Mud Fever

[Stenners]

My girl has got mud fever and I’m gutted ?

Her is very wet and she stands in the gateway every afternoon which is so muddy and she’s comes in plastered. I’ve been doing what I now realise I shouldn’t be doing is hosing the legs but not drying them fully. (I feel awful)

Its 2 patches on her hind feet (one on each foot) maybe 1-1.5cm that scabbed. No signs anywhere else. hibiscrubbed Them with a sponge and scabs pretty much just fell off and then I dried it and put some Sudocream on until I find out the best thing to use. I really don’t want her getting anymore of prone to it in the future and I won’t be washing legs anymore!

Any recommendations?

 

[HashRouge]

I find Sudocreme really effective with my elderly mare, it's always my go to for mud rash.

Mud rash is a bit of a tricky one because what works seems to be slightly different for different horses. With a very small amount of mud rash I would be inclined to keep applying sudocreme until fully healed, then swap to one of the mud barrier powders for prevention. I use the Muddy Buddy one but there are several on the market - you rub them in like talcum powder and they are water resistant so seem to stop the skin getting as damp.

Lots of people will recommend pig oil and sulphur but please make sure you patch test beforehand if you are going to use that - my mare is horrendously allergic to it.

 

[Starzaan]

You will get a different answer from everyone I’m afraid, but for what it’s worth here is mine-

I have managed rehab yards for a long time, and have always avoided mud fever by washing the legs thoroughly every evening when horses come in (ideally with hot water if you have it available), then iodine sprayed onto the frogs to help prevent thrush, and into a nice deep bed (by deep, I mean a proper bed, six inches depth minimum). Premier Equine drying boots are great if for some reason you don’t want a proper bed. Twice a week, in the morning before they are turned out they get pig oil sprayed all over their legs, from the shoulder down, concentrating on the heels.
Some horses do react to pig oil, so always do a patch test. If they react then there are good products available but they are a lot more expensive.
To treat mud fever I wash and try to get scans off gently with hot water and hibiscrub, and then use silver spray. This generally clears it up within a matter of days.
I did once have a rehab livery who came to me with the worst mud fever my vet and I had ever seen, and we had to soften the scabs by bandaging (full leg bandages, it literally went up to the poor things stomach). We smothered the legs in udder cream with chlorhexidine in it, then cling film, then bandages over the top. Left for two hours, then washed off all the scabs and cream and applied a strong topical cream the vet gave us for such a severe case.
you will honestly get a different answer from every person though. Pick what will work best for you ?

 

[Stenners]

You will get a different answer from everyone I’m afraid, but for what it’s worth here is mine-

I have managed rehab yards for a long time, and have always avoided mud fever by washing the legs thoroughly every evening when horses come in (ideally with hot water if you have it available), then iodine sprayed onto the frogs to help prevent thrush, and into a nice deep bed (by deep, I mean a proper bed, six inches depth minimum). Premier Equine drying boots are great if for some reason you don’t want a proper bed. Twice a week, in the morning before they are turned out they get pig oil sprayed all over their legs, from the shoulder down, concentrating on the heels.
Some horses do react to pig oil, so always do a patch test. If they react then there are good products available but they are a lot more expensive.
To treat mud fever I wash and try to get scans off gently with hot water and hibiscrub, and then use silver spray. This generally clears it up within a matter of days.
I did once have a rehab livery who came to me with the worst mud fever my vet and I had ever seen, and we had to soften the scabs by bandaging (full leg bandages, it literally went up to the poor things stomach). We smothered the legs in udder cream with chlorhexidine in it, then cling film, then bandages over the top. Left for two hours, then washed off all the scabs and cream and applied a strong topical cream the vet gave us for such a severe case.
you will honestly get a different answer from every person though. Pick what will work best for you ?

Thank you! If they ge tit once is it likely to return year after year? I really hope not! Her scabs are now gone but it’s just managing it now!

 

[Starzaan]

Thank you! If they ge tit once is it likely to return year after year? I really hope not! Her scabs are now gone but it’s just managing it now!

The chap who came to me with such bad mud fever ended up being a full livery with me for the next six years, and never had it again after that. I think it really depends on the horse and working out the best management for each one. That being said, the above has worked for me with hundreds of horses ?

 

[Stenners]

I’m going to be ordering some silver spray!

 

[Starzaan]

I’m going to be ordering some silver spray!

Silver spray fixes pretty much everything ? it’s bloody brilliant!!
And once you’ve done a patch test, it’s cheapest to buy a spray bottle and buy pig oil in 5litre containers. ?

 

[meleeka]

Unfortunately the bacteria lives in the soil so you will have to be vigilant. My old pony only ever got it once though as I was aware of the risk and always looking for it.

 

[Stenners]

Unfortunately the bacteria lives in the soil so you will have to be vigilant. My old pony only ever got it once though as I was aware of the risk and always looking for it.

How did you treat it when he did have it? I’m such a worrier and really stressing about it!!

 

[milliepops]

One of mine had terrible mud fever last winter. Lincoln muddy buddy cure cream is excellent for treating it, just follow directions on the pot. He hasn't had a reoccurrence.

 

[meleeka]

How did you treat it when he did have it? I’m such a worrier and really stressing about it!!

I washed with antibacterial shampoo and dried well and used Hoof to Heel cream which I think is mostly vaseline. I think Sudocrem probably works just as well though .

 

[Stenners]

One of mine had terrible mud fever last winter. Lincoln muddy buddy cure cream is excellent for treating it, just follow directions on the pot. He hasn't had a reoccurrence.

