Mud fever - powder or cream for barrier?

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UKa

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Anyone have any views on what is better to use? Thinking of trying the keratex powder in my ongoing battle to keep mud fever at bay. The horse keeps getting scabs I have tried all sorts...
 
I use cream to treat any scabby areas then spray with pig oil to keep the legs mud free or at least stop it sticking so much, I have used keratex in the past but found it only lasted a short while if it was really wet and muddy so not much use for those going out for a full day, it was also tricky to get another covering on without washing and drying first whereas the pig oil can just be reapplied as often as you want even if the legs are not totally clean or dry.
 
I had great success on one of my wee chaps with Lincoln's muddy buddy cream. I would be careful using pig oil on any area with scabs/open sores etc. also some horses can react badly to it so test prior to use (we've never had an issue using it on our hairy legged creatures).
 
Currently using a bit of hibi (once a week), in between a spray of hypo care and liberal applications of baby oil gel (seems to stick better and last longer) and has camomile in for soothing (spoilt pony yes)
 
Keratex is meant to be really good. Alternatively you could try good old lard mixed with flowers of sulphur available from your garden centre. You have to apply a layer and leave it on for a few days before washing off and reapplying. It is meant to be really good stuff.
 
feed ....... micronised linseed 100-200gms per day plus minerals 25-30gms pr day.
Keratx pwder, no hosing unless essential, dry legs with stable bandages have spares and keep dry if really in a bad way clean the legs apply dry gauze then bandage.
I never had mud fever if horse was stabled overnight, yet all the girls who hosed and washed had it all winter. I looked after one when daughter was on a course and mum could not cope, in five days it was clearing up ...........very dilute Nizoral shampoo, dry bandaging at night. and Keratex powder, it came back when returned to the wash, hibiscrub, pig oil treatment ........... but there you go..............
 
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My horse lived out for 2 winters in very muddy conditions at times...I used the Muddy Buddy powder and Keratex powder. No mud fever atall, no washing, just let her natural oils and the powder do their stuff.
 
Do you have pictures?

I'd try washing his legs with Nizoral Shampoo - you can buy it at the chemist - its amazing for MudFever - dilute with hand hot water, work well into the affected area and beyond, leave 20 mins, then rinse. Usually find the mudfever goes within days. Often only had to wash once.
 
Boo_94X said:
Definitely stick with hibi scrub once a week and hypocare I find works a treat topped with sudocream on the top
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Hibiscrub is very strong and can damage skin - its purpose is to sterilise skin before surgery.

Having to constantly treat the skin shows that you ned to look at what you are feeding - horses with repeat mudfever problems are usually deficient in Zinc and Copper - so look at the supplements you generally feed and go and buy one with a higher level of Zinc and Copper.

If mine have their mineral block at the beginning of Spring they don't get sunburnt noses or mudfever. This year I failed to get a block - I buy a 20kg block from the farm store and my mare has a tender nose.

Any sign of mudfever (raised hair stuck together in clumps) her legs are washed with Nizoral - far kinder to use than Hibiscrub.
 
It depends if you know if it's true mud fever or if it's leukocytoclastic vasculitis which is what my horse has. I tried muddy buddy and aromaheel as well as a cream from the vets and lots of other things. I was treating mud fever for a year before I found out if was actually leukocytoclastic vasculitis.
 
mightymammoth said:
It depends if you know if it's true mud fever or if it's leukocytoclastic vasculitis which is what my horse has. I tried muddy buddy and aromaheel as well as a cream from the vets and lots of other things. I was treating mud fever for a year before I found out if was actually leukocytoclastic vasculitis.
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Have you looked up the possible causes of this (I googled it) - Interesting reading and possibly brought about by using an array of treatments causing the reaction.

Mudfever is a simple ailment to deal with so long as it is treated promptly with Nizoral - which has both Anti Fungal and Anti bacterial properties.

WE know that vets consider mud fever to be caused by the bacteria dermatophalus but they generally only get to see it after people have tried various home remidies first - including picking off the scabs.

