Not Mud Fever but a bit the same I think

Flibble

Flibble

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 September 2007
Messages
4,282
Location
Gloucestershire
www.annamason-art.co.uk
Yesterday evening I discovered that Drifter has some scabs on 1 hind leg and on the heel of same hind leg and front leg on same side.

Those on the hind leg just feel like dirt in the coat and a little bit gritty. So when I used my fingers to pull the bits of dirt out it turned out to be very flat sort of tiny scabs.

This prompted further searching and I discovered he had two little mounds of grey crunchy scabs on the heel of this leg about the size of a small pea (petit pois not marrowfat).

Checking the other legs I found a couple of small lesions at the back of his pastern on the foreleg crusted over. Now stupidly he had a little something like this a while ago on the same foreleg and I thought it was a little over-reach duh! so now I perceive different.

Before we say mud fever this is a fully stabled horse on Rubber matting and sawdust worked in a sand school.

My unprofessional opinion now is that it is something to do with sand/sawdust and sweat.

I havent seen it today as I dont do him in morning but when I left yesterday there was no heat,inflammation or swelling.

I washed it of with warm water and weak hibiscrub solution and now in hindsight I wish I had dried more thoroughly than I did but it was getting late and dark.

I will have a good poke around in daylight this pm but as its not major (yet) I am tempted to tea tree cream it ? as that is antibacterial.
 
I have a similar problem with my lad and have found a product called aromaheel which is awesome...I have just bought another 3 tubs the first tub has nearly got rid of the manky big black scab like growth (he had it when I got him) he has apparently had it for years
 
It could be a fungal infection of some sort, in which case Malaseb shampoo is excellent. Tea tree cream is probably the best thing to use on a generic skin infection anyway, especially if it's not bothering him
smile.gif
 
I'd treat it exactly the same as mud fever - as it could be the same sort of bacteria that's causing it.

Keep legs clean and dry, and avoid washing them. Get the scabs off. Don't boot or bandage for exercise or in the box. and if you don't have any joy clearing it up using topical ointments then I'd get some stuff from the vet.

I had terrible problems last year - and it was only veterinary lotion that eventually cleared it up.

Touch wood - not a sign this year!
laugh.gif
 
Are his legs clipped? I sometimes find that these scabs are caused by the sand rubbing underneath boots, especially if the legs are clipped. Agree with Amymay as to treatment, but have also found that calendula cream works very well and is not greasy or sticky.
 
So pleased you posted this: I found the same thing last night on my mare. She's turned out for 14 hours a day.....no bleeding lumps just two raised patches almost of a 'gritty' consistency....fungal I would say.
 
Same as mud fever, mud fever is a slang word which people only associate with mud, not true, however in most cases mud is the main reason why the bacteria gets there so it can come from sand schools...anywhere.

The skin around the fetlock/heal area is perfect breeding ground for a fungal infection warm and occasionally moist, horses specially those of the feathery type, suffer more or ones with white legs and socks due the the pigmentation of the skin tend to suffer more.

You need wash your horses legs twice a day, cold hose first, to close the pores and reduce the chance of you letting any more dirt inside, then hot to to soak each foot for minute to open the pores then scrub with antibacterial shampoo mixed with hibiscus, scrape every scab off, any dry skin, it may even be painful for your horse but it needs to come off, all the dead skin. Basically you need to flush out it out, its true that bacteria can't live in a dry clean environment but once its set in, you need to flush it out. Many people make the mistake of thinking its cleared up but it can lay dormant for a while and flare up again and they wonder why when they have kept the area dry.

Dry off and rub in some Smith and Nephew Flamozine cream (get a big tub from your vet, it works very well) contains silver sulphadiazine, massage this into the area (only the bits that are infected) as you don't want to put it all over, some people make the mistake of dorbing mud creams all over the fur around the fetlock, when in fact there creating just another place for infection to eventually set in.

Do it every day (morning and evening) and within a few weeks it will be gone, then just wash his legs everyday to keep on top it or snip the hair away unless your horse may get trapped heals as the fetlock hair is designed to let the rain water drip off away from the heal area.

Avoid using exercise wraps, brushing boots etc unelss your horse really really needs them, so many people use them when there horse don't need them, if your horse does need them, keep them clean, if horse sweats in them, you need to wash his legs and thoroughly dry them afterwards and have a spare clean pair of exercise boots/bandages etc that you can alternate.
smile.gif
 
Thats a bit the way I was going I must admit but didnt think of the cold hozing first. Makes a lot of sense.

Vet is due for someones wolf teeth Friday and as its the good looking one I might chat to him beforehand and see if he can fit us in to have a quick look. Annoyingly I cant be there as I am taking OH to Hospital.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I'd treat it exactly the same as mud fever - as it could be the same sort of bacteria that's causing it.

[/ QUOTE ]

The bug that causes 'mud' fever lives very well in sand as do many other nasties that live on the skin, you don't actually need mud for this just damp ground, bedding or even just the school can be enough.

As above you need to treat exactly the same as mud fever, remove the scabs by 'sweating' them off ie thick dollop of sudocrem, clingfilm and stable bandage overnight.

Wash the area clean in the morning or after excercise and repeat til you've got rid, then use something like Thermatex wraps to dry the legs after exercise/turnout.
 
Did you sort out your suspected mud fever.I had the vet look at my mare she had the same symptoms and he prescribed betnovate which I have since found you can buy over the counter.Its clearing up nicely with this treatment and hibiscrub .Might save you some money if you buy from chemist.
grin.gif
 
Hi Thanks cellie. It does seem to be 90% cleared up.
I have hibiscrubbed a couple of times and wash his leg off every day. I used some MSM cream initially (borrowed bottom of pot) and when that ran out I have been Tea Tree Creaming it.
It seems to have all but cleared up.

Editted because I cant type and hold the cat off the keyboard!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top