Mud Fever

tonitot

tonitot

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Sorry I know this is posted about a lot ...

I know that Ethel suffered with mud fever last winter when she was in racing so was wondering, is she likely to be prone to getting it again since she had already had it before? What can I do to prevent her from getting it, and what do I do if she does get it? I've never had a horse get mud fever before and I want to be prepared in case she gets it again :)
 
Keep her heels clean but don't wash or scrub them too often as this weakens the skin and makes mud fever more likely. It is better to let the mud dry and then brush it off. If she gets a cut, keep it clean and don't turn out until it has scabbed over as it is the bacteria in the mud which gets into the skin which causes mud fever. Hope this helps! :)
 
Thank you that has helped :D

So how do you use your vaseline/sudocrem etc ?? As in do you just shove it on, do you cover it, do you put it on before/after they go out?? How often do you use it? Sorry I sound useless, but I'd like to know :o
 
I rinse the legs off each night with the hose (takes all night for the mud to dry in winter, so it would never get brushed off!) and towel dry them. Straw beds (quiet deep) have helped a lot. Baby oil is a great deterrent, and makes the mud slide off easily too. For the really bad sufferers we use muddy marvel, which I think is the best by far (and our pennine clay-mud is some of the worst you will see!) Unfortunately the ones that get it badly can't go out much or it gets so bad they get lymphangitis. Turnout boots helped a bit. Sunny days, when the mud is frozen seem to help it heal too..
 
Honey08 said:
I rinse the legs off each night with the hose (takes all night for the mud to dry in winter, so it would never get brushed off!) and towel dry them. Straw beds (quiet deep) have helped a lot. Baby oil is a great deterrent, and makes the mud slide off easily too. For the really bad sufferers we use muddy marvel, which I think is the best by far (and our pennine clay-mud is some of the worst you will see!) Unfortunately the ones that get it badly can't go out much or it gets so bad they get lymphangitis. Turnout boots helped a bit. Sunny days, when the mud is frozen seem to help it heal too..
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Washing legs every night until water running clear with copious amounts of cold water was the advice of my vet. No need to dry as going into deep straw bed. This regime kept my TB clear of mud fever, and although you get chilly hands, it's cheap too!
 
For prevention, the Keratex mud fever powder is great. It's like putting talc on, so it doesn't seal any nasties in or make the skin soft. It's no use if the mud fever is already there though so start early!
 
Bobby was prone to it toni, im sure you saw his legs?

I used a mud fever prevention cream (will find it for you) and he didnt get it, but i was told you MUSTNT hose the legs when they come in and he didnt get it again all winter with me :D
 
My mare used to get mud fever a lot! Last year she was in a different field though and didn't get any. So I think its not only that the horse can be prone, the ground can hold the bugs, some more than others! I used muddy marvels disinfectant and barrier cream when she had mud fever. Vasceline is great on clean legs but a nightmare to get off and therefore difficult to put a fresh bit on
 
You're right Cos - the bug is in the mud - once its in a field, its there..

Not saying Wash the legs - warmth opens the pores and the mud goes in more.. Cold hose the legs - better than cold mud on sores...
 
Honey08 said:
You're right Cos - the bug is in the mud - once its in a field, its there..

Not saying Wash the legs - warmth opens the pores and the mud goes in more.. Cold hose the legs - better than cold mud on sores...
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should have said - when i wash, i do with warm water (for my hands more than anything!) - towel dry, then put clean bandages on overnight (ones that wick away moisture) - then the legs are clean in the morning, dry in the morning and i can whack barrier stuff on.
 
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