"greasy leg"

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harmony_

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My tb has an odd condition on her legs, They seem to get really greasy and the hair clumps together? then if you touch the hair it basically falls off! ive left it alone and its come back after i treated it with hibiscrub etc.

Ive been told to clip her legs completely and hibiscrub it again and keep the hair short, any ideas?

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Mud fever is caused by a bacteria, so they can get it in the summer as well. its just more common in winter because the wet softens the skin. You could try covering the legs in liquid paraffin to soften the scabs. Remove the scabs regularly and hibiscrub occasionally, make sure you dry the legs very well and then reapply the LP.

Or it could be ticks.
 
My little chestnut arab had mud fever all year round. She had white legs and pink skin and was just horribly susceptible.

I used to treat it by clipping the hair away, washing thoroughly and gently with dilute Hibiscrub, this softens the scabs which then need to be removed, drying the legs thoroughly and then using Dermobion (or whatever it's called now!) topically.

If I was unable to get it under control then there is little option but to get the vet. They may need to take a skin scraping and treat with appropriate antibiotics.

Have you considered that it could also be mites? I've never had that problem myself but I'm sure there is plenty of info online about it.
 
Maybe the bandages are the problem? The legs may get sweaty, which encourages bacteria and hair loss. Try leaving the bandages off for a week or so.

If it is mud fever you cant bandage over LP.
 
agree with teddyt frank gets patches all year round, I think in summer its because of his legs getting warm and sweaty so he wears boots only occasionally. so in your case I suspect the bandaging is not helping and just creating a lovely env for the bacteria.

Sudocrem or arthur wason heel cream (from vet) work best for me. with the odd hibi if really bad
 
she cant not have her bandages on though or she cant walk in the morning! they swell really bad, surely there are other signs for mights though such as stamping feet itching etc and theres nothing?
 
Sorry we x posted. Is she bandaged all night every night?

If so it could be that her legs are overheating, if that is the case the hair coming out is the precursor to the skin sloughing away and becoming ulcerous.

If the bandages are slightly uneven in pressure, the legs are not clean, there is insufficient padding etc, etc can all lead to pressure sores. The first sign being the hair coming out.

Theseb are problems I have had with my arab as she was so sensitive. I think most horses get along with bandaging just fine, but if they do have a particularly sensitive skin it can be a problem.
 
She had the same problem during the summer while her bandages were off because she was staying out, Its been there long enough that if there was any bandage sores they would appeared by now
 
Can you leave her out then? You are on a vicious circle otherwise. The stable makes her legs swell because of the lack of movement. The hinds swell particularly because they are further from the heart. You then bandage which causes another problem.

The only other thing you can try is leave her out for longer and use tubigrips rather than bandages. but if her legs are still hot they will still sweat and you will never get rid of the problem!
 
Yes, I would agree that it's the bandages.

What is wrong with her that requires bandages/can't walk without them?!
 
Well, really if it's been going on that long I would be seeking help from my vet.

It must be sore for her and I would guess it's only going to get worse with bandaging and winter.
 
does she wear boots when working though, I know my boy has more hair but he only wears closed boots for xc (had them on a fun ride once- regreted that!) his legs are washed thoroughly afterwards and I will guarantee that I will have to cream somewhere that he will get scabby over the next few days.
 
My TB mare gets that on the front of her hind cannon bones but nowhere else. It's definately not mud fever! I have found a fab cream that in two applications has cleared it up - amazing! It's by an American company (I think it's Equine America but can't remember) and is about £16 for a decent size tub.
I gently curried the greasy lumps off so most had them were off then applied the cream/gel - the results really are astonishing. I'll try and remember to check the name tomorrow night when I'm back at the yard.
 
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