Mud fever Scabs

LaurenBay

LaurenBay

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Hi,

I've had my mare now for 3 weeks (first Horse) when I washed her legs down I noticed loads of little black spots and when I pulled one the hair came out, she doesn't seem bothered by them in the slightest and is happy picking up legs and happy with me brushing her legs.

My Yo said it looks like she had a bad case of mudfever with her old owners that was not treated properly. Will the scabs fall off in time or is there something I can do for her? Now I know she is prone to mudfever I will be keeping a close eye in winter and take the nessecery precautions to prevent her from getting it again.

Thanks in advance :) x
 
If it's mudfever then you need to be getting rid of the scabs as the bacteria that causes mud fever lives underneath them.
Soften them for a few days with something like vaseline, this will let you remove them with as little damage to her skin as posible ( drop them onto newspaper or something then burn the lot so they can't infect anyone else) , then when they've gone wash her lags daily with hibiscrub, making sure you dry them properly. You can use a barrier cream (such as udder cream) to keep her skin protected.

You may find once it's cleared up that she doesn't get it again as the bacteria which causes mud rash/fever is not present in all soils and you may not have it where you are *fingerscrossed*
 
definately DON'T pick the scabs off - they cause the horse a lot of grief when you do and by breaking the skin this is when bacteria gets in.

The best, easiest and painless way to treat mudfever is to use Nizerol shampoo. You can buy it from a chemist. It contains Ketaconisol which kills the mudfever and also helps breakdown the scabs that have formed.

Dilute in hand hot water and lather up well using a face cloth - the roughness of the cloth helps to get the shampoo down into the base of the hair. Wash well past the affected area as well to prevent spread.

Leave to dry. There is no need to rinse.

I've been using Nizerol on many horses over the past few years purely because it works with minimal effort.
 
GingerCat said:
If it's mudfever then you need to be getting rid of the scabs as the bacteria that causes mud fever lives underneath them.
Soften them for a few days with something like vaseline, this will let you remove them with as little damage to her skin as posible ( drop them onto newspaper or something then burn the lot so they can't infect anyone else) , then when they've gone wash her lags daily with hibiscrub, making sure you dry them properly. You can use a barrier cream (such as udder cream) to keep her skin protected.

You may find once it's cleared up that she doesn't get it again as the bacteria which causes mud rash/fever is not present in all soils and you may not have it where you are *fingerscrossed*
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i prob wouldnt hibiscrub everyday as this can limit the horses natural oils in the skin which they need to defend such things ,hibiscrub can be quite harsh!!although very good !!
 
Evelyn said:
definately DON'T pick the scabs off - they cause the horse a lot of grief when you do and by breaking the skin this is when bacteria gets in.
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The scabs have to be removed or you won't get rid of the bacteria!
If they are softened first before removal as I suggested there is no trauma at all.
The bacteria is already in there..that's what is causing the problem.
 
GingerCat said:
The scabs have to be removed or you won't get rid of the bacteria!
If they are softened first before removal as I suggested there is no trauma at all.
The bacteria is already in there..that's what is causing the problem.
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The reason you don't try to force them off is that they are not normal scabs. These scabs are made from lumph that has oozed through the skin and dried around clumps of hair. When you remove the scabs you pull the hair out by it's roots - that is when you get the bacteria dermatophalous into the wound.

Mudfever is now being proven initially to be a fungus so needs to be treated with an antifungal shampoo - Nizerol is made from 'Ketaconizol' which is a very good antfungal agent. I've treated many horses with this as mudfever and rainscald are very prevelant in this area of New Zealand. Often all I need to do is wash the area once with Nizerol and for the scabs and the infection to be gone within days.

Using Hibiscrub is not a good idea - it's designed to sterilise a surgeons hands before surgery and is wrongly used by many. It definately should not be used on broken skin.

Next time you deal with a case of mudfever give Nizerol a try - no more bandaging or coating legs with vaseline or poulticing - so easy to use.
 
Mud fever has several causes including both bacterial and fungal. Perhaps in NZ the main cause is a fungal infection, however in the UK this is not the case.The main cause of mud fever/rash here IS the Dermatophilus congolensis bacteria. This would not respond to anti-fungal treatment unless there was secondary infection due to fungus, in whch case it would be cheaper to use Clotrimazole cream (about half the price of Nizerol)

As an ex-theatre Nurse I know the correct uses Hibiscrub and it is certainly indicated in the eradication of mud fever.
If softened correctly, the removal of the scabs will not cause trauma to the area.

"The reason you don't try to force them off is that they are not normal scabs. These scabs are made from lumph that has oozed through the skin and dried around clumps of hair."

I assume that you mean Lymph....Lymph is fluid present in the cells whose job is to carry bacteria out of the body, the fact that it is there shows that bacteria is present already. it usually carries said bacteria back through the lymphatic system to be destroyed but can be forced out of the skin by a build up of odema (fluid).

I suggest that LaurenBay do her own research and decide the best way to treat her horse as we have such different opinions Evelyn :)
 
GingerCat said:
Mud fever has several causes including both bacterial and fungal. Perhaps in NZ the main cause is a fungal infection, however in the UK this is not the case.The main cause of mud fever/rash here IS the Dermatophilus congolensis bacteria. This would not respond to anti-fungal treatment unless there was secondary infection due to fungus, in whch case it would be cheaper to use Clotrimazole cream (about half the price of Nizerol)
Because of the size of the area generally requiring treatment it would not be cheaper to use Canestan or the like - Nizerol being a shampoo can cover a larger area - which is important as you need to wash well beyond the affected area as mudfever tends to travel around and out from the initial area - another symptom of a fungus.

