Mud Fever Survey - A silly question?

labruyere

labruyere

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something interesting has occurred to me
based on observation of my own horses...

a question for those of you who have (or have had) horses suffering from mud fever

was the horse living out (full time) at the time
or stabled with turnout?

please drop a reply below as I'm v intrigued to hear your experiences...

regards
.
 
Mine had it about 2 winters ago and was turned out full time. He was only 2 so no point being in. It was only on one leg but it was serious enough that I needed the vet to provide creams etc it then cleared up very quickly.
 
all Mine have it having never having to treat it my entire horse owning life and have since may, wet year :( all out 24/7 apart from a few times to allow, legs to dry!
 
Neither of ours have ever had it, out 24/7 spring to autumn, in at night in the winter.
Field currently resembles a swamp lol!!
 
My pony never had it significantly until last winter - had him 8 years and been at the same yard, same routine. And with the awful summer we've had he had bouts of it across the summer months this summer. Developed infection in one leg from it a month ago too. This winter/year there have been very few horses on the yard that haven't had it and 3-4 had to have antibiotics and visits from vets. In the winter (Nov-Apr) they're in at night and out in a bog for a field during the day for about 6-7 hrs a day. We're on clay soil...only other difference in the last year is that the field they go in for the winter has sheep on it during the summer.

From speaking to people I know elsewhere it's amazing the amount of people whose horses have never suffered from mud fever but developed it this year.
 
Five horses in field over the summer. The Grey got it on all four legs but worst on his white rear feet. Small amount on chestnut's one white foot. Grey has it back again now and also another new livery who joined the group two months ago.

No problem with black cob, black mare or chestnut TB.

All out 24/7 although they now have field shelter. Field is a mud bath at the mo.
 
mine gets it every year, regardless of how i manage it (hosing & drying, not hosing and brushing off dry, using various creams etc)

He is out 24/7 from march-november, november-march he is stabled at night, and for about 8 weeks over winter he is out every other day in the field, the other day he is in the bark corral.

I think maybe some horses are just prone to it, regardless of management. His fieldmates range from another two TB's, and 2 cobs. 1 tb gets it too, the other tb has nothing, one cob gets it and one doesnt. the girl who owns the 2 tbs doesnt hose off. Both the cobs get hosed.

bit more info than your original post, but might be of interest!
 
Seems to be a LOT of it around at the moment, a few on our yard have it, inc ones who rarely have had it in the past. Mine is a bit prone but had quite a flare up this time around although now on the mend. Vet said loads in the area had it and blamed the weather. hoping this cold spell might kill some of it off! Have been looking on here too for ideas for best ways to prevent and treat, Currently using hibiscrub and cream the vet gave me,. Once its cleared I am gonna try baby oil to see if that helps. never had to deal wtih it before - nasty stuff.

To answer the qu, mine's turned out in the day time about 4/5 hours, in and stabled at night. Fields are a bit boggy but not terrible,
 
A Musing said:
Have been looking on here too for ideas for best ways to prevent and treat, Currently using hibiscrub and cream the vet gave me,. Once its cleared I am gonna try baby oil to see if that helps. never had to deal wtih it before - nasty stuff.
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A Musing, best treatment i've ever had was hibiscrubbing scabs off initially, then using carr day and martin wound cream. It says on the blurb that it can be used for mud fever too, it acts as a barrier without being greasy, and leaves the skin nice and soft. I'd hibi once a week, then hose off after turnout and apply cream, then put on more cream before turning out again. Really clears it up. I've also used baby oil but couldnt get on with it, too messy, didnt improve mine and just got everywhere lol.
 
thanks for the replies everyone...

my horses who live out 24/7 haven't had it
my old TB used to get it at a previous yard when he was a stabled horse with turnout

I've always had a theory that certain fields 'carry' it and others don't
I've been at new fields for about 3 months now

however my TB has been living in for a couple of weeks due to an injury

he'd come off pretty muddy fields without it...

but developed it after being turned out on a field with good (though short) grass cover for a couple of hours over only 3 days...

so was wondering whether being stabled was actually making him MORE prone to it...
possibly due to restricted movement/reduced circulation
 
I also think certain fields carry it.
I have heard that a yearly dressing of lime helps combat the problem. Our fields are limed once a year. Been here 5 years and touchwood no sign so far, two of ours suffered on and off at our old place.
 
7 year old never had it before as always stabled overnight, had him out 24/7 this summer and he got it! Even though no mud in his field, just very wet.
 
All live out 24/7

Sometimes develop Mudfever following heavy rain and a few warm days

As soon as the clumped/raised hair is noticed then legs are washed with Nizoral Shampoo - symptoms gone within a couple of days

Have also found that a mineral block with Copper & Zinc in it helps to prevent it from within - also seems to prevent pink nose sunburn
 
I have never owned/loaned a horse with it despite keeping my horse the same as a friend's similar type of horse on exactly the same regime (turnout).

My new mare came with it (she had it all summer) however I have almost got rid of it, she is out 24/7 and was when I bought her.
 
My mare has it for the first time, living out 24/7 for the first time too. I've treated it by Hibiscrubbing twice a week, coating with Flammazine from Vets then after thats soaked in well, Pig oil and sulphur. Its working well, cleared up lots and shes not been sore with it. Shes a grey.
 
FfionWinnie said:
I have never owned/loaned a horse with it despite keeping my horse the same as a friend's similar type of horse on exactly the same regime (turnout).

My new mare came with it (she had it all summer) however I have almost got rid of it, she is out 24/7 and was when I bought her.
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Have you tried using Nizoral Shampoo on it - I've found it works really wel. It's so easy to use - just dilute with hand hot water, lather up well, and leave to dry. You can buy the Nizoral from a chemist/pharmacy. Though I expect Tesco's will have it.
 
Tnavas said:
Have you tried using Nizoral Shampoo on it - I've found it works really wel. It's so easy to use - just dilute with hand hot water, lather up well, and leave to dry. You can buy the Nizoral from a chemist/pharmacy. Though I expect Tesco's will have it.
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Thanks. It's just about gone now. It's not sore now there are just three tiny patches about this size > O < which continue to crust up (bleurgh)

When I got her she was sedated for teeth and I cleaned it up while she was under sedation as she was extremely violent (it was bad but not that bad!!). I think her previous owner was scared of her and couldn't treat it properly. I wasn't that fond of her trying to kick my head in either but I persevered and I've managed to clip it off now as well which I couldn't have done when I got her (and lived!).
 
re shampoo and pig oil

these 2 remedies keep appearing in this and other related threads...

re shampoo - do you rinse it off or leave it on?

what is pig oil - and where do you get it
if you don't have access to an obliging pig ;)
.
 
Tnavas said:
They had probably forced the scabs off which is very painful - the great thing about Nizoral is that it is ainless and they don't resent you dealing with their legs.
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I don't think they had done anything. The mare was a sod to handle if you wanted to do anything other than lightly groom her. She is a reformed character now I've had her nearly 3 months :)
 
labruyere said:
re shampoo and pig oil

these 2 remedies keep appearing in this and other related threads...

re shampoo - do you rinse it off or leave it on?

what is pig oil - and where do you get it
if you don't have access to an obliging pig ;)
.
Click to expand...

Pig oil is for oiling pigs so agri merchant.

I used hibiscrub and didn't wash off. Towel dried (paper towel so no spread of infection).
 
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