Dam - feeling guilty - poor little girl

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rockysmum

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Had to have the vet today to our little cob (23).

She has been getting stiffer over the last few years and is much better in work. Obviously with the dark nights that has decreased and my friend who was riding her has got her own horse.

This week she was looking stiffer and I thought it was the cold weather. Last night she was worse so I gave her a Bute and called the vet this morning. Overnight her she had developed swelling in the leg too.

I was expecting him to say arthritis and was preparing myself for the worst as I wont let her suffer. The good news is, its mud fever and she also has a little cellulitus (sp)

The annoying thing and the one which is making me feel guilty is I should have known. Every other year she has been clipped and her feather off. This year I left it to keep her old joints warm. I just couldn't see or feel anything under all the hair. I have been trying to put pig oil and sulphur and barrier cream on to prevent this, I must not have done a good job.

When I clipped her legs today one is very sore. So poor baby is now full of painkillers, antibiotics and covered in flamazine and antibiotic cream. She is also on box rest which wont help her stiffness.

Why on earth was I so careless and didn't notice it.
 
Ah, these things happen. My 26 yo got the same this year, was about to take him for a ride and when i brought him in I realised one hind was somewhat larger than the other! thought he'd maybe done a tendon or got kicked but when I checked under his hairy feathers (he's no cob but still has a bit of feather) and there was some scabbiness and one nasty sore. I just hibiscrubbed it to be honest and treated it with antiseptic and gave him a couple of painkillers to make him more comfortable. Kept this treatment up for a couple of weeks (didn't give painkillers though all that time) and it all cleared up.

He got it (I am pretty sure) due to starting on more hay. My youngster got it the first year I had him due to this reason and each year my pony has had slightly scabby heels in the winter. We always just thought it was due to the wet and mud but I actually think it is more down to the diet change and introduction of more hay/haylege. I think mudfever is a generic term used for this.
 
I think mud fever infection is almost unavoidable this year so don't blame yourself. Mine developed a very filled leg a few weeks ago and from about one minor scab on one heel though vet thought maybe some involvement from mites too. Mine was in terrible discomfort before the leg swelled and yet we could barely find anything (he was sort of showing colic signs at one point!) and so like you I felt guilty that I didn't see it coming and was amazed how uncomfortable it made him feel. I'm sure she'll be sorted once the antibiotics get to work :)
 
Oh dear. :( Please don't beat yourself up, sometimes these things are unavoidable and you've acted as soon as you saw the problem.

Hope she heals quickly. xx :)
 
Thank you everyone, its nice to know I am not the only one.

Victoria, The old man is doing OK, touch wood he will see his 37th birthday :D Only just holding his weight with a lot of food but thats normal enough in winter. Still running around the field playing with the warmblood though. Am going to clip his feather tomorrow, I had let his grow for the same reasons as Tilly, have now learned my lesson and will be checking him out thoroughly tomorrow.
 
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