Talk to me about pig oil and sulphur!!

[FabioandFreddy]

OH's horse did have a mild bout of mud fever last winter (we were told - we've only had him a couple of months) so i'm thinking on maybe trying pig oil and sulphur on him through the winter as a preventative measure. However he does have very pink skin on the legs with his white socks on. Is pig oil and sulphur something that may act as an irritant?? I've never used it before so just after some info before it comes to having to use any!!

Also thinking of using it on Fabio - am i right in thinking it prevents as much mud sticking to the legs? Our land is clay so can get quite boggy in the winter. They tend to stick to the hard standing area where the field shelter and their hay is but the rest of the paddock does get very muddy!

Any info greatfully received!

 

[hayinamanger]

Pig oil is a light mineral oil, similar to baby oil. On it's own I think it is pretty gentle on the skin, but when mixed with sulphur, it can act as an irritant. I have used the combination for many years without any issues, but I would definitely do a patch test on any horse, particularly one with very pink skin. Pig oil is great in the winter for prevention of mud fever, I use it on the legs from coronary band to shoulder/stifle and when the mud is dry, it just flicks off with a brush.

Other things that do the same job are liquid parafin and a good old one, a packet of lard, just hold the block and rub it around the pasterns, fetlocks, heels and cannons.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Ditto post above re. patch testing first (48 hrs). Having heard it mentioned on here, I tried it on my traddie boy. He's got white hair and pink legs. Big mistake. Poor boy, he came up all red and sore. Stupidly I should have patched tested first, but I had no idea it could be so caustic.

So my advice would be that IF you're going to use it, then patch test first.

We use Muddy Buddy products on his legs now without any problem.

 

[Capriole]

I think I've mentioned on here about it being an irritant.

I used the pig oil and it reacted awfully on two of my mares, mud fever would have been easier to deal with.Felt really stupid that I hadn't done a patch test first but tbh I'd never heard at that point of anyone's horse(s) having a reaction. Won't make that mistake again, though I haven't actually used it since.

Tell you what I rated though, Keratex mud powder.

 

[Shay]

Pig oil alone won't irritate - but sulphur can. We've used pig oil & sulphur on our cob for years and absolutely swear by it. But if a patch test shows sensitivity you could try oil alone. You can by them seperately and mixed both on line and in places like Robinsons. In theory you can buy flowers of sulphur from any pharmacy - but they gave me some very odd looks when I tried it!

 

[onemoretime]

Sorry to butt in but is the sulphur you are talking about Flowers of Sulphur and is it this that can have a reaction.

 

[mosamac123]

Can someone tell me what the sulphur if for? What difference does it make? Ty

 

[Capriole]

Pig oil alone won't irritate

It irritated mine used alone.

 

[flirtygerty]

So baby oil might be better then, stupidly I bought a coloured coblet with white legs, love him to bits, just now wishing he was a bay

 

[Auslander]

Alfs legs fall apart the moment the grass gets wet - had the most horrendous winter last year, with an attack of mudfever that got infected, and ended up causing cellulitis. He got it when I was in Australia over Christmas, and by the time I returned, it was out of control. It took a course of IV antibiotics and steroids, plus steroid cream and flamazine to clear it up. Just awful...
I got some pig oil and sulphur this year, and tested it very carefully, as I was so worried about a reaction on already sensitive legs, but he was fine. I've been using it once a week for about a fortnight now, and his legs are always clean and dry with no sign of mudfever. Very pleased

 

[mosamac123]

I use plain Pig oil on my mare putting it on just once a week to keep legs mites under control. It seems to be working ok, any mites present being suffocated by the oil (so I was told). Her legs are looking quite good now. My question is why use Pig oil and sulphur mix (ready mixed stuff)? What is the Sulphur supposed to do?

 

[Chopandchips]

My advice would be make sure you take your jewellery off first! I thought my Pandora bracelet, wedding & engagement rings would never recover, I had to soak them in bicarbonate of soda for an hour and they're still not quite as sparkly :/ xx

 

[mosamac123]

Was that after using the Pig oil and Sulphur?

 

[Flyermc]

I use pig oil and sulphur on one and just the oil on the other, it works a treat. I normally apply once a week.

