feeding for mud fever and cellulitis

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impresario08

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Every year without fail my boy gets mud fever and cellulitis. Topical treatments only have a limited effect. I want to start feeding something now to help build up his immunity - I think his lymphatic system is a bit worse for wear as his legs swell up in the stable too. I've heard good things about clivers/marigold/nettle?
 
You need to feed something which is good for the whole system so that even if he should get it again (and many times, it is totally unavoidable due to conditions) he will be better placed to fight it off. To my mind, you need a good digestion aid and I use Brewers Yeast which is full of B type goodies (it is also the base of many 'remedies', including Pink Powder but without the price tag) I also use micronized linseed (Charnwoods) again, reasonably priced, just 21.95 and it lasts for ages. Since I've been feeding those, MF seems to be twice as easy to deal with as the skin is basically being fed the right things, it is just the mud which is the problem (we're on clay so very clinging) I never wash off but allow to dry and brush off then apply something like udder cream as a barrier. My late vet always told me to ignore it completely, it would resolve on its own and it does too if given time but when you have no option other than to turn out back into the mud, I think they need a bit of help. You can feed both of those with any other feed your horse is on.
 
Selenium. A friend's horse had terrible problems with both mud fever and cellulitis. She did some research and found that a lack of selenium could compromise the immune system. She also found that too much selenium can poison them so, although you can buy it as a supplement, she didn't want to do that, just in case (she's a bit of a worrier). She therefore found a feed high in selenium (I think it was just spillers cool mix) and he's not had anywhere near as many problems since then.
 
Human Zink tablets. I start about September as the grass starts to get damper at night. I give 2 x tables in evening feed. It works and also seems to have not only have stopped mudfever but stopped reocuring foot abscess x
 
Charlie77 said:
Human Zink tablets. I start about September as the grass starts to get damper at night. I give 2 x tables in evening feed. It works and also seems to have not only have stopped mudfever but stopped reocuring foot abscess x
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Zinc is great for the immune system. I take it as I have psoriasis and that depletes the body of zinc through the skin loss, and despite the fact I work in an open-plan office of 12 and am surrounded by spacky students bringing all their foreign germs with them, if I have one cold per year I feel it has been a bad winter!
 
Wimbles said:
Just a thought, is your horse fed on any alfalfa products? It used to give my horse terrible skin/mud fever type symptoms.
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Anything wheat based, including Brewer's Yeast, gives my mare dreadful skin problems, particularly on her legs, where she has scarring from what appears to be many years of pastern dermatitis. Getting wet/sweaty does make it worse but since I stopped giving any wheat in any form, including 'treats', it is improving all the time.
 
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