And another mud fever thread! Conflicting cure confusion!

spookypony

spookypony

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Pony is one of several on yard with what looks like mud fever lesions. He has lesions on heels/back of pastern of both hinds, as well as inside pastern of near hind. Near hind is slightly swollen (I thought it was due to a slip on a ride, but am wondering if it could be the mud fever, instead). Pony is not really lame, but does seem to be protecting the worse-affected foot slightly.

I'm currently following the YM's suggested regime, which is washing with hibiscrub or TCP solution and gently working off loose scab bits, dry, and then spray with blue spray (the sheep foot rot stuff), but leave open to air.

However, there seems to be a large variety of conflicting ideas kicking about, and I was wondering as to the reasons/people's experiences comparing them.

Hibiscrub + sudocrem, or "mud fever cream" from vet (what's in that?), or Aqueous Cream
Antifungal shampoo
Antifungal shampoo + cream
Manuka honey
Animalintex poultices

Is the swelling typical for this sort of thing?
 
the swelling is usually die to a 2ndary bacterial infection - cow udder cream is another god send in mud fever but are you sure he hasn't got mites as the lesions can look similar and it would be the right time of year for them? is he heavily feathered this pony? or has it been particularily muddy round you?
 
I'll have a closer look for mites tomorrow, thanks! He's not very heavily feathered, and the lesions appear well below where his feather is. He has spent quite some time in our restricted grazing paddock, where the gate area is chronically muddy.

I'm not sure if the swelling is due to a slip during riding (went through some hefty mud at reasonable speed, and he did slip), or due to the mud fever...if it is a secondary infection, am I better off calling in the vet sooner rather than later?
 
Superb tip for getting the scabs off coz you have to get the infection out! Slap his slegs right up in vegetable or olive oil wrap cling film round his legs and then
bandage them up. Leave for a day or over night and they just rub off plus the the heated oil effect sweats out the infection.
 
The best treatment depends on what is the root cause of the mudrash.

If it's bacterial then you need products such as Hibiscrub, if fungal then Nizoral shampoo is what you need.
Personally I would start off with an antibacterial regime with a barrier cream, if this doesn't seem to be helping the try the antifungal treatment.
The reason behind this is because there is a higher incidence of bacterial rather than fungal mudrash in this country.

Manuka honey is only effective on infected wounds, you'd be wasting your money using it for any other reason.

If any the swelling is anything othe than slight you should ask a vet to check it out to rule out other problems.
 
Someone at our yard poultice her horses leg and that seemed to work to get off the scabs. I also know someone that used Hibiscrub and the whole leg swelled up. The vet told her that it was too strong to put on wounds or infections as it should only be used to scrub hands!! The Equine American cream is very good!!
 
if it's been a muddy field and he's prone to mudfever then he's probably got that - depending on how severe the swelling is, depends on whether you need a 2nd opinion from the vet and antibiotics - if it's very swollen and he's lame on it i would be getting the vet out but thats only my opinion.

mites are usually orange in colour and close to the skin (at the hair follicle end)
 
You can't usually see mites. I would get the vet out to have a look first. My mare had what I thought was mud fever two years ago but it was actually mites.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!
GingerCat, thanks, that sounds like pretty clear reasoning. So I'm guessing that's why on another thread, Evelyn was suggesting an antifungal shampoo before the antiseptic (have I got that right?), so that it's a double-barrelled treatment against both?

A vet book I have recommends "antiseptic shampoo"; I'm assuming that'll be a different kind from the antifungal one?

horsies4coursies, the swelling is distinct, but pastern only, and not hot. He hasn't had mud fever before that I know of, but I guess there's got to be a first time! He's not lame per se, just a bit...cautious?
 
My youngster had the swelling really badly - first one hind leg and then the other and was sore but not actually lame. The vet suggested one poultice to loosen the scabs, then hosing to get the swelling down, followed by a thorough dry and application of steroid cream. He did have to have bute and antibiotics as well.
However, it did clear up quickly, especially once the swelling had gone down and we could keep it dry (just wipe off any dust or dirt with a clean dry towel and then apply cream). Still popping the odd bit of cream on as there are still one or two tiny scabs.
This horse has black legs and no feather so the vet was a bit mystified as to the cause, but suggested that the infection could have got in through a tiny scrape or cut, so it's well worth treating even small cuts on the lower legs.
 
ironhorse, which cream did you use?

