Mud fever?

siennamiller

siennamiller

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The horse I am looking after is a chestnut with two white back legs, he has been in pretty much since mid December as it is so wet.
He had a cut on his back leg, which filled up, then both back legs filled, and now all four.
I thought he might have an allergy to the vile sand in our school, so have been hibiscrubbing his legs after going in there, and if he goes out. He was out both days over the weekend, as it was dry, and then in yesterday, but his legs seem to stay filled.
They are better with exercise, so have smothered him in Vaseline, and chucked him out.
Not sure what to do with him as his owner is away for another 3 weeks.
The field is only muddy at the gate, so am putting hay on the other side, so he shouldn't be getting too muddy.
Thanks in advance.
 
Pig oil is an excellent waterproofer for legs and manages to stay effective even in this mud. In spite of the name it isn't made out of pigs (:D) and is available at most feed merchants and tack shops. If applied daily before turnout it seems to prevent mud fever from starting - it has with ours.

If there are already lesions present then Fungitrol or Muddy Marvel are very good at clearing it up.
 
What is pig oil made of then, I am confused-lol. I am not sure it is mud fever though, he is a little bit scabby, but he was before I started putting him out again. Don't think he has been out enough for mud fever?
 
Personally I would lay off all the scrubbing with hibiscrub, its likely his legs are the way they are because of the harshness of that stuff!

They are probably filling because he is standing in for long periods of time. If you say your field is only muddy by the gate then there is no real reason he should be in 24/7. A bit of mud isnt going to kill him so I personally would put a barrier on the legs and turn him out as normal for a few hours a day. You will notice the filled legs going down quiet quickly because of the turnout.

If you are buying pig oil or any mud barrier concoction then you should do a small patch test first to ensure he doesnt have a bad reaction to it (small spot of the stuff reacting is a lot easier to deal with than four whole legs reacting badly to something!)

I would cover the legs in barrier cream/ lotion/ potion of choice and keep washing them down to a complete minimum as often its better for the mud to dry and be brushed off than constantly washing the legs and making them prone to soreness every day.
 
I say scrubbing with hibiscrub, I just rub it on diluted with a sponge, and rinse well. He had the scabs already which is why I got it.
Unfortunately owner is not keen on him going out v much, she thought it might be lymphanigitis?
Legs were much better after a few hrs turnout today, will lay off too much washing off though.
Thanks
 
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