Mudfever...arghhh..what do you use?

Elle33

Elle33

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Hello,

My girl is suffering with mudfever worse then ever this Winter, so am curious as to what other people use to help prevent it? I keep the kegs clean and scab free and keep them as dry as I can, but this Winter its just not clearing up with the fields being so wet and muddy, stupid weather! Any recommendations would be greatfully received!
 
I use Sudocrem and flowers of sulphur mixed together into a paste. The golden rule is you must ensure the skin is BONE dry before you apply, otherwise applying pastes and creams to damp skin can make matters worse. Apply the paste gently and leave it for at least a day to soften the scabs, then gently wipe the scabs. If they're ready to come away at this stage they will, if not, do not pick them off, just apply some more paste and leave it alone. Continually picking and washing the scabs just makes the problem worse in my experience. I never wash my horses legs, even if they're caked in mud. Just leave it to dry thoroughly then carefully brush off and apply sudocrem with flowers of sulphur as a barrier.
HTH, certainly works for my lot and never had a problem since I started using this method a couple of years ago.
 
maybe look at what you are feeding her, if the body is healthy the skin stands a better chance of keeping the bacteria at bay, once they have it it can be a nightmare to get rid of until the ground dries right out.

not really much help for getting rid of it I know but if she has had it before a change in diet may prevent her getting it again next year
 
What sort of feed would you recommend? She's on Chaff and Competition mix at the moment...


twiggy2 said:
maybe look at what you are feeding her, if the body is healthy the skin stands a better chance of keeping the bacteria at bay, once they have it it can be a nightmare to get rid of until the ground dries right out.

not really much help for getting rid of it I know but if she has had it before a change in diet may prevent her getting it again next year
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Wash ONCE and dry the legs, then plenty of mud fever powder (keratex or something like, rub it well into the skin, then apply to the outer surface of the leg) with a thick layer of udder cream over the top to keep the powder in place, keep the water out and it treats the mudfever in its own right too. Rub the excess off your hands throught he mane and tail and get a non-sticky, non-slippy and very effective anti-mud and anti-knot treatment for free! Top up the udder cream daily and repeat the entire cycle a week later. Once the mud fever is gone, just brush off the mud, apply the powder and udder cream if the legs are still getting muddy.

I tried every lotion and potion going over the years, and this is what worked best for me. Keratex powder is also very good for minor abrasions, itchy skin patches etc so its a useful addition to the veterinary box and although it seems expensive, it lasts AGES.
 
Elle33 said:
What sort of feed would you recommend? She's on Chaff and Competition mix at the moment...
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Micronised linseed is great for skin and coats and I've also heard good reviews of Global Herbs Mud X but haven't used it myself. Micronised linseed I can't fault however.
 
I use Aromaheel. Plaster it on and leave it for a few days then scrape it all off with the scabs until the leg is clean then use it as a barrier cream before turnout. A couple of years ago my lad had mud fever that just wouldn't clear up. By the late spring i was desperate. The vet suggested sudocrem covered by cotton wool then cling film with vetrap on top. I did this for a week, changing it every couple of days until I had pink skin. Then I left off the cling film but kept on with the sudocrem, cotton wool and vetrap for another couple of weeks and hair started growing. Bit of a faff but worked a treat.
 
try to remove all sugar it is possible to remover from her diet,
competition mix is coated in mollasses as is a lot of chaff, feed a non mollassed chaff and something like high fibre cubes/speedi beet, plus 2 tablespoons salt, pro hoof (or similar), a cupful of micronised linseed. all these things are good for the hoof and skin growth/health.

my mare had mud fever last year (she was in someone elses care), 1st time any of my own or those in my full time care have had it and my own live out 24/7 all year (till now-one is in at night) i never ever wash muddy legs with cold water, in fact I never wash muddy legs when the ground is muddy and wet in the field. I work with horse and if I don't protect my hands from the cold water for a day they are chapped so I dread to think what washing legs every day does to the horses skin.

how ever once you have mud fever your options are more limited-possibly wash legs and dry as best as poss then keep in for a few days till it is looking much better then coat in something? before turning out again-you have my sympathy once you have MF it is a pig to get rid of
 
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Micronized linseed has solved the problems my friend's horse was having with continous cracked heels. He suffered from cracked heels and mud fever even during dry summer months, despite trying every remedy going from vets etc. Somebody suggested she try adding micronized linseed to his feed and bizarrely he has never had a skin problem since. So it would appear he had been lacking something in his diet all along!
 
twiggy2 said:
maybe look at what you are feeding her, if the body is healthy the skin stands a better chance of keeping the bacteria at bay, once they have it it can be a nightmare to get rid of until the ground dries right out.

not really much help for getting rid of it I know but if she has had it before a change in diet may prevent her getting it again next year
Click to expand...

Ditto this: my trad-lad has micronised linseed in his feed (mainly to improve his coat condition/skin as he gets sweet itch in the summer), but it does seem to have helped this year.

Also my two have a piddle of Cider Vinegar in their feeds; result lovely shiney coats :)
 
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