Mites, mud fever? Really at a loss now.

[TheresaW]

Dolly has always suffered with cracked heels, had her 11 years now. Have managed to keep on top of it, but now am really struggling with her legs. About 2 years ago, she started with the banging of her back feet, itching her legs on anything she could, feed bowls, water trough in field etc. she had the dectomax injection several times, but the last couple of times, it had no effect. Have had vet out several times over the last 12 months. She had skin scrapes taken which came back as mites and showed a fungal infection. These were treated with anti biotics and flea treatments, plus seleen shampoo to remove all the flakes from her skin. Have kept up with the flea treatment, but over the last couple of weeks, have really seen her itching. I have fully clipped her today, and under all the hair, her legs are a mess, although she didn't mind me touching it at all. Anyone help me with what I am dealing with? She is bedded on shavings instead of straw, but is still out 24/7 at the moment anyway.

Her legs today after washing and clipping. Her heels are actually looking good, this is all high up.

Any thoughts gratefully received, and will be getting vet back out next week. Not sure if it's relevant, but as she is getting older (she is 20 now), I've noticed that she is getting much more sensitive. She suffers with puffy eyes in the summer, had vet out for those several times, had what looked like burns all under her chin last year, but vet couldn't work it out. As she said, sunburn would usually be on top. She suggested buttercups, or yellow flowers in the field, but there is nothing. She also doesn't grow half of her white mane anymore, it has got thinner and thinner over the years, and now down the right hand side of her neck, just a few hairs grow. The top part of her mane, up to her ears is black, and grows as thick as ever, but she is now hogged as it looked so messy. She is very pink skinned, so during the summer, was smothered in sun cream and wore a hoody to protect the exposed skin.

 

[Clodagh]

One thought, ABs won't work with fungal infection. When Brandy the dog gets wet eczema (not the same thing I know) she has this really expensive cream, I can't remember what it is called. Off to see if I can find it...

 

[Clodagh]

Fuciderm. It is a tiny tube though, but it treats both infection and fungus. It is a POM.

 

[Mrs B]

Not saying this IS the case with your mare, but... I had a similar thing with M (18) earlier this year - had some scurfy patches on his legs and all of a sudden, he started scratching them like mad and I had patches like this within 48 hours:

Turns out he had Cushings. His immune system was compromised and the usual mite population took over, so vet said use Malaseb shampoo on the legs, then steroid cream the area. Have to say he also had to have an extra steroid injection to stop rubbing himself raw, but it did work and this pic was under a week later:

When it was all healed, vet told me to use Switch to kill the mites, he's also on Prascend and (touches wood) has been tickety boo ever since.

So might well be worth having her blood tested for Cushings, just to rule it in or out ...

 

[Izzwizz]

Good advice from Mrs B. You could also try Aloe Vera wash/soap. A horse on my yard has similar problems, this worked a treat along with the Aloe Jelly. Its also for humans too but it worked wonders with the horse. Fuciderm is a steroid cream so best to check with your Vet.

 

[TheresaW]

Thankyou. I do look after a cushingoid pony for my friend, and she shows no symptoms of being anything like him, but I am definitely not an expert. Will get her tested anyway due to her age.

Have used fuciderm on my cat who has allergies, so can ask vet about it.

Have loads of aloe Vera gel, got to be worth a try.

Thanks all of you. My gut feeling is allergies, and I did speak to the vet about it previously. She did say it would be nigh on impossible to find out what she is allergic to, as she has no short feed, and feed would be the first things we would rule out.