Mud Fever - I've lost the battle

[AmyMay]

Help,

I have lost the battle with mud fever and poor old Thumper has it on three legs.

I am putting an emolient on daily, in the form of parafin oil, and have been putting udder salve on the scabby bits. Scabs are all off (they were only on the one leg), but the two back legs do looks pink and sore (lots of hair loss).

He's bandaged at night, and has no signs of infection that need antibiotic treatment.

His field is not particularly muddy, except at the gate where they don't spend much time - but obviously his legs are getting wet daily.

Should I / Could I be doing anything else????

 

[Lordy100]

My mare had it all last summer and the things that worked for me were using the Mud Guard feed supplement and a fungicidal spray from Equine America. So far this winter she hasn't had any.

 

[SSM]

Mud fever turnout boots have completely kept DC's mud fever away (horse on yard next to ours who had the worse case I have ever seen last autumn)

 

[SilverSkye]

Have been fortunate this year and avoided the dreaded mud fever, however last year Skye had it on all 4 legs, In the end i had the vet who advised to keep in ( as no where dry to turn out ) and one of the worst things is to keep wetting the legs. He gave me some cream had to apply loads put cling film over and then vet wrap leave for 24 hours. Then he gave me some iodine based cream to apply twice a day.
She had to stay in for about 3 weeks as just looking at the mud caused it to flare up again.
Good luck clearing it up i know what you are going through
xx

 

[AmyMay]

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Mud fever turnout boots have completely kept DC's mud fever away (horse on yard next to ours who had the worse case I have ever seen last autumn)

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I have been thinking about them. But the thing is Thumper is very, very sensative. And I think that part of the problem is that his exercise boots have rubbed him, inflaming the skin etc. So I think the same would happen with turnout boots

 

[fairhill]

I think you're doing all the right things. The only other thing to do would be to keep him in until it's completely cleared up or the field dries up

 

[huskimo12]

I use aroma heel by aromesse and its the only thing that i have found works on some it is a cream you put on their legs and you dont wash off you rub it in and it gently lifts off the scabs and it also acts as a barrier.

I buy online just type into google.

Been fab stuff has also worked on my mare photosensitive dermatitus.

maybe worth a try its not that expensive either £15 a pot i think

 

[Bounty]

Maybe very soft, fleecy polo bandages would be better to work him in then?
If you do decide to give turnout boots a go (the breathable, and more expensive (!) Equilibrium boots are the best) then make sure you have 100% got rid of any current infection..... someone I know chucked the turnout boots on in the midst of a mudfever outbreak and you can just imagine what the warm environment did to help matters.......

 

[fairhill]

Just had another thought - give them a gentle wash this weekend with warm water, and dry off afterwards

If he's sensitive skinned then hibiscrub might be too harsh, so a baby shampoo, with a dollop of tea tree oil might be better. If you've got any malaseb shampoo use that, and leave it on for 10 mins before rinsing

 

[Maesfen]

Protocon, zinc & castor oil cream or Sudacrem are all good. Just plaster it on and leave, don't pick anything off unless it rubs off; repeat as necessary.
I would be very adverse to washing off at all and I certainly wouldn't be putting on turnout boots of any make, however good the jargon about them is - BEFORE it has healed up completely. Imagine the breeding ground for bacteria in there!

They are certainly intended to make life easier for the groom/owner, but I don't think they're the best idea due to the heat they will retain, a sure breeding ground for bugs on already weakened skin.
I think you need to be looking at either using proper exercise or polo bandages in future and binning those boots you already have if they affect him so badly!

 

[susielavery]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Mud fever turnout boots have completely kept DC's mud fever away (horse on yard next to ours who had the worse case I have ever seen last autumn)

[/ QUOTE ]

I have been thinking about them. But the thing is Thumper is very, very sensative. And I think that part of the problem is that his exercise boots have rubbed him, inflaming the skin etc. So I think the same would happen with turnout boots

[/ QUOTE ]

i've got a TB who has had mud fever for 4 of the 6 years i have owned him, the only thing that has worked for him are the equilibrium mud fever boots, he hasn't got it since i started using them but they do need washing regulary so i bought a couple of sets - expensive but worth it

 

[Mrs_Wishkabibble]

I put some Sudocream or similar on to loosen the scabs, when the scabs have come off or nearly off I get some warm water with some Hibiscrub in and give them a real good wash off with some cotton wool. I dont rinse after either. I let them dry naturally and when dry I put some Keretex Mud Shield Powder on and some Sportabac Turnout boots on.
When they come in out of the field, if they are a bit damp, I wash with Hibiscrub and repeat above. If not damp, I just put some more powder on and rub in well.
I used to have a real problem until I found the Sportabac boots. You can put powder in them so that most of the time they stay dry. I find they dont let mud in at all but do sometimes get a bit damp with wet grass etc.
It makes sense really, it is a germ that thrives in damp conditions but if you keep destroying it with the Hibiscrub and keep it dry with the powder and boots you cannot fail. I guarantee it.

Oh and the boots wash and dry really quickly as you do need to keep them clean. I bring them into the house and dry them off while the horses' legs are drying. If they get a bit thick with powder I use a dandy brush to flick them off.

