Mudfever

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crazypony

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It's been years since I've had to deal with this, and way back then we would wash the leg, dry, apply cream, pick off scabs, wash, dry etc, and keep on box rest until clear.

There seem to be so many products now.

Mare has mudfever, although not 'bad', it is somewhat sore. Atm washing twice a day with hibiscrub, drying and applying sudocrem and / or a topical gel.

Vet suggested taking her feathers off, and using turnout socks. It's also been suggested that i bandage or use long wraps in the stable to prevent bedding irritating the area. That sounds perfectly reasonable except I can't help but think it would stop air circulating, and maybe make the area sweat and become moist... which could make matters worse.


What methods of treatment and prevention work the best? a combination of things or is it better to keep it simple? Are these turnout socks worth buying, and is it worth taking the feathers off? Do you bandage in the stable ?
 
I have tried everything and they seem to work for a short while but then it flares up again even though I am still treating.At the moment I am using sportabac turnout boots and keretex powder and having success but still have some on one leg.The good thing is his legs are always clean the bad thing I have to wash and dry them every night.
Lincoln uni are doing a trial of powder and cream at the moment ,if you are interested
http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/dbs/mudfever/
I don't like the creams much as they tend to get messy and then I have to wash them off and I think it is best to keep the legs dry.If they get wet on a ride I dry with cotton wool and try not to scratch the heels
 
I use the Sportbac boots and the IV Horse MFP which has so far worked well this year, had no reoccurance so far. But I NEVER wash her legs, that makes hers worse. Just brush off the mud when its dried.
 
I use the keratex powder too as I also hate the creams!! But really I think keeping the legs as dry as poss has to be the answer. Lincoln make a cream with tea tree oil in it and Ive had success with that but again is does make a mess. but it seems to loosen the scabs and then you can clean the legs and use the keratex.
 
Dont wash the legs for one thing. It just makes matters worse.

Turnout socks are good but two things... Firstly, they have to fit very well and secondly, they're of no use when your horse actually has mud fever as it creates a lovely environment for it to spread more.

Taking feathers off can help as it allows the skin to dry faster as feathers will hold the moisture.

When you bring in, leave the legs to dry on their own and the brush off any mud. I used the Blue Hors skin healer cream with great success when mine had mud fever just before christmas and that cleared it really quickly.

I was advised by the vet not to use any bandages or leg wraps while the mud fever was actually there. Once cleared, using leg wraps can help to dry the legs faster and more thoroughly which in itself, is much healthier for the skin. You can then think about turnout boots but be aware these need washing daily which can be a bit of a hassle.

Depending on how bad it currently is, you could consider stabling until you're on top of it.

But just try not washing the legs at all, you might be surprised.
 
I have had to use the turnout boots while he has mudfever as I can't stable 24/7.
I was very worried about this as the package does say to get it better first BUT they have really improved.So if stabling 24/7 is not an option don't be scared to try the boots with keretex powder. Keeping the legs dry and warm is the answer. The washing is a pain but they dry well on the radiator!
 
One of mine has mud fever for the first time, and I have stopped washing and using creams as I felt it was making it worse, I now just use keretax powder and the skin looks much healthier.
 
QR.

Thanks everyone.

The feathers on the affected legs have come off today (been trimmed) because it seems the feathers were getting wet and not drying properly, which probably aggravated it.

I'll buy some Keratex powder and boots and keep my fingers crossed.
 
Another vote for the Keratex powder. It's been a godsend for my mare as our fields are so muddy. She get's mud on the hair but it doesn't seem to get down to the skin. So far we have kept it at bay. It goes a surprisingly long way too. I'm still on my first container.
 
My horse's mud fever wasnt very bad and it got better by washing it once a day with hibiscrub then putitng "udder cream" on it twice a day. Hope this helps....
 
I had terrible trouble with this last year - so bad she was lame on her white leg for 2 months due to swelling. I brought her in every night for a week, srubbed the leg with hibiscrub, smeared the leg with honey and clinfilmed over it and finally vet wrapped. By the end of the week all the scabs just came off - due to softening. Then I left off bandaging and smeared her leg in sudocreme. Touch wood there has been no signs since!!! She is out 24/7 and even though her leg gets muddy I just brush off at weekends and no lumps yet!!!!
 
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