help with mud fever this winter.

I put Keratex Mud Shield powder on my horse I start using it the beginning of September regardless of weather and my horse hasnt had mud fever since:)
 
Start now to protect the skin from within - the following recipe is from the Pat Coleby book - and is brillient at protecting the skin from mudfever.

500 grams Dolomite
80 grams Copper Sulphate
80 grams of milling Sulphur
80 grams of Seaweed Meal (Urea free)

mix together carefully - don't inhale the dust!

Feed 1 level tablespoon daily.

If you do get a problem with mudfever - wash with Nizoral as soon as you see any scabs forming. You can buy it from a chemist. Dilute with hand hot water and lather up well working it well into the skin. As mudfever tends to spread outwards make sure that you wash well beyod the original infection.
 
Is your horse on livery? If not can you not just keep it out of the mud?

That sounds so stupid doesn't it but no mud = no mud fever.

I remember that UK livery yards don't believe in mud control but hell wish they did!

It's a problem here in the US as well but it's called scratches here. Horses will often get it just from long wet grass.
 
Cluck said:
Is your horse on livery? If not can you not just keep it out of the mud?

That sounds so stupid doesn't it but no mud = no mud fever.

I remember that UK livery yards don't believe in mud control but hell wish they did!

It's a problem here in the US as well but it's called scratches here. Horses will often get it just from long wet grass.
Click to expand...

If only it were that simple.

Mud fever is caused by bacteria and poor skin integrity which makes it prone to skin infections.

It's only called 'mud' fever as when skin in continually damp, it's more susceptible to these infections.

Evelyn is right, feed for good skin... and kill the bacteria!

England should be called Mudland as in winter, there is nothing you can do to get away from it if you have horses... I swear it comes to find YOU! :D
 
Cluck said:
Is your horse on livery? If not can you not just keep it out of the mud?

That sounds so stupid doesn't it but no mud = no mud fever.

I remember that UK livery yards don't believe in mud control but hell wish they did!

It's a problem here in the US as well but it's called scratches here. Horses will often get it just from long wet grass.
Click to expand...

Thats one of the problems with mud fever - you don't need mud to get it - as it starts as fungal you only need damp conditions and a susceptable horse to get it going. Thats why washing with Nizoral works so well and fast. You can buy the shampoo in USA as well - it contains Ketaconisol which kills off the fungus really fast.
 
tallyho! said:
If only it were that simple.

Mud fever is caused by bacteria and poor skin integrity which makes it prone to skin infections.

It's only called 'mud' fever as when skin in continually damp, it's more susceptible to these infections.

Evelyn is right, feed for good skin... and kill the bacteria!
Click to expand...

Tallyho - I know historically mudfever is supposed to be bacterial but vets are beginning to accept that they don't ever see it in its early stages but only when it has got out of control and been invaded by bacteria. Initially mudfever is caused by a fungus and if washed with Nizoral immediately the first scabs are spotted it was stop it dead in its tracks.

I have been recommending this shampoo for over a year or more now and am slowly getting testimonials in from others around the world. My vet is now recommending it to her clients too.
 
When i bought my horse 3 years ago i was told he was prone to mud fever - a loveley lady gave some some advice shed been given years by an old traditional horseman - leave well alone.

So for 2 winters now i have never rinsed his legs or put any creams on - simply brushed top layers of mud off once its dried - ive had him feathered and hogged and (touch wood) no mud fever despite muddy field entrances.

May just be luck - but its worked for me - ive watched other liveries religiously rinse their horses legs off every day when brought in and seen same horses develop it - not my boy x
 
I have found Manuka honey amazing for clearing it up if he does get it! I get medical grade activin from eBay. Way cheaper than supermarket stuff. Only comes in a tiny tube but cleared it in 1
 
tallyho! said:
If only it were that simple.

Mud fever is caused by bacteria and poor skin integrity which makes it prone to skin infections.

It's only called 'mud' fever as when skin in continually damp, it's more susceptible to these infections.

Evelyn is right, feed for good skin... and kill the bacteria!

England should be called Mudland as in winter, there is nothing you can do to get away from it if you have horses... I swear it comes to find YOU! :D
Click to expand...

Of course I know that mudfever is caused by fungus first and then bacteria and horses are more prone if they are kept in wet conditions and/or their immune systems are compromised. As I said, even wet grass is sometimes enough to start it.

It really is that simple though. If you can keep the horse out of mud/wet conditions it will be far less likely to develop a problem.

Hardcore and some sand will stop the mud but that does require cash and that's not always simple :(

I hate mud and had horrible memories of it from the UK for autumn, winter and spring.

Here we have ice and snow in the winter but lots of rain in the spring and massive 'snow melts' like England had last year.
 
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Sorry cluck, didn't mean patronise..

I used 1:1 canestan cream:antibac cream that cleared it fast.

Not used Nizoral as evelyn says but fuciderm is also effective.
 
I'm afraid pig oil and sulphur will work to prevent mudfever but it's effect on set in, scabby stuff is limited...

I've been very unlucky in that the 20 odd years I have had horses, at least one has had one nearly every year. Sometimes for months.

Sometimes, one thing works for one, and not for the other at the same time. Wierd. One had it so bad we had to give steroids a go.

I've even tried homeopathy. That actually did work.

Diet HAS something to do with it as last year, I didn't have to deal with it. I took shoes off and stopped all feed apart from chaff & speedibeet. No supplements no nothing - I usually use a balancer over winter. He was turned out in deep mud - not by choice obviously. So were the others. No mudfever! AND they all came out looking really well.

Well, if this year proves to be a mudfever free year, I then put it down to diet... fingers crossed...
 
I used liquid parrafin on hunt horses legs before every meet and they never had mud rash or cracked heels. I also bandaged with stable bandages after every hunt day.
 
Our horses live out 24/7 year round. We use pig oil and sulphur and have had no problems with mud fever thankfully.
 
Evelyn said:
Tallyho - I know historically mudfever is supposed to be bacterial but vets are beginning to accept that they don't ever see it in its early stages but only when it has got out of control and been invaded by bacteria. Initially mudfever is caused by a fungus and if washed with Nizoral immediately the first scabs are spotted it was stop it dead in its tracks.

I have been recommending this shampoo for over a year or more now and am slowly getting testimonials in from others around the world. My vet is now recommending it to her clients too.
Click to expand...

I can vouch for Nizerol! Evelyn kindly gave me some advice a couple of months ago when I got my new mare. She had a bad case of mud fever and her legs were covered in scabs. I gave Nizerol a try (got from Asda pharmacy very cheap) and after 2 washes the scabs dissapeared. I will deffiently be using it again, but hopefully I can manage her before she gets the scabs that badly!
 
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