Betnovate cream

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sam72431

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I know it's a steroid cream my horse was prescribed some ages ago for a lump but my other horse has really bad mud fever which I have been trying to get rid of for ages he has been on antibiotics, used nizoral, muddy marvel de scab, salt water, liquid parafin, close contact chaps, leg wraps at night, sudo cream the list goes on as soon as it looks like its getting better it flares up?! I read someone saying about giving steroids so would steroid cream work?! One leg is really sore and smells a bit despite keeping it clean but the others are almost clear just scabby, I'm thinking of getting vet out again but I'm getting a bit fed up of them telling me to wash it etc in hibiscrub and keep him in, he comes in at night wears chaps when he is out and is smothered in sudocream when he is in, I'm loathe to use hibiscrub as I know it kills good bacteria too, has anyone used Betnovate on mud fever with any success or should I not do this? Thanks
 
Betnovate mixed in a tub of flammazine with a sachet or two of trimed = wonder cream!

I wouldn't wash with hibiscrub, tbh. If you have to wash then I'd ask for some malaseb. In general though, it's best if the legs are left dry, and cream applied just to the affected areas. I'd also be concerned about the turnout chaps - surely they'd just irritate the MF, stop the air getting to it and poss make the legs sweat?
 
Oh ok thanks, could I mix the Betnovate with the sudocream, I'm using the turnout chaps as unfortunately the fields are all pretty muddy and he likes to stand in the mud and it's also so I don't have to keep washing them as I've found if I leave them to dry overnight after being wet his legs swell, I've only been using the chaps the last couple of days and it seems to keep them clean, I have put lots of sudo cream on under them so it doesn't rub, before the chaps mustard coloured pus was coming out of one leg overnight but it didn't last night as he had lots of sudocream on so I'm hoping it will help, how often is best to wash the sudocream off as it's the only things that properly stays on or should I just leave it? Thanks
 
Flammazine and trimed both from the vet. If they don't want to give you just a couple of sachets of trimed, the cream still works well without. I just love flammazine - it works on everything!

I wouldn't wash the sudocreme off, tbh, just reapply when necessary, providing the legs are still clean. It may also be worth taking a look at your horse's diet to see if any improvements can be made to help skin health. I think a lack of zinc can contribute towards MF susceptibility. My TB has been so much better since I put him on a decent supplement, rather than pink powder etc.
 
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thanks everyone, he is fed mollichaff and topline cubes with equine america topform pelleted supplement, plenty of hay and if i do say so myself he looks a picture of health his coat is really shiny etc so thats why im surprised he isnt fighting off the mud fever better! Someone did suggest brewers yeast is that any good? I didnt realise a lanc of zinc could contribute, is there a zinc supplement? Sorry for all the qs i've just never had this much problem before all the normal things that work just havent i normall can get rid of it in a week or two but this just wont budge! Thanks
 
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It's a complicated old subject, and I don't want to bore you with an essay! So to cut a long story short, it's just about getting the balance of minerals in the whole diet correct, and to do that you need to consider not only what's in your hard feed, but also your forage, as that is what forms the majority of your horse's diet.

The supplement that I use is pro hoof, as I think it reflects what is often lacking in uk grazing.

Diet is the long game, though, and is unlikely to help you with the issue you have right now.
 
Betnovate if used over a prolonged period of time every day can thin the skin therefore making the horse more susceptible to infection and further problems so be very careful on its application and only use the smallest amount required for the shortest period of time.
 
The funny thing is though his feet are absolutely perfect they always have been he doesn't even need shoes! Is there anything else he could be lacking in? I've just found brussel sprouts are high in zinc as well as peas could I give him some? Not sure if horses can have them? Oh ok thanks I did read about it thinning skin so I won't use it for long, will a couple of days or a week be ok do you think? Thanks
 
Zinc needs to be fed in a balance with another mineral (can't remember which!) or else it will create a mineral imbalance that will then lead to other problems. Horse nutrition is a complicated thing, if you phone one of the supplement companies like NAF or Equine America they will help you!
 
Just take care usIng steroid creams for any length of time as they can actually thin the skin. Also if you go in to a chemist and ask for hc45 or eumovate if you say it's for a horse they won't sell it to you x
 
Yes, I agree with the above that it's not a great idea to supplement one mineral blindly. One of the reasons feeding is such a minefield! If you want to speak to a nutritionist, I'd advise a good independent one, as the feed companies will just tell you how their products are brilliant and are just what you need... etc :rolleyes:.

It's not necc. zinc he's missing, no - that's just one of the most common. MSM is often supplemented for skin, and that comes as a readily available supplement, so you could try a course of that and monitor for any improvement. The problem with that though is that by the time it's kicked in, the mud may well be drying up, so it's quite difficult to get measurable results.

Honestly, mineral balancing is the easiest way to go. That's what I'm planning on doing at some point. Bit of a faff, though.

As for the current problem, just keep an eye on the MF for signs of infection, in which case you'll need a course of anti bi's to clear it up.
 
Ok thanks well I'm hoping his diet is balanced anyway, I think one is a bit infected as it's smelly he has already had anti-b and it didn't really do anything that was about a month ago and the infection went a few weeks later but it's now back on the leg that wasn't as bad! Weird?! When the vet came she suggested clingfilming the legs which is actually when things got worse and his legs started smelling/swelling so he had anti-b after that the two that were bad are almost gone so I'm hopefully doing the right thing but it's taking ages!!
 
Believe it or not, if left totally alone, mud fever will clear up by itself. How do you think native ponies manage?
Keep it as dry as possible, never wash off (even old cream) just brush dry mud off in the morning and keep plastering the cream on; the scabs will eventually begin to rub off (don't ever pick at them as that makes it sore, just roll your fingers lightly over the scabs as you apply the cream and they'll soon rub off; keep applying the cream until all scabs have gone then remember to use a barrier cream in future.
My one of choice is Protocon but Sudacreme is a good substitute.

Watch the diet, healthy skin comes from inside.
 
I did try to leave it alone but it got really really bad his legs were like balloons, I haven't tried zinc and caster I'll probably end up trying that too lol, thanks everyone!
 
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