Today, washed first with Nizoral, then Hibiscrub (figured I'd do the double-barreled approach). Left fore and right hind, the scabs seem to have come off completely, and left hind (the swollen one), some big chunks came off. Dried all 3 affected feet, and applied Sudocrem. The swollen foot seems less tender than yesterday; perhaps the disinfectant wash yesterday has already helped. Somebody else on the yard suggested Fenizine cream (sp)? Oh, so many cooks in this kitchen!
 
You might have been better using the hibiscrub 1st (well diluted)and then the antifungal. Its usually recommended to leave it on for 10 mins before rinsing off.

Personally I wouldn't use Sudocreme. Its horribly sticky stuff that near impossible to get off.

I've found Malaseb (from Vet) used 3 times weekly, along with scab removal normally works.
 
Just mentioned this on the other thread about Mud Fever, but try the Blue Medicated Spray from Keratex. I think it is better than Hibiscrub, and you don't wash it off! Spray it on (once washed legs/feet with hose). Then spray this stuff on and just leave it.
 
Thanks guys!

Britestar, will leave the antifungal on longer tomorrow, thanks!

Today, the most of the scabs came off the worst foot, and the swelling has gone down substantially. I switched from the Sudocrem to the Femazine (or whatever it's called). We'll see how that combo works, tomorrow!

Interestingly, the only unaffected foot is the completely black foot. Definitely not mites, though. No hint of itching. Pony generally appears more comfy today, and is probably enjoying his week off! :)
 
I use coconut oil because it's anti viral, anti bacterial and anti fungal without causing hair loss or tissue damage. And it's cheap;)
 
Just to add another opinion . . .;)

I have a horse who is very prone to scratches/mudfever/whatever we're calling it this week and contracted Pastern Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis a couple of winters ago, which I certainly don't want to repeat! He is also super sensitive and reacted to Hibiscrub and Sudocreme! We went with an "old school" approach of Betadine (iodine) wash every couple of days and a nitrofurazone ointment (imported at great cost from Spain!, much to my annoyance because it's about $5 a jar off the shelf in Canada!) and some heavy duty nursing. He also had an immune support supplement and ended up moving to a better draining area!

Anyhoo ;) . . .he's currently turned away for other reasons so nursing, specialised feeding (he could get hard feed but he won't eat it if he's grazing, especially if it's been messed with), and things like controlling the length of the grass are not really viable options! As it suits him otherwise, I'm very motivated to be able to keep a handle on the lesions he has developed and to that end I've started applying an antibacterial, antifungal mouth wash (the sort used after dental surgery) to his pasterns. Thus far, I'm pleased! I can't say it's cleared everything up - I don't think that's really a viable hope in his current situation! - BUT there is no secondary infection; no redness, soreness or swelling, and the lesions are staying small and dry. It's too soon to really say - wait for winter! - but fingers crossed as it's an easy application and he hasn't had any mutant reactions to it. Plus it makes his legs smell nice. :)

I'm intrigued about the coconut oil, as I've seen this recommended before. I shall put it on my list of things to try!
 
GingerCat said:
The best treatment depends on what is the root cause of the mudrash..
Click to expand...

I think this is right. Horses for courses.

What worked best for my horse was washing legs then applying masses of old fashioned white wound pounder rubbed in. I would then continue to apply the wound pounder on a daily basis (without washing) as it seemed to dry out the scabs. Rubbing the powder in kind of flaked off the new scabs that were forming. It seemed to have a drying off effect rather than having to wash legs continually which I found to be a catch 22 in causing sensitivity. However her mud fever was caused by long wet grass rather than mud so may not work for others.

I came up with this after trying mud guard Keratex powder - I thought I would try wound powder and it worked. For me this worked better than some creams from the vets.
 
I do like the Keratex powder to prevent - along with a diet rich in mineral (esp zinc) and low in molasses. I also feed lots of herbs in winter - anything for their immune system.

I tried the coconut oil because I always have it (fry with it, add it to curry, take it by the spoonful in Swine flu season, use it as a hair treatment and a moisturiser) and I needed something for Obi, but was too broke at the time to buy anything....

I washed him with Hibiscrub, towel dried, rubbed the coconut oil in. It worked a treat.

I get it from here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-Litre-O...ty_Other_RL&hash=item2c5e8c9f84#ht_3518wt_991

You can also wrap their legs in clingfilm for the night if the scabs are really stubborn.
 
Many very interesting ideas on this thread! :) The coconut oil is one I've never heard before. TarrSteps, I hope your horse keeps improving into the winter!

Though the pony seems comfortable, the swelling still hasn't gone, so I'm giving the vet a phone tomorrow to see if she thinks she should come see him. I certainly don't want any complications from secondary infections. However, some more of the scabbing came off that foot, at least!
 
