Scabs or Mudfever?

Kate260881

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I'm getting very confused with my girlies legs. She had mudfever which I eventually got the vet out to see as she was going lame from it. I got Hydrocortiderm (hydrocortizone cream with antibiotics) and this cleared it up. She is now totally dry (its boiling here) but is getting scabs again on her front heels and also down her back canon bones (but not on her lower back legs) and a little bit on the back of her legs just below her hocks. I also noticed a small patch of scabs on her bum as well. The vet was out on Tuesday to take out her stitches so I asked him about it and he said to just use the Hydrocortiderm again.

The thing is, I'm a bit confused as to why the hell she's getting these scabs when her legs are totally dry. The only time she gets wet is if I wash her. It looks like mudfever in that the scabs are lots of little ones but just wondered if anybody had experienced anything like this and could maybe shed some light on it. I would rather figure out a way of stopping her getting them rather than having to put on this cream all the time which thins the skin so not ideal for long term use!

Thanks for any help
Kate
 
Sounds like the mudfever is still lurking. It's bacteria remeber, so doesn't need the 'wet' necessarily to flare up.

Do you put boots on her to exercise? If yes, then stop as this will not held the situation. And carry on with the cream as recommended by your vet.

I'm still battling it as well.
 
Some horses do get this in really dry weather, it is the same bacteria as mud fever. However, one of my mares had the very same problem last summer/autumn and we tried everything. Eventually, we realised that she was being affected by the sand surface in the school (doing much more schooling at that time) and I ordered a gel from my on-line vet suppliers which worked a treat. I cant remember what its called off the top of my head, but if you are interested, PM me and I will get the name for you.

Also, as AmyMay said, wearing boots may not help the situation either.

Do let us know how you get on.
 
Oh that's really interesting as our school is a sand surface as well
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I have stopped wearing boots on her completely just in case and the cream does work a treat. Just really annoying that you can't just 'fix' it. The name of that gel would be awesome though, especially if it orderable (is that a word?) online.

Thanks
 
Hi both ...

Its called Vetguard Active Wound Gel manufactured by SteriTech. It is :

Anti Bacterial
Anti Viral
Anti Fungal

There is a label over the address, but the phone number is 01242 821245 (although label a bit crinkled). They should be able to tell you your nearest stockists, or order direct.

Hope this helps
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Some years ago my old mare had persistent mud fever which would subside with antibitotics then flare up again.

Vet got me to pull off a scab, preferably with some pus on and also got me to take a swab from under the scab which she then cultured. Turns out the mare had pseudomonas (sp?) which is a bug that lives on the skin normally but is very resistant to antibiotics.

The antibiotics had killed off the dermatophilus alright but in doing so had given other nasties a chance to get a grip.
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Ask your vet for a specimen pot and some swab sticks and take it from there, there may be a very simple answer to this.
 
One of our mares got mudfever for the first time this year (fields were soaking though and she has four white socks so it was a no brainer!). We ended up with Anti B's from the vet & bute with instructions to pick the scabs every day (gross) and wash the legs with hibiscrub. Have done all of that and also have been putting NAF mudguard in her feed which seems to have done the trick as it's now nearly gone.
 
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