As an ex-theatre Nurse I know the correct uses Hibiscrub and it is certainly indicated in the eradication of mud fever.
Chlorhexidine gluconate is an antiseptic effective against a wide range of bacteria. It is most active at a neutral or alkaline conditions. Its activity is reduced by the presence of blood or body fluids. It binds strongly to skin, mucosa and other tissues and is therefore poorly absorbed.

If softened correctly, the removal of the scabs will not cause trauma to the area.
from extensive experience of dealing with mudfever - that is not the case - most horses have some reaction to the removal of the scabs - discomfort to extreme pain, swelling of the affected limb, lameness and when extensive split skin. Using Nizerol means that the horse does not need to go through this type of treatment. One wash with Nizerol generally seems to clear the mudfever - the shampoo seems to breakdown the congealed lymph without resorting to pulling them off.

"The reason you don't try to force them off is that they are not normal scabs. These scabs are made from lumph that has oozed through the skin and dried around clumps of hair."

I assume that you mean Lymph....Lymph is fluid present in the cells whose job is to carry bacteria out of the body, the fact that it is there shows that bacteria is present already. it usually carries said bacteria back through the lymphatic system to be destroyed but can be forced out of the skin by a build up of odema (fluid).
One of the symptoms of fungal infection is oozing of lymph through the skin. I get it on my own scalp which is when I tried the shampoo on some horses at work.

I suggest that LaurenBay do her own research and decide the best way to treat her horse as we have such different opinions Evelyn :)

I would think that is why she has put a post on the forum to find out about treating mudfever and it doesn't matter at all that we have different opinions - it is one of my pet subjects and have been working on it for several years now using Nizerol with great success
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I have vets here trying out Nizerol and vets in UK also now trying it and have seen it suggested by other forum users now at the suggestion of their vet. I've also had a UK forum user thank me for suggesting it to her as her horse is now mudfever free.

Suggest that next time you have a horse with mudfever to give Nizerol a try - the Ketaconizol works very well - often with just one treatment. You might have a pleasent surprise and can save a fortune on poulices, bandages and wraps and time!
 
if you dont want to use hibiscrub malaseb is very good and i sometimes use immavarol!! and what is super is dermobian!! of course it is as you cant get hold of it any more!!!! if anyone can please let me know!!!
 
My horse has these too, little scabs of greasy gunk on his lower legs. I always thought they were scratches or where a fly/tick has bitten him! But he had one on his ear yesterday - yuck.
He also gets it quite badly this year down the back of his hind legs, just below the hock. I usually let them drop off then spray with Savlon spray - it's just spray chlorhexidine. I also take him in the sea.
In plain english please what treatment do I need to buy off the UK chemist? OH gets cradle-cap type scalp conditions when he is stressed - is it shampoo for that that I need? What's it called IN THE UK????????????
 
noblesteed said:
My horse has these too, little scabs of greasy gunk on his lower legs. I always thought they were scratches or where a fly/tick has bitten him! But he had one on his ear yesterday - yuck.
He also gets it quite badly this year down the back of his hind legs, just below the hock. I usually let them drop off then spray with Savlon spray - it's just spray chlorhexidine. I also take him in the sea.
In plain english please what treatment do I need to buy off the UK chemist? OH gets cradle-cap type scalp conditions when he is stressed - is it shampoo for that that I need? What's it called IN THE UK????????????
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Nizeral is the UK name for the shampoo that will treat mudfever and cradle cap type condition! You may even be able to buy it at Tesco or other supermarket - we used to here in NZ but now seems to be pharmacy only.
 
You may have extensive experience of treating the condition Evelyn...My horse had only had it once in the ten years I've had him, Once treated in the fashion I've described and since then using a barrier cream (udder cream is my favourite) he's been mud fever free.
So I reckon I'm doing something right!
 
May I suggest that it might be worth getting your vet to have a look at your horse's condition. It may not be mud fever at all, but a much nastier condition called flexural dermatitis which my horse has had for months. I too was assured by everyone it was mudfever, so when it was eventually diagnosed much valuable time had been lost and she was a very lame and uncomfortable mare by then! And with that you certainly don't pick/rub the scabs off!
 
GingerCat said:
You may have extensive experience of treating the condition Evelyn...My horse had only had it once in the ten years I've had him, Once treated in the fashion I've described and since then using a barrier cream (udder cream is my favourite) he's been mud fever free.
So I reckon I'm doing something right!
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10 years ago I would have done what you did - but in the past few years dealing with the racehorses and my own - Clyde & clyde crosses - so many white socks I've found Nizerol to work exceedingly well, minimum fuss, cleared in a short space of time, pain free and really cheap to use - one bottle lasts for many horses.
 
When my horses have had it in the depths of winter (and no time to be sorting out washing legs in the dark), I have put anti mud fever cream on at night, then when it came to the weekend, I went to wash all gunk off, and found that all scabs came off and horse was fine.
 
The best mud fever cream i've used is Mud-bar. Leave it on for a few days and the scabs peel off really well. The skin left behind looks nice and clean.
 
GingerCat said:
You may have extensive experience of treating the condition Evelyn...My horse had only had it once in the ten years I've had him, Once treated in the fashion I've described and since then using a barrier cream (udder cream is my favourite) he's been mud fever free.
So I reckon I'm doing something right!
Click to expand...

HAve you tried adding Zinc & Copper to his diet - both strengthen the skin and then you shouldn't need to keep using the barrier cream.
 
Do not pick the scabs off! When my horse arrived he had the worst mud fever anyone on the yard had seen. I would brush of the mud (when it was dry) and put sudocreme on the scabs and left it at that. Completely healed up in less than a month.
 
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