How to Prevent Mud Fever?

J

Joyous70

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 August 2010
Messages
1,947
Visit site
Does anyone have any tips for preventing mud fever please? My youngster had it last year and i would like to prevent her from getting it again this year.

Any tips/products i can start to use before the ground gets really bad?
 
I intend for her to be out as much as possible during the winter, only in at night if the weather is terrible, she really prefers to be out.
 
Feed a good mineral supplement, it can make a huge difference. I have always had more trouble with mud fever in the summer than the winter, mud is not always the issue.
 
At a yard I used to work at, people used to swear by spraying good amounts of 50/50 white vinegar and baby oil on before turning out each morning and hosing ALL the mud off when they came in, every last bit till their legs were spotless. Have to say it did work, didn't get much mud fever that year even on the horses that were prone (I think one horse got it, and about 15 were using the spray). However, we did all smell like a fish and chip shop.....!
 
Clava said:
Feed a good mineral supplement, it can make a huge difference. I have always had more trouble with mud fever in the summer than the winter, mud is not always the issue.
Click to expand...

This 100%. Feed a supplement with good levels of copper and zinc especially and also linseed or similar and the skin will be strong enough on the inside to resist the bacteria etc taking hold. Also works with sunburn!
 
My horse had a horrendous case of mud fever this new year the lfesh literally fell of his legs he required serious vet care and 3months of box rest before his legs were recovered enough to boot/bandage/apply preventive lotions too. once he was on the road to recovery I used to back comb the hair on his legs and thoroughly dust with kerratex mud shield powder before turnout when he came in I washed off the mud towelled his legs and bandaged them for bed, did this every day. if the weather is looking like heavy rain even in the summer I dust his legs with the kerratex.
When he had the scabs I found muddy marvel descab a good leg wash for improving the condition and I also used the equichaps boots to protect his legs while the sores were still healing so he could at least have an hour or so mooching around on the grass In front of his stable where it wasn't too muddy.
When his legs were raw I used tubigrip bandages if I ever needed to remove him from the stable to take him for a leg stretcher on the road so he didn't get them wet or mucky make very useful cheap cheerful cover ups for short walks and easy to wash
 
forgot to mention he is now on micronized linseed and pro balance mineral supplement so fingers crossed it doesn't come back this winter as am doing everything I can to ensure he doesn't suffer like he did last year but it struck him out the blue his legs were spotless one day and 2days later when I went to brush his legs the flesh just peeled off in 18yrs I have never seen anything like it. the vets and my aep are convinced he was suffering from some sort of immune deficiency at the time that let the bacteria take such a strong hold on him. oddley though he never looked sick or sorry in himself was sound happy an full of beans other than being fed up of being stuck in his stall though he got so very very spoilt bless him
 
I used pig oil and sulphur last year and although the mud was easier to get off I still didn't rate it much. I've had good results with petroleum jelly in the past. I might give the vinegar and baby oil a try though this year :)

I always hose and towel dry the legs daily as well but if they get mud fever then I stop and try and keep it as dry as possible.
 
aromoheel is great for treating rain scald and mud fever too I suspect. Mine all live out 24/7 and I've NEVER had one with mud fever (have 10) although did think black cob may have done but it turned out to be feather mites. Last winter I took my sister's grey mare with a previous history of MF and she didn't get it either. I don't touch their legs in the winter though. I'm starting to think that the secret is just to leave legs well alone tbh. Perhaps when you start scratching the skin with brushes/hoses it starts things off? Not much help I know as most people couldn't do this (peer pressure/competition etc) but it has made me think.
 
I think constant wetness is a big cause especially if a horse comes in muddy, gets hosed down and then left in a stable with soaking legs for ages before exercising. The legs can't dry out unless there's a stream of air around them so standing still doesn't help.
I would also say that you should be very careful in grooming legs - especially in winter as any tiny abrasion can be a starting point for mud fever. Best to use a rubber curry comb or rub dry mud off with your hand. I'm also a believer in vinegar and 'Sweat Buster' (ebay) or 'Winter Wash' is good for rinsing off sweat and dirt after riding as the hair dries faster and the vinegar helps keep out bacteria.
I don't believe in clipping fetlocks and feathers off as I think the skin is even more vulnerable to abrasions.
Of the barrier creams I think Mudbar is good tho one of the cheapest but you should only put any barrier cream onto dry skin - difficult I know. The Mudbar Plus with silver is like Flamazine and works well if there are scabs already. Hope this helps.
 
Last winter in the horrible wet bog I used udder cream on mine. I wouldn't touch his legs when they came in covered in mud. In the morning I would gently remove it all, apply udder cream and turn out again. His skin stayed in fabulous condition, the hair was silky and the mud just fell off. I love it as a product for a horse who comes in at night (and its cheap from the agricultural merchants). Not sure if your horse is out 24/7 tho.
 
There are so many different remedies to use and not all of them work 100% on every horse. I think it depends on the horse, how strong their immune system is, how long the hair is etc.
my hunt yard always pig oiled their horses on a hunting day and used udder cream for any soars, and then got hosed off on return, only one had a tiny bit of mud fever.
My welsh c x tb has always got it really bad so over the last few years we built stables and she has been in, as she has short hair on her legs I hose her off every night and this works well for her, she still gets mud fever but not nearly as bad, this year I am going to experiment with pig oil on her and other techniques to see if I can improve it more.
I have a trad as well with huge feather and after researching, most say pig oil every few weeks, don't brush and don't hose.
Msm cream has also been good for me, quite expensive but it's like magic!!! Brought my boy in June and he had a dry soar on his hock which his owner said had been there over a year, put the cream on and it was gone!!!
Good luck anyway, it's all going to be trial and error until you find the right way for your horse!
 
Clava said:
Feed a good mineral supplement, it can make a huge difference. I have always had more trouble with mud fever in the summer than the winter, mud is not always the issue.
Click to expand...

Totally agree with the balancer - mud fever and rain scald are similar.....rugs make rain scald worse (warm damp conditions are what the bugs love!). I have found that externally a 50/50 mix of black wound powder and flowers of sulphur puffed onto the area 2ce a day for 3 days, 1ce a day for 3 days works very well!! As you are puffing it on and not touching the sore area the horse very quickly learns to accept this treatment!! Soaking and removing scabs is abusive imo!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top