What's the best treatment you've used on mud fever?

May I just sound a word of warning as on a thread like this someone will always recommend "pig oil and sulphur". But having used it on my boy's legs (pink skin, white hair) - I'd never use this combination again :( It brought him up very pink and sore, and I don't think his was an isolated case as I've heard of this happening with other horses, even after patch-testing first.

Someone told me that its the sulphur in the mixture that is the irritant; so I have used pig oil with tea tree oil as a wipe-on (my boy has sweet itch too).

Sorry can't advise re. mud fever, have heard some good remedies on here tho' - keep 'em coming!
 
If you read on the University of Lincoln web site they did a five year study on mud fever ,the result of which is muddy buddy, my friends horse with mud fever is now fed a balancer and linseed oil ,treating from the inside has made a big difference .Hope this helps .
 
eggs said:
I couldn't agree more.
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Another vote for this, really wonderful stuff!!

Also would tread carefully with the pig oil and sulphur, one of ours flares straight up in response to this, might be good but def do patch test before plastering it on lol!
 
I was given flamazine cream from vets which was brilliant but also bandaging nappies onto legs really sucked all the moisture out and was a very quick fix sounds silly but it works good luk
 
I used my eczema cream on my ponys scabs to soften them, I hardly ever wash and never pick and would never use pig oil with sulphur, normal pig oil does the trick the mud just falls off :-)
 
Keeping the legs dry.
then something mild and soothing. try sudocream, or zinc and castor oil or even honey. But the legs must be kept dry for several hours each and every day. stabling over night is good.
 
Elsiecat said:
I find tears of frustration and storming around the yard muttering about winter the best remedy.
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That was me last night. Legs looked like this for three days.

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He's in at night, and turned out on hardstanding during the day, so his legs have been bone dry. One of his legs was puffy yesterday, and a couple of scabby bits have just popped up from nowhere.

He's having his suspensories scanned on Wednesday with a view to getting him back into work after 8 months off, but that can't happen if his legs are reactive, as it could screw up the scan results. He's quite lame on the scabby leg - so obviously not superficial scabbage.

Frustrated, despondent, grumpy - you name it...
 
Try and get as many scabs off as possible without damaging the skin. Smothering legs in olive oil then wrap in cling film and bandage over the top over night, this should soften the scabs enough they will peel off. Don't repeat this process too often as it will trap infection in. Boots athletes foot powder works fantastic, it dries the legs right out and kills the bacteria and its cheap! Everyone I've known has been amazed how effective it is! Just try and keep the legs as dry as possible after that, I haven't seen any side effects of the athletes foot powder.
 
As I understand it there are a number of different strains of the bacteria that cause !)mud fever, that is why different people have found different cures worked!! In my case I found feeding the Pat Coleby mineral mix eliminated mud fever, rain scald and wood chewing....topically I found a 50:50 mix of black wound powder and flowers of sulphur puffed onto the area 2ce daily for 3 days, then 1ce daily for 3 days (find 6 rain free days in winter!) worked miracles and it left never to return.....imo removing the scabs is tantamount to abuse...it is very painful and exposes the new skin...my method meant the rain or dew washed the scabs away painlessly!! I have moved on from Pat Colebys mix to more modern mineral cubes (Prydes - are they available in the UK? I am in NZ!) and it is amazing the difference to my ponies health now!
 
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