Mud fever - first time in 13 years - WWYD

[Love]

For the first time in 13 years of having him I think we’ve got the starts of mud fever (just to add to the endless list of fires I’m having to put out recently).

He is a Connie but I have always had him pulled and trimmed up including the back of his legs and heels. This year I kept it all on his legs as wanted to do some m&m classes in the spring (normally show as a hunter - only unaffiliated).

I’m thinking the feather is the cause? (And possibly long, muddy tail that I’ve also grown out)? We’re certainly not talking traditional amounts of feather but there is quite a bit for a Connie. Am I best to clip it all off again? His field is pretty wet and deep in places but that’s the case every year and this is the first time he’s ever started with it.

Any help with what to do for the best greatly appreciated - this is the first time I’ve had to deal with it. Currently out every day and in over night

 

[AandK]

How old is he? A possibility is cushings, as this can make them more prone to infections like mud fever and abcesses.

 

[Love]

How old is he? A possibility is cushings, as this can make them more prone to infections like mud fever and abcesses.

Hadnt thought about this - he’s 16 and doesn’t show any other symptoms (my vet and I were discussing this when he had his lameness work up in June) but have got his jabs in a week or so. Will ask then about having him tested. Thank you

 

[SEL]

You might need to take the feather off so the legs can dry properly overnight - but I find leaving the mud to dry naturally, brushing off in the morning and then applying a barrier cream works better than washing

On a decent balancer? Made a big difference to my little native.

 

[Love]

You might need to take the feather off so the legs can dry properly overnight - but I find leaving the mud to dry naturally, brushing off in the morning and then applying a barrier cream works better than washing

On a decent balancer? Made a big difference to my little native.

Thank you - this is the plan for tonight after speaking to vets yesterday. Didn't want to do it and then find out it was the wrong thing to do but they agreed they need to dry (and I also want to see what I'm working with). Washed legs really well and dried last night in preparation and a lot of what initially felt like scabs was actually caked in mud right at the roots. There is definitely the starts of it in there too though and they're a bit sore and warm. Vets recommended flamazine if I had some (which I sadly don't) so thought next best thing was the leovet silver salve?

He's on Spillers daily balancer and a bit of light chaff (plus his joint supplement and boswellia) and has been for a good few years now but will bear that in mind and tweak if needed

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Arabi had it bad one year I found silver spray and mud fever powder best and not to keep washing, when he came in I wiped mud off with handfuls of bedding or an old towel then just baby wiped the heels where it was, then sprayed and applied the powder then applied more powder in the morning.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I can't remember which thread but I remember someone on here recently said their horse's skin had reacted badly to Boswellia.

 

[meleeka]

Arabi had it bad one year I found silver spray and mud fever powder best and not to keep washing, when he came in I wiped mud off with handfuls of bedding or an old towel then just baby wiped the heels where it was, then sprayed and applied the powder then applied more powder in the morning.

I wouldn’t use baby wipes on inflamed skin. I had a cold once and wiped my nose with a baby wipe and it stung so much it brought tears to my eyes. I can’t believe they sell them for babies bottoms!

 

[Hobo2]

AandK beat me to it. My 20 year old mare had no signs of cushings and she got her first ever mud fever aged 20 and she tested positive for cushings. So yes worth testing and medicating if positive. It may take a while for the MF to settle but touch wood she mine has been all good since .

 

[Squeak]

What you're planning and go back to what's worked for you in the past by clipping off the legs sounds sensible. Have you moved yards or fields? I had one horse who used to get horrendous mud fever at one yard but when I moved area he never got it again.

In my experience different creams worked better with different bouts of mud fever, even on the same horse. Leovet silver salve is great stuff and worth a go and then I've also had success with Lincoln muddy buddy magic cure cream and sudocreme in the past too.

 

[Surbie]

I can't remember which thread but I remember someone on here recently said their horse's skin had reacted badly to Boswellia.

This one from @ycbm : https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/boswellia-reactions.833891/#post-15409245

 

[Love]

Thanks all for your advice so far, really helpful!

This was the best I could get from local tack shop until my silver salve arrives in a few days - will it do the job for now?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I wouldn’t use baby wipes on inflamed skin. I had a cold once and wiped my nose with a baby wipe and it stung so much it brought tears to my eyes. I can’t believe they sell them for babies bottoms!

They are the water ones I don't use any others

 

[Birker2020]

Thanks all for your advice so far, really helpful!

This was the best I could get from local tack shop until my silver salve arrives in a few days - will it do the job for now?

View attachment 129918

I would have thought so, its great that it's water resistant too. Just make sure you blott the area really well with kitchen towel/dry with hair dryer prior to application.
I found Keratex mud shield (which is like a silky talc) was amazing at resisting mud, maybe this when the area has healed up as a preventative going fowards?

 

[Love]

Thanks for all advice - clipped his heels out tuesday evening. Once I could see what was there found scabby behind (although not as horrendous as first feared) and not a single scab on his fronts luckily. Have been slathering in silver salve and already looking loads better.

Has been in (still coming out for leg stretches, hand grazing and ridden work) since Monday and I really want to get him back out due to his asthma and arthritis (and due to his reported acrobatics around the stable this afternoon….) I have some udder cream from a fellow livery. If I apply this would I be able to turn out tomorrow? Or would I end up undoing everything I have just done? Vet on Monday said would be fine to go out as long as legs washed when back in (but I'm thinking this is how I caused it in the first place - albeit with feathers which we now don't have anymore). Would I need to wash the residual silver cream off first or apply udder cream on top?

Thanks again in advance! Its sure a learning curve (and Dr. Google has been giving very conflicting responses...)

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

I’m dealing with similar but we don’t have a huge amount of mud so I have just been putting cream on and he is still going out in the day as normal and I sort them out in the evening. Seems to be healing well.

 

[HelenBack]

I think you'll be fine to turn out. Mine has had a bit of mud fever too, which isn't usual for him. He's living out and I didn't want him to have to stay in so I've tried to treat it gently. I've just washed his legs a couple of times and then dried them thoroughly and slathered it all with aqueous cream. In between I have managed to get at it with the cream without needing to wash as I didn't want to overdo that. I've pretty much managed to get on top of it all now so hopefully it will just be a case of getting any last scabs and then keeping an eye on it.

I agree with you on not washing legs and was very keen not to do it lots with mine living out. I think for now I will maybe do it once a week or so just to keep an eye on things but otherwise leave alone.

I think maybe in your situation you don't want to be putting cream on top of cream but I wouldn't want to get into aggressive washing either. Is it an option for you to brush off the dried mud in the morning and top up the cream as necessary? I would have thought with udder cream if you can put it onto a clean base it would be pretty thick and so might not need doing every day?