 

[AmyMay]

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I think you need to be looking at either using proper exercise or polo bandages in future and binning those boots you already have if they affect him so badly!

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Yep - all binned!

 

[AmyMay]

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The only other thing to do would be to keep him in until it's completely cleared up or the field dries up

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Yep - ideally I would. But he's not a happy bunny on his own, which is a bit of a bugger.

 

[Maesfen]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I think you need to be looking at either using proper exercise or polo bandages in future and binning those boots you already have if they affect him so badly!

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Yep - all binned!

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL! As it's you Amy, I think I could almost guarantee you'd do that, don't you?!

 

[vickers22]

We have managed a lot better this year with zak's mud fever using zinc and castor oil, and not washing his legs off when he comes in. And then sudocream for the scabs, and a warm water wash with hibi scrub once every 2 weeks. I have heard excellent results from camrosa?

 

[AmyMay]

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LOL! As it's you Amy, I think I could almost guarantee you'd do that, don't you?!

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Except the expensive sheepskin lined Eskadron ones

 

[fairhill]

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Yep - ideally I would. But he's not a happy bunny on his own, which is a bit of a bugger.

[/ QUOTE ]

Looks like we need to do a sun-dance then

Here's a tip as to what not to do... Don't get a vet to see him, and recommend using iodine diluted with water to scrub off the scabs. Don't listen to vet's advice for 3 weeks whilst poor horse's skin gets drier and drier, and the scabs get worse...

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
Here's a tip as to what not to do... Don't get a vet to see him, and recommend using iodine diluted with water to scrub off the scabs. Don't listen to vet's advice for 3 weeks whilst poor horse's skin gets drier and drier, and the scabs get worse

[/ QUOTE ]

Oooo sounds grim.........

Luckily mine has too much sense.

My real worry is that he might develop lymphangitis (I'm paranoid). Although as I said in my original post he's not at the antibiotic stage. I'm just a bit worried though as he seems such a sensative little soul.

 

[fairhill]

Awwww, bless him.
I guess being grey he's got 4 white feet, and a lot of pink skin that's ripe for bacteria to attack.

 

[FAYEFUDGE]

My boy got a touch of it last winter, I did everything you have done but found it only worked when I kept him in for a few days. Like you, I am loathed to do this but needs must etc!!
Second the vote for Naff Mud Guard, my friend swears by it and her horse got really severe mud fever every year before she started using it.
Hope Thumper gets well soon...i feel your pain as a fellow "paranoid" owner!

 

[AmyMay]

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I guess being grey he's got 4 white feet, and a lot of pink skin that's ripe for bacteria to attack

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You got it!

 

[Quarrybank]

My Piebald (4 very white legs & v pink skin

) Got it last year.
It got bad very quickly so I called the vet. She said, keep him in, smother with udder cream, wrap with cling film and then bandaged until all the scabs come off. This took a few days.
She then gave me some other cream (in a very small tube!) to put on to finishing the healing. It took 10days in total.
After that I had the Equilbrium equi chaps on all 4 legs. I had 2 pairs to keep them clean & it never came back even in the deepest mud.

Ditto - you mustn't use them until it has completly healed.
This year he's at another yard, so I don't use them as they go out in a sandpit during the winter & it isn't a problem.
I have some which I'll prob be putting on ebay, so PM if your interested.

 

[happy_talk]

I don;t have any experience with mud fever- but having read what you're doing, one thing strikes me as odd. Mud fever/bacteria love damp places. so why are you bandaging him up at night? surely that will keep/make a lovely warm damp home 24hr/day?
what about applying whatever cream and leaving it uncovered overnight?
As I said, I have no experience- but would be interested to know why bandage overnight? (I also presume he's stabled overnight).

 

[AmyMay]

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Mud fever/bacteria love damp places. so why are you bandaging him up at night? surely that will keep/make a lovely warm damp home 24hr/day?

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Fair point.

He is stabled overnight - and his legs fill, hence the bandaging.

 

[Kenzo]

As long as your washing them daily with a hibiscrub, applying a treatment like Flamozine cream for example (its very good) and keeping them dry (I wouldn't bandage them though) then the pink hairless skin (providing its still not scabby and infected) is a very good sign, its new skin forming, he might feel a bit drafty with the hair loss but trust me it will soon grow back, just takes a month or so.

 

[AmyMay]

Interesting about the pink skin Kenzo, thanks. I don't wash them every day. I did give them a little bath in a mild solution of hibiscrib last week. But apart from that tend to keep water away from them as much as possible.

I bandage because his legs are quite filled in the morning, and bandaging reduces this significantly.

 

[Quarrybank]

Flamozine... that was the cream I used too .

 

[spanishmustangs]

Johnson's Pink Baby Lotion! Works every time like a charm... little secret from Head Lad in Newmarket. Just keep applying. It cleans and soothes and will soften up any scabs. Obviously if the legs are caked in mud you will need to give them a wash first. Anyway, try that morning and evening for a few days...always works for mine.

 

[AmyMay]

Is there a pink one??