Dermatitis/mud fever why now??

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FfionWinnie

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My mare came to me with horrendous mudfever last October. It improved with treatment, despite being out 24/7 in the wettest winter ever, and has not been a problem all summer. As you might expect (I know its a bacterial infection by the way).

What I don't understand, is why it has flared up now. Nothing has changed in the management, its not been wet, there is no mud. So why??

All I can think is the changing into winter coat and scurfy/greasy winter skin must be clogging up her pores or something?

Any other ideas as it is puzzling me!
 
Jesstickle said:
Heavy dews and warm weather sound like good bug growing conditions to me. Warm and wet is what most bacteria like?
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That makes sense but its been pretty dry and cool which is what I don't understand. The weather hasn't changed really.

Horsesforever1 said:
I thought my horse had mud fever, turned out to be mites. Please see your vet about this.
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She doesn't have mites, but thanks.
 
She might have a little virus or something making her more susceptible right now perhaps? If she is run down she is more likely to sugger I imagine. She wouldn't have to be in the duldrums for this to be the case, she could seem reasonably perky. Is she running a temp or anyhting?
 
Mine had this two summers ago and the vet said it was caused by sunburn. Is this a possibility? Apparently anything that weakens the skin can let the infection in, not just mud and damp. Hope it clears up soon!
 
nosenseofdirection said:
Mine had this two summers ago and the vet said it was caused by sunburn. Is this a possibility? Apparently anything that weakens the skin can let the infection in, not just mud and damp. Hope it clears up soon!
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Yes, could be, and can be linked to a clover allergy/sensitivity. Is the area affected white?
 
I wish I knew the answer :( Mine constantly has one patch or another, tonight I went up after being away for a couple of days and he has a new patch and the existing one has scabbed up again. I had him blood tested because he keeps getting it and he is very slightly anaemic but you wouldn't know it to look at him he has the most incredibly shiny coat and is a bit too well-covered. Other than that no sign of infection, liver disease or Cushings.
 
Mine just got a flare up of mud fever for no reason what so ever. Same sort of story got mare in November last year and got it cleared up over winter and now it is back horrible stuff :(
 
We sorted the big mares out this summer by clipping her feathers off (much to sisters disgust!) We think her skin just got too hot and sweaty encouraging the growth of bacteria.
 
Some horses are just really prone to it, in the same way as some humans are really prone to spots and it can be triggered by really little changes. I did know one horse once who used to get a flare up at this time every year, and the vet was convinced it was due to the extra oil from his coat coming through. The owner realised she couldn't wash the legs at this time of year though because if she stripped the oils the horse seemed to produce even more oil to compensate and the whole cycle would start again. In the end the vet used to prescribe some sort of anti-bacterial, which cleared it up. But that horse's symptoms were really bad and the vet said he wouldn't have recommended it otherwise.

Don't know if any of that rambling helps at all :)
 
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