Anyone feed sulphur and/or copper sulphate ....

[RunRunReindeer]

.... to help against 'greasy heel' type mud fever? If so, how much and have you seen any benefit? Thanks.

 

[Clippy]

I thought Copper Sulphate was toxic?

 

[Dora5]

And me! Are you sure you didn't mean as a skin treatment rather than to feed??!

 

[maccachic]

Im pretty sure copper deficency can affect mud mudfever, but as anything a balanced diet is the key, chucking certain vits / mins at a horse without them balanced against others is going to cause other issues.

 

[Paint Me Proud]

copper sulfate causes acute diarrhea in humans, so i dont expect it would be any good for horses either.

 

[Erin]

I feed copper sulphate to mine with no issues, and know others that do as well.
If you google it, there is some info linking copper deficiency to mud fever.
It would be easiest/safest though to feed one of the supplements on the market with decent levels of Cu (pro hoof, pro balance, forage plus)

 

[Bobbly]

My old farrier once told me to feed sulphur to combat mud fever, as he had done so to a loan horse he had with persistent mud fever, which cleared up with sulphur use.

 

[Alyth]

If you feed copper sulphate you must feed dolomite as well to counteract the toxicity. Horses are able to take far more coppersulphate than humans!! I have tried it, feeding Pat Colebys mix - copper sulphate, dolomite and sulphur - and it works very well. No mud fever, no rain scald and no chewing wood!! However I don't feed it all the time, just as required!! Many people are very much against this....