Mud fever at this time of year?

Swift08

Swift08

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About 2 weeks ago Pharaoh had what I thought was a cut on his pastern that was several inches long but not very deep. It was not hot or inflamed and he was not lame so I cleaned it up and put some blue spray on it. It scabbed over as expected and a few days later I went away to devon expecting it to be healed by the time I got back. I got back last night and went to see him today to find it hadnt and that there were several other scabby bits on his pastern aswell. I have cleaned it all up again and most of the scabs came off, then I dried it and applied some anti-bacterial cream that is also waterproof. Back in 2008 he came off loan with a cut to the pastern in the same leg and the vets did warn us that he would probably get it as the sock is also white. He is on grass livery (sandy soil so it is pretty dry at the moment) and although there is a stable for emergencies I can't bring him in at night and certainly can't move him as it would cause his eye to flare up meaning a visit to the AHT and a chance he would be put down.
Does it sound like mud fever? I've never had to deal with it before and never heard of it coming on this time of year. Should I get the vet out on monday even though it's not very bad?
 
It does sound like MF...although it could possibly be photosensitivity, but you would have thought that he would have had problems with that during the summer.
I would say keep applying the cream for a couple of days, if it looks worse/spreads etc and you are concerned then call your vet for a chat. I use udder salve on any cuts and abrasions, and keep my big girl pig oil and sulphered up in the winter as she is heavily feathered, she once got MF in july!
Hope that helps :) x
 
Oh I really hope it isn't MF... M had an awful time of it last year, it went on for months. He's quite badly scarred now.

Anyway, reason I'm posting is because if it is MF, try homeopathy - I know, I was a sceptic too but after steroids and a course of fuciderm didn't take the edge off I would have tried anything including sending him off to sunny portugal!!!! (Me in tow of course... :D)

The best equine hom. spec. I know of is Ainsworths and they can recommend a vet near you who is also qualified to practice homeopathy.

I kid you not, M's cleared up completely in two weeks including visible hair regrowth.
 
He's not suffered with anything like it before. Will put on the cream tomorrow and see how it is I guess. I've heard of people using udder cream for it but wasnt sure if it worked?

Thistle said:
could well be due to harvest mites. Little things are active at this time of year.
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Oh :S hadnt thought about mites, he's not itchy though and not stamping his feet at all, and it's also only in the one leg but I will definitely bare it in mind!

Thankyou :)
 
tallyho - Oh how horrible :( I know of 2 vets in the area that apparently practice homeopathy, unfortunately I wouldnt go near either of them. He's on several different supplements to boost his immue etc anyway for his eye so I am wary of trying new things incase they clash. Will keep it in mind though as I would rather not have him uncomfortable!
 
Swift08 said:
tallyho - Oh how horrible :( I know of 2 vets in the area that apparently practice homeopathy, unfortunately I wouldnt go near either of them. He's on several different supplements to boost his immue etc anyway for his eye so I am wary of trying new things incase they clash. Will keep it in mind though as I would rather not have him uncomfortable!
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Oh no, what's up with his eye? I hope he recovers soon. It's different having greys isn't it?

Don't worry about clashing meds though, homeopathy is highly diluted and is targeted in different ways so won't interfere, it's a wierd pilosophy, all to do with small imbalances rather than treating with chemicals what's already wrong. As a believer in modern medicine only I was totally sceptical. It was a last resort for me really, at the time I could only think, anything to help him, it was so sore even the scabs bled!

Anyway, since seeing for myself, I'm looking more and more into it for little things. Lots of my friends say it's a placebo effect but since horses/animals know nothing of placebos, then how can it be? They don't know what we're giving them. They can't even taste it the pillules are so small.

For what it's worth, my friend who went through the pain with M's MF with me, saw the effects and decided to try homeopathy for her very ill highland pony. He had lami consistently no matter what, COPD, Allergic rhinitis, sweet itch, allsorts of allergies and was about to be pts. She gave him one last chance with homeopathy after sepnding thousands on therapy at the vets. He hasn't had a lami attack since, he's stopped sneezing gross yellow stuff and she can actually RIDE him for first time in two years!
 
He's got equine recurrent uveitus but he's an unusual case because it is directly linked to the rig operation. No one is sure how it is possible but we do know that every time he has a flare up his scar tissue becomes swollen and raised. Apprently he is one of 4 known ones in the country to have it in this form so he's got to go up to the AHT next time for tests.
The homeopathy does sound intersting thats for sure :) will go and do more research as it could help witht the eye aswell. The holistic riding school I learnt at was into it all but I never really took any notice of it then. You are right about the placebo affect though... as intelligent as horses are I really can't see them thinking like that!
Amazing to hear (well read) of your friends pony! Must be such a relief to be back to normal as it were and have a happy pony :)
 
Swift08 said:
He's got equine recurrent uveitus but he's an unusual case because it is directly linked to the rig operation. No one is sure how it is possible but we do know that every time he has a flare up his scar tissue becomes swollen and raised. Apprently he is one of 4 known ones in the country to have it in this form so he's got to go up to the AHT next time for tests.
The homeopathy does sound intersting thats for sure :) will go and do more research as it could help witht the eye aswell. The holistic riding school I learnt at was into it all but I never really took any notice of it then. You are right about the placebo affect though... as intelligent as horses are I really can't see them thinking like that!
Amazing to hear (well read) of your friends pony! Must be such a relief to be back to normal as it were and have a happy pony :)
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How bizarre! Poor Pharoah but I can see his owner takes good care of him! :) I now believe that nerves are somehow linked. A few years ago I had good vision without glasses. Since having my canines out I lost 20% of my eyesight. Trying to sue my dentists as there is a proven link now between facial nerves and optical nerves. Sorry but, you don't just suddenly have myopia simply having some teeth out!

Anywaaaaay, off topic there... sorry Swift, good luck hun xxxx

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