Aqueous cream for mild mud fever - does it work?

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Tash88

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Hi - I have been using zinc and castor oil cream with keratex powder for my horse's mild case of mud fever and it has worked - the MF has never been bad enough to warrant keeping him in and so I've been putting cream/powder on every morning before turning him out. He has only a tiny bit on his heels now, and I don't think it's sore as he's letting me brush his legs and put cream on them again now :)

Yesterday I ran out of zinc and castor oil cream (annoying that it only comes in tiny tubs :confused:) and I forgot to buy more, but then found a massive tub of aqueous cream at home and used that today instead - it's much easier to apply liberally and therefore it doesn't take as long and he doesn't make a fuss. To be honest he doesn't really need MF treatment as such, just something that will protect his skin when he is turned out, and it appears that the mud is drying up a bit now. Will the aqueous cream be good enough for the time being, or should I buy some more zinc and castor oil cream?

Thanks in advance :)
 
i wouldnt... i use either udder cream or protocon ointment... protocon seems to work faster than udder cream and it doesnt make your hands stink... or you could just do the sensible thing of wearing gloves :o also once its cleared up put pig oil on his legs it is amazing stuff the mud litterally slides off :)
 
Why is aqueous cream harsh? I can't see that it would be the best idea for turn out as being water based washes off too quickly. Agree udder cream is great stuff. Am interested in the harsh comment though! (As my daughter is prescribed it but is unimpressed!?)
 
siennamum said:
I really dislike aqueous cream, it is very harsh. Would always use Udder Cream, glad it worked for you though.
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Thanks for the replies, I won't use it again tomorrow then. Have only used it for one day so hopefully it hasn't hurt him, will get something else tomorrow and use sudocrem in the mean time. I thought it was really gentle and I'm sure I've heard that it's good somewhere before, silly me :(
 
Yes I use all the time for all sorts of things .
Its a simple mild product and kind to skin that struggling .
It does however contain no antibiotic no anti fungal and no antiseptic it's just a skin conditioner.
 
Agree with the above - it's more just a moisturiser & pretty mild. However, a word of warning - i have known one horse to have a reaction to it, so like anything, patch test first. I've personally found that emulsifying ointment is a better after care cream for legs which have just recovered from mud fever & acts as a soothing barrier cream - just make sure the legs are clean & dry before you put it on.
 
Aqueous cream is really mild. It won't have done any harm but I don't thinkit will have provided the barrier you're after.
 
you mustn't put a barrier on for mud fever - you will just trap the infection under the cream ! - never understood why sudocreme is suggested. I use pig oil and sulphur to prevent and treat (allergy spot test before).
 
Aqueous cream is water based/water soluble therefore will not act as a barrier 2 mud it will mix with the mud so pointless using it. U need 2 use an oil based cream so it repels the water in mud therefore protecting the skin.

Also aqueous cream is no longer supposed 2 b used as a 1st line moisturiser in people as it has been shown 2 thin the skin & I would assume the same would happen 2 horses skin on regular use.
Hope that helps!
I have found conotrane cream is fab for preventing mud fever. I get it from pharmacy I work in about £5 for 500g tub
 
Shysmum said:
you mustn't put a barrier on for mud fever - you will just trap the infection under the cream ! - never understood why sudocreme is suggested. I use pig oil and sulphur to prevent and treat (allergy spot test before).
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Pig oil acts as a barrier
Any one who hunts knows the benefits of using barriers during hunting the protects the skin during the long hunting day .
On return home the horses legs are washed a mediated wash ( which ever works best on each horse ) used , the legs dried and a cream of some kind applied .
 
The sulphur with pig oil kills off the bacteria, and the pig oil slides the scabs and bacteria away. Sorted. The only thing I know that works.
 
poiuytrewq said:
Why is aqueous cream harsh? I can't see that it would be the best idea for turn out as being water based washes off too quickly. Agree udder cream is great stuff. Am interested in the harsh comment though! (As my daughter is prescribed it but is unimpressed!?)
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There was some recent research out on this. It is often prescribed as a moisturiser but does the exact opposite and dries out the skin as it breaks down the natural oils. Current advice is to use for bath and shower only.
 
