Pig Oil & Sulphur: reaction

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

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My boy was clipped on Monday and I put some pig oil & sulphur around his legs & fetlock/heels area so as to deal with feather mite: his legs went all red and were very hot to touch around his heels & fetlocks area. My poor lad; I washed all the gunk off with tea tree shampoo and so hopefully all will be well, but has anyone else had this problem? He's a piebald with very white legs and pink skin.

If I can't use pig oil & sulphur, then what can I use?
 
And that is why i disagree with pig oil and sulphur. It's quite a harsh concocation (well, the sulphur) to apply to sensitive skin.

Edited because i'm stupid and went on a mud fever rant! Sorry! There's plenty of mite stuff out there though. If you've tried some of the usual then i would speak to your vets.
 
I too found that pig oil mixed with sulphur (I bought the pre-mixed stuff), burnt my horses feathers off. Never used it since, pig oil or just plain old baby oil is fine on him.
 
I back the udder cream for mud fever, but i'm not a fan of hairies so only had to deal with mites once (the one time i go for a hairy, eh!) we just used powder but he didn't have them bad so we were lucky.

The udder cream we have smells amazing too. I'm sure a few years ago when we used to use it, it didn't smell so yummy and of tea tree. I actually look forwards to putting it on, and it doesn't get stuck under my nails as much as vaseline. Soft ass arab seems to prefer it too so it must be soothing.
 
I did read somewhere that you were to do a test patch of pig oil and sulphur as it may cause a reaction to the skin! and a woman I was talking to at a show who had shires said that it had burned her horses feathers off, no help sorry, what you could try and is as cheap as chips and works as a barrier is zinc and castor oil cream, if its good enough for babys bums!
 
We use pig oil and sulphur on our hairy and non hairy horses and have never had a problem. We did patch test first though. That said, a friend of ours tried it from the same supplier as ourselves and her horse had a reaction to it.

Just like humans some horses are more sensitive than others.

The Keratex powder is good and may be worth a try?
 
I leave the feathers on to help combat mud fever and use Frontline spray to get rid of mites. Put sudocrem or udder cream (cheap in mole valley) on their heels in the winter for mud fever and you can buy pig oil without the sulphur which is great for the feathers and keeping mud off.
 
udder cream with a very very small amount of sulphur, enough so the colour changes to a very pale yellow (think of one of those paints with a hint of)
i then only apply about 3 times a week, keeps mud fever at bay and not harsh enough to hopefully cause a reaction. try a small bit first leave for 3 days and no reaction then fine to use:)
 
9 times out of 10 it is the pig oil that is the problem. Sulphur is used in a lot of skin creams - sudocream for example and is excellent for skin problems. In my huge note, I always say do a patch test first, ideally on the neck where you can easily see it and it won't be irritated by tack or rugs.

Flowers of Sulphur is a yellow powder that is a mineral. It is a remedy for skin disorders and killing bacteria on the skin. Can also help with itchy skin conditions and when mixed with pig oil prevents mudfever and mite infestations. It is antiseptic and antifungal. It kills lice and it is good for Sweet Itch. Can be bought from garden centres/country stores or heavy horse suppliers.

Pig oil is a clear light mineral oil - very similar to baby oil but not scented and far cheaper.

I have yet to have a horse react to P&S, but know of some that have. If you have a reaction, then try wetting a small other area and rubbing a little sulphur into it. If this does not cause a problem, then it is the sulphur that kills mites and also helps to keep hair white.

The oil is used to create an environment the mites don't like to live in and stops the hair being damaged by mud, ie commonly known as bog burn on horses with feather. Can't understand what the women did who said it burnt the feather off - did she plaster in on and leave them in very hot sun????

I use P&S in wet months and in the summer just sulphur every few weeks to keep my hairy beauties in tip top condition.
 
My horse came up in huge avocado sized swellings (on his non clipped areas). Vat came and said it was a reaction to the pig oil and not to use any mineral based oils - inc baby oil - on him. He had course of Danilon for the swelling. Another pony I used it on started shedding skin and it as presumed to be the sulphur. I won't use it anymore.
 
I was really interested to read of your experience as I recently bought some and used it on my gypsy cob who was suffering dreadfully with mites and constantly stamping and gnawing to the point of having really bad sores. (I'd used frontline and had the vet inject him but no longterm relief) The pig oil and sulphur worked wonders and have had no further problems...HOWEVER... I decided to use it on my other horse too and he'd just been clipped and he had an awful reaction. It began to look pink and sore so I tried to wash it off with some shampoo but it got worse and he ended up with open weeping sores and I had to have the vet and get antibiotics. He was off work for 3 weeks but the vet said he would be surprised if it was the pig oil and sulphur and more likely to be a reaction from the shampoo.He has recovered now thankfully but I'm not going to risk it again on him. I guess using it on freshly clipped legs is a no no. My yard owner can't stand the smell so doesn't want me to use it on the cob again unless the mite problem returns, which is a shame as its supposed to be applied evey 2 weeks and it does keep his 4 white socks beautifully clean.
 
Lou, you do really need to do the legs at least once a month with either oil or sulphur. I do my horses outside, in summer I wet the legs, take them to the field, give them their feed and whilst they are eating, rub a few handfuls into the hair.

In winter I do them in the stable so any drips go into the bed and don't leave oily stains on the yard. Come the morning, the oil has soaked in and they can go out leaving no mess.

Some YO really do need to think their priorities - horses' health is far more important. Even my fussy YO does not notice the smell - it shouldn't be that noticeable if you mix it right - you want about 1 pint of oil to 4 tablespoons of sulphur for one hairy horse, ie it looks like a milkshake or a thin custard.
 
I swear by pig oil and sulphur, it's brilliant stuff. I think the application method may be the key here, if there is grit in the feathers and the mixture is rubbed onto the legs it may scratch and trigger a reaction. I drizzle mine on with a 60ml syringe and just gently lift the feathers to let it run down letting gravity do the work. I've found it to be the only thing that works.
 
I don't think it is how you apply it. I ensure that the legs are dry, all mud removed and then brush the P&S onto the legs and then give a gentle rub by hand to finish. However, I admit to screwing up, last winter I did my friend's gypsy mare without a test - she has used oil years ago and she reacted. To double check it was the oil, I did a neck patch test and it proved to be the problem.

I do think that you can sometimes get away with a top layer on thick feather, but if it gets to the skin then you get problems, hence why often is is the clipped horses that seem to react the most.
 
Theresa_F said:
9 times out of 10 it is the pig oil that is the problem. ....................... Can't understand what the women did who said it burnt the feather off - did she plaster in on and leave them in very hot sun????
Click to expand...

Er, no. Have been using pig oil on my cobs for many years in winter with no problems. The problem occurred when I used the PO & S, and it burnt the feathers off. Never happened before or since using pig oil on its own.
Since PO & S increased in popularity over the last few years, I have noticed a recurring theme of owners having the same reaction, and worse, red, swollen legs. One forum member on another forum posted pictures of the reaction her horse had, it was quite a cautionary tale.

While the mix suits some well, for others it does not, so use it like any other topical drug, - with care.
 
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