 

[mosamac123]

I use pig oil and sulphur on one and just the oil on the other, it works a treat. I normally apply once a week.

So why only one horse with the sulphur? What does the sulphur add to the treatment?

 

[gryff]

I think sulphur has anti bacterial properties. I used pig oil and sulphur on my white legged, pink skinned Arab and it literally pealed the skin from her legs - huge sores from knee to pastern within a few hours of using it. Definitely do a patch test first!!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I think sulphur has anti bacterial properties. I used pig oil and sulphur on my white legged, pink skinned Arab and it literally pealed the skin from her legs - huge sores from knee to pastern within a few hours of using it. Definitely do a patch test first!!

Gosh......... Agree with this, its VERY caustic stuff and it always worries me when I see it recommended on here as freely as it often is.

 

[mosamac123]

I think sulphur has anti bacterial properties. I used pig oil and sulphur on my white legged, pink skinned Arab and it literally pealed the skin from her legs - huge sores from knee to pastern within a few hours of using it. Definitely do a patch test first!!

The same happened to my mare when I applied Kill Itch to her front legs, recommended to me for leg mites. Washed her legs, then when dry, put on the Kill Itch before putting her to bed for the night. The following morning I couldn't believe my eyes! You would have thought I had poured some kind of acid on her. I gently washed it all off and smothered her legs in summer cream to stop any infection. I am still waiting to hear back from the company who make it as I'm sure there was something wrong with it. Her legs are fine now but it took weeks for her legs to heal :-( I think I will stick with the plain pig oil.

 

[yaffsimone1]

I had a pink skinned, white feathered cob and i swear by oil and sulphur (well on him anyway). I used to use pig oil but then switched to baby oil, its basically baby oil but without the fragrance. Ive also mixed it with sudocreme. The sulphur (flower of sulphur) has anti bacterial properties. I did a patch test first and he was fine, after that i used it everywhere he needed anti bacterial treatment. I think it is brilliant and i applied with no gloves so it made my hands nice and soft.

 

[mosamac123]

I had a pink skinned, white feathered cob and i swear by oil and sulphur (well on him anyway). I used to use pig oil but then switched to baby oil, its basically baby oil but without the fragrance. Ive also mixed it with sudocreme. The sulphur (flower of sulphur) has anti bacterial properties. I did a patch test first and he was fine, after that i used it everywhere he needed anti bacterial treatment. I think it is brilliant and i applied with no gloves so it made my hands nice and soft.

Thanks for the info. I was told just yesterday that the pig oil will drown the mites and that the sulphur will burn off any that have been missed! I think as my mare reacted so badly to Kill Itch I will stick to the plain pig oil for this winter and review if the feather mites cause problems.

 

[Flyermc]

So why only one horse with the sulphur? What does the sulphur add to the treatment?

One has feathers and mites, so he gets pig oil and sulphur, the other it to help prevent mud fever, so i just use the oil. I have used oil only for mites, but it didnt work

 

[Pearlsasinger]

My mare has very thickened skin from having pastern dermatitis over years before I got her. she has been treated for mites in the past but I don't think that is the problem. So, this summer I clipped off her feather. She is a bay Draft horse with very full dark feather. My vet agreed that her problem is caused simply by her legs getting damp (sweat in summer). She has started stamping lately as the field gateway is very muddy. This morning I was going to do a patch test with Pig oil which someone gave me but I couldn't find it. However I could find Tea Tree Mist which I knew she tolerates well. I sprayed all her legs well with the mist and result! She went through the mud with absolutely no reaction whatsoever and came back in at tea-time likewise. I shall spray her legs again tomorrow and let the oil build up.

 

[SamanthaToby]

I had a pink skinned, white feathered cob and i swear by oil and sulphur (well on him anyway). I used to use pig oil but then switched to baby oil, its basically baby oil but without the fragrance. Ive also mixed it with sudocreme. The sulphur (flower of sulphur) has anti bacterial properties. I did a patch test first and he was fine, after that i used it everywhere he needed anti bacterial treatment. I think it is brilliant and i applied with no gloves so it made my hands nice and soft.

How much pig oil/ baby oil to sulpher do you mix?