Mud Fever advice? - sorry bit long

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no_no_nanette

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Our little cob has developed itchy scabs on his lower legs; obviously mud fever, but would really value thoughts on how to best deal with it. He's quite heavily feathered at the moment, so my plan would be to clip his legs, Hibiscrub, and work on getting scabs off - but what do people advise on barrier cream/no barrier cream? Our field gateways and the track leading down to a couple of fields are very muddy at the moment, and we are on heavy clay - grim!!!

Also my mare has a hind leg that is really puffy from fetlock to hock, with some heat, though no clear sign of mud fever scabs, or itchiness. The vet was puzzled, and thought it couldn't be (?sp?) lymphanigitis (?sp?) as the leg wasn't tender to the touch, and although she is obviously quite stiff on it she's not lame. The vet has put her on a 4 day course of antibiotics, and we are bandaging her, which seems to be helping to bring the swelling down ... has anyone come across anything like this before?
 
my mare gets lymphanigitis every now and then, i was told by my vet that if you press your thumb into the puffy area and when you remove it you can clearly see a thumb mark then this is a good sign of limphanigitis and that if you hose the legs with a good jet of water starting from bottom of leg side to side working up the leg this helps to dispurse the build up in the leg also bandage the legs when in . with the mud fever i wouldnt turnout until i had cleared it up keep him in the legs clean and hibiscrub twice aday.then when clear i use udder cream or barrier cream but not until legs clear of mud fever. i know its a pain but ive found its the best way to clear it up.
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Ive had a horse swell right up in both back legs with mud fever, almost up to the stifle with only the tiniest amount of it too!!!! So it could be mud fever, dont rule it out, but the antibiotics should help this. But it could also be a cut or something.

Re the Mudfever
I would clip off the feathers as it is the only way to really get to the infection. Then as you said hibiscrub and then get the legs really dry by keeping him in for possibly 24-48 hours. I use keratex powder which is great because it is dry. I also have used a Lincoln Product which has tea tree oil in it but cant remember what it is called! That worked really well to but was a bit messy! Ive tried things like udder cream etc but thats great as a preventative not a cure. The best cure for mud fever unfortunately is keeping horsey away from the mud!
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Hey, the advice you get on here regarding mud fever has
been invaluable to me! Never had a horse with it before and was very overwelmed by all the lotions and potions on sale.

After 3 weeks of beating myself up about the last little bit that just wouldn't go away, the vet gave me some anti-biotic cream (which contains silver - name escapes me!) and we are free from scabs!! He's still going to stay in for a little while longer, but at least we have managed it.

Thanks to all who gave me advice!! XX
 
personally would only hibiscrub in first instance to get it clean after clipping.
Apply barriers heel to hoof gets a bit sticky and grubby but brilliant at getting rid of the scabs.
remember the bacterian gets in through weakened/softened skin due to wet. The more dry the better so try not to wash!!
Also check his diet a good diet is the first defence against mud fever!!
 
Thanks, folks, really helpful advice, as always! I'll certainly try the "thumb test" with the mare. Shel, looks like I could ask my vet for some "specialist" ointment if Rufus' mud fever doesn't clear up ... And you're right, there are sooooo many products, its impossible to know which to use. Looks like we should use Keratex until quite sure that the mud fever has cleared up, and then perhaps udder cream/barrier creams to keep it away. Fingers crossed!
 
The best treatment I have found is clipping off feathers, washing with hibiscrub twice to get really clean and bacteria free (but it can sting so make sure you wash it off thoroughly), drying thoroughly and applying Equinat 'Aromaheel': http://www.aromesse.com/pages/aromaheel.php I was very sceptical of this as I felt I had tried every single lotion and potion on the market but this really does what it says. If you soften it in your fingers and rub it into the scabs they do come off very quickly. Then I usually put sudocrem over the whole area once the scabs have come off to provide a protective antiseptic barrier. You can do all this then put on long sportabac turnout socks to keep the cream in place and legs mud free. They are really stretchy so dont rub. Also, my other tactic is to give silica 30c homeopathic pills in the feed twice a day for 7-14 days, but stop as soon as you see an improvement. This helps the body expel foreign bodies and heal scabs/ scars and I have found it works wonders. There are other remedies available too and it depends on your horse and how he reacts to the condition as to which will work. But you can go to Ainsworths.com for advice on homeopathic remedies. My mare has 2 white socks and very soft pink skin and has been plagued by horrible mud fever all her life. Her legs used to swell up, scab over, crack, bleed, weep and become very sore, but this treatment regime has sorted the problem!
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Lincoln university are doing trials on a powder and cream ,you can find it on their site,the cream has the silver in.I found keeping the legs dry and warm the answer.I use sportabac boots and keretex powder .It is a pain to wash and dry the boots each night but it works.I was worried as it says to clear the mud fever first but I have got him over swollen very tender legs that I couldn't touch,he is stabled at night and out during day
 
Ashy this sounds really interesting and I'll find out more; I like homeopathic treatments, as thuja cleared up 2 sarcoids that he had in the past, so will definitely try giving him silica.

As a matter of interest, met the old backwoodsman who lives up the lane today, and he said, "Try lead lotion, works every time". "Lead lotion??!!" I said, but he was very definite about it, and that I could get it at any chemists. Boots were not impressed when I asked for it!!!!
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Has anyone heard of this stuff? (the guy is about 80, so its probably VERY old-fashioned!)
 
once legs are clipped and clean I use sudocream (for nappy rash) avaiable from the chemist to clear up the scabs. once the scabs are gone Udder cream is a very good - cheap and not too messy barrier cream.
 
Maybe he did, Twilight, and got his lead and his zinc muddled up! I did ask him to repeat what he said twice, 'cos I was so puzzled ... and so was the lady at Boots!!!
 
Ashy's suggestion re Aromaheel was a good one, I use it on my mare and its the only thing that has managed to clear her mud fever up. A couple of others at the yard have been given antibiotics (Trimediazine) by their vets to mix into Sudocrem and this seems to work too.
 
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