected area if necessary.

In dogs and cats, thick fur is often a greater practical obstacle to correct application than the choice of product itself.

Fungal infections between the toes

For changes between the toes, part or trim the fur if necessary and apply Smrekovit Klasik directly to the affected skin between the toes. It is important that the ointment reaches the entire affected area and does not remain only on the surrounding fur.

What if the animal licks the product?

Licking Smrekovit Klasik is usually not a major problem. If the animal frequently removes the product from the application area, apply it more often. This is described in more detail in the general instructions for use in animals.

What if it is not a skin problem but a wound?

If the skin is open or there is a wound, follow the instructions for wounds in animals, where Smrekovit Klasik or SmrekoVET Klasik on sterile non-woven gauze is recommended.

When is a veterinary examination necessary?

If the affected area spreads rapidly, is very painful, the animal's condition worsens, or fever or general weakness develops, a veterinary examination is necessary.

About these instructions

These instructions are based primarily on many years of practical experience with the use of Smrekovit products, user feedback, and knowledge gained through the development and use of the products.

Where we describe specific methods of use, product selection, the expected course or other practical details, these are based mainly on our practical experience. This is not equivalent to the results of clinical or veterinary research and does not guarantee that every animal will respond in the same way.

Where necessary, we check and supplement general information about individual conditions using professional sources. Where such sources are important for understanding the content, we cite them on the page.

We regularly supplement and update these instructions based on new experience, user feedback and available professional knowledge.