I’ve literally just ordered the normal muddy buddy cream, is this similar?

 

[milliepops]

I’ve literally just ordered the normal muddy buddy cream, is this similar?

I think that's the barrier cream, the kure one helps soften and remove the scabs. I smeared it on overnight and they mostly plopped off.
Its said that getting the scabs off leaves no grotty places that the bugs can multiply. No picking tho! The muddy buddy stuff gets them off easily.

 

[Stenners]

I think that's the barrier cream, the kure one helps soften and remove the scabs. I smeared it on overnight and they mostly plopped off.
Its said that getting the scabs off leaves no grotty places that the bugs can multiply. No picking tho! The muddy buddy stuff gets them off easily.

Oh pants! Maybe I ordered the wrong one! Not cheap!

 

[humblepie]

I used to use Kerotex mud shield powder and found that good.

 

[Stenners]

I've now ordered Muddy Buddy Kure cream and powder and will hope for the best! In the mean time i'm using hibi scrub and sucocream!

 

[Follysmum]

I find heel to hoof good if you have stubborn scabs. They just drop off as you gently massage in.

 

[Ellietotz]

Second Heel to Hoof for scabs. For prevention, I spray on pig oil once a week when legs are clean and dry and don't touch, wash or brush at all until any mud on the legs has dried.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I use silver spray and the mud shield powder I don't like barrier cream as it just builds up on the scabs and the area can't breathe and I find it makes it worse.

I would also try and get her in earlier so she is not stood in the gateway for ages.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Don't use hibiscub it's too harsh for the skin I wouldn't wash it with anything.

 

[Stenners]

Don't use hibiscub it's too harsh for the skin I wouldn't wash it with anything.

It's very very dilute. I've often had good results with other things with hibiscrub but I will definately bear it in mind!

 

[Stenners]

I use silver spray and the mud shield powder I don't like barrier cream as it just builds up on the scabs and the area can't breathe and I find it makes it worse.

I would also try and get her in earlier so she is not stood in the gateway for ages.

She's one of the first to come in but both her and her field mate wander up the the gate as soon as they see anyone so if it's not us then she's just stood there until we arrive but she's usually in by 4/4.30 each day.

 

[milliepops]

Don't use hibiscub it's too harsh for the skin I wouldn't wash it with anything.

yeah i think it actually hampers the healing cells.

if in need of a good wash i have used normal soap to get any greasy cream off and then rinse and dry with cotton wool.

 

[flying_high]

Don't use hibiscub it's too harsh for the skin I wouldn't wash it with anything.

Having had a number of horses react to it, I dont use it either. It is very harsh and drying to the skin.

I would use maleseb / coatex medicated shampoo (for dogs), or a mild soap that is skin pH friendly.

 

[Griffin]

Another Mud Buddy fan here. I use the shampoo if the legs are very muddy and then the powder when they are dry.

Honey Heel from Red Horse is good for treating sore bits if your horse is unfortunate enough to develop them.

 

[jenni999]

Aromaheel from Aromesse. You layer it on every day, keep putting it on and then about every 3 days wipe it off with a towel or cotton wool, have a quick look at the sore patches and put more on. You will end up with lovely pink skin and the hair will start growing back. If you layer it enough, you can lead through mud without it penetrating. Brilliant stuff.

 

[Orangehorse]

I have written this down a few times before, but this was my experience. I had a TBx mare that was very, very susceptible to mud fever. I used to put vaseline on her heels every morning before turn out and if she had an episode used Equine America ointment which cleared it up quickly.

Then I changed her feed to a feed balancer and after a while I realised that she hadn't had any mud fever for a long time, and she never did have mud fever again while I had her. I bought my present horse as a 2 year old and he had mud fever, in fact it was marked on his vetting certificate as there was some on his stomach. He went on to the same feed and his went away.

I have changed feeds over the years, but for ages and ages he has been on ProBalance supplement which, for those with the knowledge, is very rich in certain nutrients for barefoot horses. Now, he is no longer barefoot, but he is still receiving the ProBalance and I was thinking this morning that he stands in mud in the day time and has filthy dirty legs, but still no mud fever.

 

[milliepops]

my chap had rainscald to go with his mud fever on arrival, and i would agree that getting some good spec grub in long-term has improved his skin, feet and coat quite a lot. he seems more robust in that way now.
that said, luck and circumstances do play a big part.

 

[Starzaan]

The thing to remember with hibiscrub is that it’s perfect for the initial clean, as it’s so strong. However, it isn’t suitable for daily cleaning, even if very diluted.

 

[flying_high]

I have written this down a few times before, but this was my experience. I had a TBx mare that was very, very susceptible to mud fever. I used to put vaseline on her heels every morning before turn out and if she had an episode used Equine America ointment which cleared it up quickly.

Then I changed her feed to a feed balancer and after a while I realised that she hadn't had any mud fever for a long time, and she never did have mud fever again while I had her. I bought my present horse as a 2 year old and he had mud fever, in fact it was marked on his vetting certificate as there was some on his stomach. He went on to the same feed and his went away.

I have changed feeds over the years, but for ages and ages he has been on ProBalance supplement which, for those with the knowledge, is very rich in certain nutrients for barefoot horses. Now, he is no longer barefoot, but he is still receiving the ProBalance and I was thinking this morning that he stands in mud in the day time and has filthy dirty legs, but still no mud fever.

I think there is decent supporting evidence that feeding low sugar / low starch / low inflammatory diet, and ensuring access to good vitamins and minerals (especially zinc and copper, and essential amino acids) does make horses less susceptible to mud fever.