Mud Fever

J

Jumper123

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<font color="red"> </font> We are considering buying a pony who suffers from mud fever. We were just wondering is it a major issue ie. very expensive, a lot of bother etc
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any help would be appreciated, thanks
 

I've just paid £300 for mudfever treatment. Last time it required antibiotics (due to secondary infection) and took ages to shift. It spread up to his quarters within a few days and he was lame and extremely sore. It literally happened overnight.

I've had other horses where I've just washed the legs put sudocrem on and within a week or so it's cleared up no problem.

It can vary hugely. So I would ask the owners for more info on how it has been dealt with in the past and how severe it's been.


J
 
prevention less costly than cure......turnout socks on during day and leg wraps at night, initial outlay is a cost as you need two sets of boots (one to use whilst other in wash and clean on each day) and the thermatex wraps at night. Sounds dramatic but my last horse suffered badly and this method stopped it completely and the boots etc last ages. Keeps them clean too so does have an advantage. I know lots of people will recommend lotions and potions but I never found any worked, stopping the mud completely was the only sure fire way but some people may have had success with other methods. Wouldn't have put me off buying him though, he was a superstar! Good luck!
 
I agree. Get as much information as you can from the current owners. My boy got it 4 years ago and it spread right up one leg and got infected but I have managed to keep it in check ever since with aromaheel cream - which is great !
 
just because he has had it before does not mean he will get it again just in the weather you think he mind get it be extra carefull use things like turn out socks and barrier creams prevention is always better than cure!
 
is mud fever an ongoing "disease" or is it like a rash humans can get ... you can get it, you put cream on it and it goes away ....

we were wondering does it affect them on wet summer days or just winter or do the socks/ bandages need to be kept on all year round (changing them once/twice daily)

we have never had a pony with mud fever and we are not sure.
 
Once a pony has had it, they are more likely to get it again once it has cleared up. But if you use close contact turnout boots, you shouldn't have any problems. It doesn't matter what time of the year it is. If it's muddy or wet, they are at risk.
Won't affect performance or anything like that though. Only turnout really.
But if you did hunting/cross country, or got muddy legs on hacks you'd need to rinse off the mud and pop on some stable chaps to help dry the legs.
It's more managable than people think.
 
I agree - if you're on the ball about it, you should be fine. Lake sure you hose muddy legs off and dry them (that's the important bit).
I'd still buy the horse if you like it enough - could maybe try to knock a bit off the price though??!!
 
An old 'horseman' told me about lard &amp; sulphur powder, &amp; it has never failed me or anyone else I have told about it. Dont remove any scabs, just smear it on every couple of days. The mixture is vague, just blend the 2 together until a bright yellow colour. Give it a go! Good luck!
 
Mud fever is caused by a bacteria in the ground (and therefore on the horse's skin to some degree) that is harmless until it finds a route in through skin compromised by being endlessly wet and being rubbed by particles of mud. Take care with using close contact boots as a solution coz if you have even one speck of mud trapped inside them then your ned could get rubbed raw and bingo, mud fever anyway. Skin, hair and boots need to always be spotless and sometimes that's just plain impossible. Good luck!
 
[ QUOTE ]
is it a major issue ie. very expensive, a lot of bother etc
grin.gif
any help would be appreciated, thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

It certainly can be, my older horse hadn't had it for years until we moved to our own yard and this winter it's been hell managing him, the younger horse had it too and really caught me out. That said it wouldn't stop me buying a horse if I liked it in all other respects because it very much depends on the soil in your field eg my old mare had it really badly on one yard but not on another.

Whatever you decide prevention is far the best way and found leg wraps put on overnight before it even starts to get very wet worked for me.
 
my mare just had mud fever!!! As long as you catch it early is shouldn't be to much of a problem. We now put leg wraps on her, but if the paddock is to muddy she doesnt go out!!
 
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