At the first sign of mudfever or greasy heel I wash the whole leg well with Nizoral as the initial infection is fungal. I don't ever pick off the scabs as they are not true scabs but lymph that has oozed out through the skin and stuck to the hair. Removing them only pulls the hair out by its roots and lets in a secondary bacterial infection.

You can buy Nizoral at a chemist - dilute it with hand hot water and lather up well. Wash the whole leg at least to the knee/hock to ensure that you get all the spores that set off the infection. You can either leave it for 10 mins or so and then wash off or leave it on to dry - this is what I do.

With Nizoral there is no need to bandage or use glad wrap or any other fiddly treatment. It's often a one wash cure.

PLease be careful using hibiscrub on broken skin as it is not designed for that sort of condition - it is for sanitising a surgeons hands prior to surgery.
 
spookypony said:
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!
GingerCat, thanks, that sounds like pretty clear reasoning. So I'm guessing that's why on another thread, Evelyn was suggesting an antifungal shampoo before the antiseptic (have I got that right?), so that it's a double-barrelled treatment against both?
Click to expand...

No not right :D - Initially just use the Nizoral, and allow it to kill off the fungal infection. Then if in a week it isn't clear of scabs and healing then go for an antibiotic treatment.
 
Everyone has their own personal favourite for this problem. I have a shire x and although he doesn't get mud fever he has had a mite problem in the past. I use what many heavy horse owners use for mud fever and mites and that's pig oil and flowers of sulphur. Keeps legs and any feather in good condition and protects against mud as well. If there's infection though, it's probably best to follow vets advice.
 
My TB has photosensitivity (originally thought it was mud fever) on his hinds, scabby heels and a swollen leg which he was lame on.

Vet said to Hibiscrub and dry thoroughly, and dont put any creams etc on it. I did this for a few days - the swelling went down completely but the scabs weren't really improving.

Since then I have been Hibiscrubbing it (with warm water) and applying Gold Label Wonder Gel (whilst he is stabled at night) and Sudocrem (when he is out during the day)

This seems to be working for him! - The scabs are nearly gone and he isn't trying to kick my head in when I go near his feet now!! :D

Someone on my yard gave me some "mud fever cream" as prescribed from her vet - it was just a tub of Aqueous Cream with a vet sticker on!!! Expensive tub of cream lol!!! :rolleyes:

I think each horse is different and will react differently to different treatment. Good Luck!
 
Second Evelyns advice with Nizerol. I used it on my mare, she had scabs on all 4 legs and after washing twice with Nizerol they disspeared.

I also left the nizerol to dry on.
 
Our little pony has suffered from mud fever this summer, I tried the sudocrem route but also found it too sticky and ineffective. I had the vet in the end who prescribed an aqueous type cream with added steroid and antibiotic that they made up at the vet. It was about £50 but worked bloody quicky and its a huge pot so have plenty more if he or my other horse get it again.
I have been eyeing up the keratex powder wondering whether to invest in some......
 
I also have a pony that suffers with mud fever and the advise is often very varied!

I'm of the opinion that over washing the legs can cause just as much of a problem and using things such as hibiscrub can aggrivate the skin and also strip away any good bacteria.

I use oil and sulphur mix (veg oil as pig oil is so expensive but will look into coconut oil). The oil helps soften the scabs, provides a barrier to the mud while the sulphur helps to clear the wounds.

What I have also found to be extremely effective - perhaps more so than anything else is vaseline. I slather his legs with it expecially the problem areas and within a few days the scabs are gone and the skin looks nice and healthy.

Have tried various potions and powders but very few have actually worked for me.
 
I agree with what others have said - what works for some will not necessarily work for others. It can be a trial finding just what works for your horse.
 
Thanks again, everyone---so interesting to hear about everybody's treatments!
Evelyn, thanks for clarifying! I don't know if it was the Nizoral now, or the other stuff, but the situation is clearly improving.

I went by the vet clinic today to ask a nurse about the continued swelling, and she reassured me that at this point, a call-out was probably not necessary. She also suggested I use Povidone instead of the Hibiscrub, and had a cream similar to what Lexie81 describes. The ingredients definitely included udder cream, a topical antibiotic (metromidazol maybe?), and a hydrocortisone cream. Since the Hibiscrub and the Famizine jar (from another livery) is empty anyway, it seems worth a go. The scabby stuff seems to have mostly come off now, but the skin still looks pretty sore underneath. The pony seems pretty resigned to having his foot clarted.
 
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