'Cracked hair' almost mud fever but not quite...

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SpruceRI

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One of my ponies has developed the same 'condition' as in spring early this year which is the beginnings of mud fever, but without the sore weepy skin.

Her hair around her coronet band and heels looks like I've chopped it with scissors, or that a rodent has had a nibbled it
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Friend said it's where the coat fibres have actually snapped off, so it gives a roughened look to the fur.

I've washed her skin with Hibiscrub and looked closely at the skin around her heels / fetlock but they're not weepy or even inflamed.

The same friend lent me a bottle of Malaseb shampoo last time, which is actually a dermatitis treatment for dogs.

One shampoo through of that sorted it last time, and the hair grew back properly and quickly. But friend has used all hers up and not having a dog any more and it being prescription only drug, can't get any more.

Anyone got any suggestions at the what else I can use?

I found last year that once the fur had gone like this, the usual Sudocrem, Baby oils, Vaseline, Barrier Anti Bacterial shampoo, and the Hibiscrub didn't resolve it.

We've potentially got another 3 months of wet weather to come and the field they're in will be boggy in no time, so not sure whether to just go with any of the above things to stop it getting any worse, or try to resolve now....

The pony lives out

Any suggestions?

Thanks
 
You could get Malaseb from your vet for your horse, it's not only for dogs, I have had it from my vet for my horse on previous occasions.

You may not even need a visit if you phone and describe the problem, you may be able to just pick it up from the surgery.
 
[ QUOTE ]
You could get Malaseb from your vet for your horse, it's not only for dogs, I have had it from my vet for my horse on previous occasions.

You may not even need a visit if you phone and describe the problem, you may be able to just pick it up from the surgery.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah - That's interesting....

Unfortunately because I rarely see the same vet twice they won't prescribe anything until they've seen the horse....
 
It's called "bog burn" and is brought about by exactly the conditions you describe. My hairy gipsy cob and another hairy cob on the yard get it every winter. You can protect the skin to stop mud fever but I'm not sure you can stop bog burn without removing the horse from the prevailing wet conditions because the constant damp damages the hair shaft and causes it to become brittle and it snaps off. You might be able to make some difference if you buy any human shampoo that "says" it strengthens the hair shaft. Wouldn't bet on it though lol!!!
 
would this help just found on net for my friends horse with cracked heels thought it might help as she hates us touching her heels and go's mad it has a silent spray we have not tried it yet but anythings worth a try read up and see what you think. its Emollin www.northtoft.co.uk if you get it let us know how you get on and visa versa and also if anyone else has tried it, good luck.
 
"Bog burn"
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Yes, that's it!

Think I'm going to have to carry on applying a barrier cream until Spring then and hope it doesn't get any worse. That's OK all the while the ground is frozen - but when it's muddy I can't even see the fur
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I don't think that would help now the 'burn' has happened, as that spray would be a preventative measure. It's just an emollient cream, so similar to the Nappy Rash cream, but just in a spray.

Thanks for the suggestion though.
 
It may be the weight of mud on the hair which causes it to break
Perhaps lots of conditioner or similar may help to stop the mud sticking
Just a thought
 
my horse got a similar sort of thing, so as he lived out 24/7 we put one of those boots that covers the whole hoof, althuogh not great it stopped it getting any worse, and then the vet gave us some stuff (cant remeber name, sorry) and it really helped, but he said that it was good that we put the boot on, if you use a boot, clean the foot off throughly and then put it on.
 
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my horse got a similar sort of thing, so as he lived out 24/7 we put one of those boots that covers the whole hoof, althuogh not great it stopped it getting any worse, and then the vet gave us some stuff (cant remeber name, sorry) and it really helped, but he said that it was good that we put the boot on, if you use a boot, clean the foot off throughly and then put it on.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you mean one of those Boa things which replace horse shoes? Or the neoprene Equi Chaps which go from below the hock to the coronet band?

Trouble is it would mean leaving them on 24hrs a day 7 days a week which I presume isn't a good idea?

At the moment our ground isn't too boggy and is frozen solid at the mo anyway, so no mud in this particular field. But when it thaws - and rains, it will soon turn to a swamp again.
 
we have like a thing that covers the whole hoof and over their ankle.... its fine to leave on all the time but its not like a heavy duty plastic one, its strong material. we bought it from a tack shop. its not like a brusing boot type thing, its more of a bag thing!
sorry no make name on the actual boot thing tht we have... so cant suggest a make, but it stands ridiculous amounts of mud and stays on well, although not exactly un noticable to the horse, once htye getg used to haveing a bag thing on their hoof they dont mind...
 
[ QUOTE ]
we have like a thing that covers the whole hoof and over their ankle.... its fine to leave on all the time but its not like a heavy duty plastic one, its strong material. we bought it from a tack shop. its not like a brusing boot type thing, its more of a bag thing!
sorry no make name on the actual boot thing tht we have... so cant suggest a make, but it stands ridiculous amounts of mud and stays on well, although not exactly un noticable to the horse, once htye getg used to haveing a bag thing on their hoof they dont mind...

[/ QUOTE ]

Any chance of a picture??
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As others have said, bog burn. What you can do is for the moment is to coat the legs in pig oil and sulphur or just pig oil - this will protect the hair.

Then in the spring when it is dry, mix megatek 50 - 50 with water and apply daily and rub in - this will encourage strong and fast hair growth.

My hairy horses are oiled up from October to April and then have megatek in summer sprayed on the feather to keep their hair in as good condition as possible for showing.

P&S is an old and tested remedy - great barrier, prevents mites and keeps hair and skin in good condition. PM me if you want the very long PM I do about the stuff.
 
[ QUOTE ]
As others have said, bog burn. What you can do is for the moment is to coat the legs in pig oil and sulphur or just pig oil - this will protect the hair.

Then in the spring when it is dry, mix megatek 50 - 50 with water and apply daily and rub in - this will encourage strong and fast hair growth.

My hairy horses are oiled up from October to April and then have megatek in summer sprayed on the feather to keep their hair in as good condition as possible for showing.

P&S is an old and tested remedy - great barrier, prevents mites and keeps hair and skin in good condition. PM me if you want the very long PM I do about the stuff.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Teresa

I've just copied and pasted your long PM off another post about the Pig oil and sulphur. I know my local feed store sells Pig oil. I'll enquire about the sulphur too.

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found what we have on the internet, a poultice boot...hmm obviously should have known that but anyway
cheap way to stop it getting any worse is the one we have link is:
http://www.horsingaroundsaddlery.co.uk/item--DISPOSABLE-POULTICE-BOOT--142D.html
or you could go for something a bit more solid and quite a bit more expensive link is:
http://www.horsingaroundsaddlery.co.uk/cat--Horse-Boots-Theraputic--Theraputic.html
for a selection of different boots.
obviously the more expensive ones are better for long term, but out material one worked really well for the whole winter, stopped it getting any worse and once we had cured it it didnt come back as her foot wasnt in the mud...
hope that helped
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