SEVERE MUD FEVER

[Anastasia]

Had two mares away for insemination and they have both come back home with mud fever.......

Anyway we have been treating both the mares, but today one of the mares (who is in foal) has swollen legs and was very stiff. Needless to say we are calling the vet when they open this morning, but just wondered what people use??

Its been years since we have had any horse with mud fever, so just wondered what people use nowadays.

Any help much appreciated.

 

[SirenaXVI]

Gosh you must have been furious that your horses arrived back like that! Poor girls!

I use sudocrem (nappy cream) from boots, brilliant stuff for mud fever and cheap too.

 

[Maesfen]

Protocon is brilliant!

My vet goes mad if you as much as mention washing and drying every day! His method which I have used for years with success is: allow to dry, bandage if necessary to help, brush off all mud, gently wipe on Protocon, zinc and castor oil cream, Vaseline, Sudocrem, tbh, any of that sort is fine. Leave the cream on (HH swears by wrapping in cling film and bandage overnight, but that might heat the legs of your girls too much if they're used to being out) it'll soften the scabs. Reapply cream, this time using a massage type motion, this will loosen the ready scabs; if they're not ready, don't pull them off and repeat this twice a day if you can. Each time, more scabs will come off and Protocon will heal the skin underneath. If you need to turn them out, plaster them with cream first then just dry the legs and start again. By the end of the first week you will notice a big improvement. To help to protect them for a bit, you can use something like udder cream which will be a barrier. You can also use this method for rain rash.

 

[squiff]

We are using Frontline, the spray that you use on dogs for fleas etc. NOt licensed for horses but out vet has recommended it. It kills the bacteria and aftere a couple of days of treatment, use sudocream to soften skin. Check usage in an infoal mare tho

 

[Anastasia]

Thanks everyone for your help, yes Sirena we were none too pleased. In fact my hubby is furious, especially seeing the mare today struggling to even move with swollen legs!!

Its the first and last time I put any of our mares with foals away from home................never again, as it would not have happened had we kept them at home.

I think the last time we had any mud fever was about 11-12 years ago and that was when a horse came home after being backed.

We have also been told to watch it does not spread to the foals now, and we are also worried that the infection makes her abort...............so its all a worry just now!!

 

[vicijp]

Echo MFH, plus if it is that bad a short course of penicillin will help.

 

[bensababy]

i also use sudocrem - fantastic stuff, in winter i coat his legs in it before he goes out and the mud stays off... only prob is that he looks like he has socks on! lol

 

[LauraBR]

For bad cases like that my vet normally prescribes a course of oral antibiotics, and noroclox cream which I believe is an antibiotic cream (execllent stuff)

 

[_jetset_]

Grace had very bad mud fever last winter... she had a couple of weeks of antibiotics and I had to put Flamazine on her legs every night to help soften the scabs. It took a good 6 weeks to completely clear it and her legs were horrendously swollen because of the infection. If they have swollen legs then I would be pretty sure the infection had become secondary therefore antibiotics will help enormously.

I didn't cling film Grace's legs or anything like that, and the vet told me to make sure her legs were mud free at all times otherwise more infection would get into the skin when the scabs fall off.

Everyone has their own ways when it comes to mud fever. If I leave mud on my two horses's legs (both have back whites) then they both flare up horrendously. However, I use NAF Mud Guard Ointment, wash off legs as soon as they come in and pat dry followed by applying Thermatex leg warmers which completely dry them. Once a week I wash the legs with Hibiscrub, then every other day I wash them with Carex (looks after good bacteria and kills bad whereas hibiscrub kills both).

Hope that is of some help...

When the vet came out to Grace she said it was the worst case she had seen... it started because I put a leg guard on that I used on Hannah and she was allergic to it therefore all pores opened and the bacteria took hold very quickly.

 

[franki]

I know there is a split camp regarding washing legs with mud fever. I do wash with Hibiscrub and warm water to soften scabs. However, I think it only works if you dry the area completely and use a clean towel each time you dry so there is no chance of cross contamination. I was when initial scabs are really bad and I want to see what's going on. Sometimes mud fever can spread under the hair and take a couple of days to be seen thru the hair, if you know what I mean. I find by washing with warm water and Hibiscrub you can get to the site of the mud fever, clear away scabs, gently pat and stroke dry - no scrubbing but make sure the legs are DRY, then I apply Sudocream. Once the mud fever is clearing up I use Keratex Powder, very drying and antibacterial.

 

[Chex]

I use Mud Fever Spray (I think its called), works well for mildish mud fever, not sure about severe cases though.

 

[wishfulthinking]

Sorry to hear about your mares. If the legs are that bad a course of antibiotics will probably be needed and perhaps a few goes of a diurazone(?sp) to get the fluid moving. THe absolute best product I have ever used is called Equr. It is a natural product based on honey and I suspect manuka honey would be as good (or even regular honey would be a good start in the short term). You wash the legs gently and allow to dry and then smear with liberal amounts of stuff. Keep applying over the last layer every day for three days (I think) then wash gently and go again, repeating until legs are fixed. Worked like a mirical for a horse of mine that had an awful case.

 

[lucymay9701]

The best thing I find to prevent mud fever is robinsons prevent it (I think called requisite leg guard now). Its the best thing I've ever used for it and only has to be applied twice weekly. Keeps the legs really clean and mud can't stick to it. Its not too messy either and I've never had problems since using it (touch wood!). Its a prevention rather than a cure though.

 

[Ashy]

I battled with mud fever for months as my chestnut mare has 2 white socks and gets it in the summer and winter. Apparently the pink skin can become photosensitive in the summer and break down allowing the bacteria to attack. These wet and warm conditions arent helping one bit!

I use sudocrem or equimins udder cream as an antiseptic barrier to stop the bacteria speading, but the best thing by far to kill it and dissolve the scabs away is aromaheel by equinat see http://www.aromesse.com/pages/aromaheel.htm It is amazing stuff!! I was very sceptical when I first tried it last year but you can see a difference in the first 24 hours. I also use silica 6c from Ainsworths Homeopathic range which helps the body to expel bacteria/ foreign bodies and heal scabs/ scar tissue. Thuja or arsenicum album is good if the sores are weeping. I also use sportabac turnout boots to keep her legs clean and dry. They are very soft and stretchy so dont rub and wrap right down to the heel. Prevent it and MFP are good as a short term barrier. I use these too, but as they are oil based they can soften the skin, making it vulnerable, so best not to use it every day long term.

 

[Anastasia]

Thanks for everyones feedback on this one, it has been sooooooooo helpful. I am hoping we have turned a corner with the mare. Her legs are no longer swollen and we are seeing more white again without scabs!!

xx