Sulphur can be pretty harsh , pig oil is very similar to Vaseline which is petrol based I think pig oil is paraffin based but both basically petrol chemicals.
I often use straight liquid paraffin as a barrier .
Sudocrem works extremly well whe you want to work a horse in extreme conditions ( such as hunting ) where mud fever is present .
This because it will moisturise say a cracked heel protect it and help it stay pain free while a horse worked however all barriers must be removed after work.
Vaseline is an excellent heavy duty barrier however its a complete pain to remove.
 
Thanks again for the replies - I always unintentionally seem to provoke a debate on here!

To the poster who suggested emulsifying ointment - is there one in particular that you can recommend?

Will check out the canotrane as well and I like that it comes in a larger tub size.

I think they sell sulphur and pig oil in the tack shop next door so will probably get some of that tomorrow as well. Would baby oil do a similar job though? I remember buying some 'seven day mud away' a few years ago and noticing that it was just the same as baby oil, and three times the price!
 
poiuytrewq said:
Oh wow that's interesting as she says it makes her skin worse (and I try and force her to keep using it!) thank you
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You're welcome :) I get psoarisis so I'm familiar with the stuff and it never helped me either. There are some good proper moisturisers you can get on prescription but you have to ask for them. I suspect Ac is very cheap hence why it's given.
 
Chocy said:
I have found conotrane cream is fab for preventing mud fever. I get it from pharmacy I work in about £5 for 500g tub
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Totally agree re conatrane - I use keratex powder daily as a preventative but if she ever gets a scabby bit I slap on the conotrane for a day or two and it usually clears up quickly. A little goes a long way.
 
eatmyshorts said:
I've personally found that emulsifying ointment is a better after care cream for legs which have just recovered from mud fever & acts as a soothing barrier cream - just make sure the legs are clean & dry before you put it on.
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Just want to clarify what i said - i wouldn't put any type of barrier cream on mud fever either (hence sealing in infection) - my post refers to legs which have healed from mud fever to prevent a further outbreak. The last point re being clean & dry is also a very important one.
 
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eatmyshorts said:
Just want to clarify what i said - i wouldn't put any type of barrier cream on mud fever either (hence sealing in infection) - my post refers to legs which have healed from mud fever to prevent a further outbreak. The last point re being clean & dry is also a very important one xx
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Yes I agree - I'm only interested in a barrier cream now because the mud fever has practically cleared up and there are no signs of infection. I only ever put cream on in the mornings when they have dried overnight and I have brushed the mud off. Can you recommend an emulsifying cream at all?

Thanks x
 
Tash88 said:
Thanks again for the replies - I always unintentionally seem to provoke a debate on here!

To the poster who suggested emulsifying ointment - is there one in particular that you can recommend?
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Emulsifying ointment is called just that - you can get 500g tubs from the chemist for about a fiver. I've heard of it being melted down & having other stuff added - can't remember what - flower of sulpher possibly - although the same horse who was allergic to aqeous cream was also allergic to sulpher, but is totally fine with emulsifying ointment.
 
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Also aqueous cream is no longer supposed 2 b used as a 1st line moisturiser in people as it has been shown 2 thin the skin & I would assume the same would happen 2 horses skin on regular use.

Interesting that, I was told to use aqueous cream when having radiotherapy for breast cancer to help stop the burning and itching. Wouldn't have done so had I known that.
 
That's strange that as they always give it to my residents ( in a care home) If it thins the skin it's abit stupid to use it on old people with already thin skin?
 
Its a fairly recent finding about the aqueous cream thinning the skin & as its been used for forever as 1st line it'll take a while 2 filter thro 2 all GPs. AFAIK its no longer recommended by hosp dermatologists
 
Shysmum said:
you mustn't put a barrier on for mud fever - you will just trap the infection under the cream !
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My vet gave me their own cream to treat more severe cases however it's antibiotic liquid in udder cream ( watched them mix it in the pharmacy) and I always thought udder cream acted as a barrier.
 
Cavilon is wonderful as a barrier cream but its prescription only you will need to have a relative using it or get it yourself ;)
Re aqueous cream the research is that it can dry out skin but not it all cases etc. Should not be used on the face and other areas with already thin skin.
You will find it by the barrell load in a care home as its cheap and GPs are a lazy bunch ;)
Q
 
Quadro- cavilon cream is not prescription only u can buy it but tis expensive. Off top of my head would say over £10 for 92g tube!!
 
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