If treated with Nizerol at the onset mudfever clears up extremely fast - the antifungal in Nizoral gets it and knocks it out fast. If scabs have been picked off then bacteria gets in - then the anti bacterial properties in Nizoral hits that.

Have you also tried not feeding any Legume feeds to your horse? Lucerne, peas, beans and clovers are all found in the majority of commercial feeds - if you can cut these out it could help
 
We swear by Muddy Marvel cream. Have used it for 4 years now.....and touch wood.....had no re occurrence of mud fever with our two horses. We only reapply every four days which shows how well it protects. When mud is really bad....LIKE NOW....we also put horses into Equilibrium Close Fitting Turnout Chaps, which combined with cream acts like a great set of horse wellies! Roll on summer!
 
Tnavas said:
Have you looked up the possible causes of this (I googled it) - Interesting reading and possibly brought about by using an array of treatments causing the reaction.

Mudfever is a simple ailment to deal with so long as it is treated promptly with Nizoral - which has both Anti Fungal and Anti bacterial properties.

WE know that vets consider mud fever to be caused by the bacteria dermatophalus but they generally only get to see it after people have tried various home remidies first - including picking off the scabs.

If treated with Nizerol at the onset mudfever clears up extremely fast - the antifungal in Nizoral gets it and knocks it out fast. If scabs have been picked off then bacteria gets in - then the anti bacterial properties in Nizoral hits that.

Have you also tried not feeding any Legume feeds to your horse? Lucerne, peas, beans and clovers are all found in the majority of commercial feeds - if you can cut these out it could help
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Hi,

we think its aggravated by uv light or clover, it is much worse in the summer. I bought some filtabac (sp) to try but this caused more sores, unfortunately his skin is now very damaged and sensitive and a lot of creams flare it up. Unfortunately it seems to be a chronic condition that will never be cured only managed.
 
Secret is .... don't wash daily - keep to once a week - bring in at night and leave (do not touch!!!) in the morning brush dry mud off and cover thickly whole area in petroleum jelly- better than any expensive product and with a very mud rashy arab - Ive tried everything!!! x
 
I ring mine in overnight, don't touch the legs, let it dry overnight and then in the morning I brush off the mud with a rubber mit and apply udder cream. Cheap, easy and leaves pony hair and skin really healthy, and my hands too!
 
Also agree with not washing. I bought a horse with bad untreated mudfever - the owner hosed the legs off every night and stabled her but could do nothing else.

I kept her out 24/7. The first winter I washed it every few days with hexocil and pevidene and treated with alamycin spray. Once it was gone, I did nothing, and she didn't get it again the next 3 winters I owned her.

I have 6 living out and legs are only washed for shows/clinics - none have mud fever.
 
We are on clay which means that the horses come in literally coated. If you want to ride and boot you need to wash, so now if I wash, I put stable wraps on.

pretty much every horse on our yard has had mud fever. Between us, we have tried a variety of precautions and cures and in my case, vet.

I am definitely going to try the nazerol. I switched to malaseb but when using that at the first sign of MF meant my horses legs were up the next day. He is, however, made of China!
 
I used to use Nazerol and it worked, but last week I used it and the following day my boy has cellulitis. He has had reactions to Neem oil and Pig oil before, so I am currently using nappy cream and baby oil mixed together once a week on clean dry legs.
 
For years I have used baby oil as a preventative and rarely if ever washed legs, just brushed them when dry. This year has been the wettest ever and my horses have got slight mud fever. Their legs are so wet and muddy that even by morning they are not dry. So I have put wool wraps on at night over the mud for the past week. In the morning the mud has dried on to the wraps. The legs are already looking much better.
I think each owner has to find what works for them and their horse and unfortunately sometimes it works one year and not the next.
 
I am finding that the pig oil means that a lot less mud is sticking to my horse legs and it is a matter of moments to brush them off. If you look further up his legs you will see the mud dried in thick clumps and it is horrendous to get off. Pig oil clearly helps!
 
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