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sapphire blue
Silver Member
 England
440 Posts |
 Posted - 30 Nov 2007 : 3:10:53 PM
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I have dealt with mud fever for many years now and successfully so with aromaheel till this year, we are at a new yard this winter and I have found that the field they are in the wind dries their skin so much it chaps it and exacerbates the problem, I keep peresvering but it is costing s fortune in aromaheel as my new(ish) mare has a fair bit of it she wears the sportbac boots and gets cream on twice a day with it rubbed off as instructed before new is put on, it is getting better now I've found out the wind is chapping her skin but it is dragging and she is a bit of a nightmare with it (its her back legs!!) any suggestions, I have 4 to do at night so I have tried moiturising cream but the aromaheel won't go over it and I haven't time for it to dry then do it, don't go home till 8 most nights and live 30 mins away don't know if washing in hibicsrub and moisturise over night is enough?? Thanks sorry its so long
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Regards, Sapphire
   
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Qui Gon Jinn
Platinum Member
Scotland
1627 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2007 : 3:36:42 PM
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I had a serious bout of mud fever on my new lad this year, not long after I got him in August! I could have cried. I tried all the usual things that normally work without success, I even had cream from the vet, but it still didn't clear.
The one thing I bought out of desperation that really did the trick was NAF Mud Guard. It's about £12 for a huge tub of it and it cleared the problem up really quickly. It seems to stick well to the skin and hair and doesn't wear off at all. Worth a try. |
The Soul would have no Rainbow....If the Eyes had shed no Tears. |
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baxter
Gold Member
England
1123 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2007 : 3:43:54 PM
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This sounds utterly dreadful and i know i'll be shot down by most IH/NH enthusiasts, BUT both my lads (Regan manages to be ok, mountain bog pony cross arab i think) anyway the other two pansies had it horrendously last year and the only way i can shift it and prevent it is to keep them in during mud/winter periods.... Orange fatty responds to this perfectly well, is like a pig in s*it and quite happy to spend most of his time in his pit (think teenager and bed) and the anglo is happy too as long as it's raining when he refuses to come out of his stable anyway. I know this sounds horrendously cruel, but the pain suffered by them was horrendous and i end up with horrific vets bills and periods of box rest and antibiotic creams anyway.... i've tried absolutely every product on the market and none seem to prevent it entirely especially to those horses very susceptible to it.
Will be interested to review more replies on the topic.
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louisejo
Gold Member
United Kingdom
1313 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2007 : 3:52:14 PM
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God, i know exactly what you guys are going through, my boy has never had mud fever until a couple ofmonths ago, and now i am having terrible trouble shifting it - quite a large patch on his front and rear legs. I too have spent a fortune at the vets on antibiotics and then creams, softening the scabs with soapy water and then drying and putting cream from the vets on but it is time consuming, expensive and now the scabs are forming around the edge again.
Its a nightmare and i am at a loss for what to do next as he now hates his legs being touched and we have to twitch him to sort it. Any ideas greatfully received.... |
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cassy
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3348 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2007 : 3:52:28 PM
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| I Had this real bad after floods, i plastered aqueus cream on from boots til was a inch thick all over twice a day, scabs fell off and healed in no time, i did not pick, wash, hose, all i did was before next application with kitchen roll wipe over area lightly then blather again, i turned out in equichaps too and it worked |
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baxter
Gold Member
England
1123 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2007 : 3:55:45 PM
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| I must say and I know a fewof you cannot stable the whole of winter (which ultimately works as no mud in the stable) BUT i found picking scabs tended to exacebate the problem and so i left them to dry up and drop off once you have the healing process under way.... |
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katherineepea
Gold Member
England
883 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2007 : 3:59:55 PM
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touch wood we havent had one scab yet this winter- new yard. but he had it horribly last winter and he ended up having to be in for about 2 months before it went completely.
lard and sulphur was the best thing foir it as it doesnt come off in mud/wet and it heals it at the same time. its very messy tho. and i wouldnt recommend washing the legs at all as this weakens the skin further, especially with something as strong as hibiscrub. just keep piling the stuff on till the scabs rub off. its not pretty but it works.
orange ones seem to get it the worst i think? |
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gcarrie9
Bronze Member
England
103 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2007 : 4:21:19 PM
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| You probably all know this, but as a preventative a good dose of baby oil on the legs before turnout makes an excellent barrier and prevents it starting up in the first place. I was told this many years ago and it has proved invaluable advice. |
Carrie |
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KHA`LILAH
Bronze Member
France
104 Posts |
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Pixie
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
6586 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2007 : 5:20:24 PM
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| i use sudocream - its fine as a preventative but once they have it its not really a cure. Mind you my old boy has sudocream on his heels all year round. the moment the grass is wet on goes the sudocream. and if its muddy then more sudocream. Someone once told me about Pig Oil...... I don't know if anyone else knows anything about this product. |
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NPA Arabians
Moderator
United Kingdom
2980 Posts |
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pat ww
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3459 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2007 : 7:34:38 PM
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Hi Jayne, yes can't stress not to brush legs with a dandy or other stiff bristled brush, especially when wet.
Round here all the 'brush the mud off' brigade have mud rash all winter. year in year out.
This year for the first time, ever, of getting mud rash, in summer we got it, I think there must be a newer / stronger / resistant bug around, as throughout the local area people like me who had never had it got some really nasty bouts of it.
One pony had a few doses of antibiotics, a local Arab likewise. I think I was lucky with mine, they healed within a few days without expensive treatments.
Dreading the rest of winter now though, having now been a victim to it. |
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Misshana
Silver Member
England
449 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2007 : 9:16:39 PM
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I have mudfever every year on my chestnut/white legs. Find creams make it worse. use boracic powder to keep scabs dry. Dont wash just leave, keep powdering till they drop off. Tried sulphur and lard in past but didnt work for mine. This year been worse and scabs been there since August on one heel. Phone Ainsworths Homeopathy in London. They sent me Malandrinum tablets. Have only used 1 weekly for 4 weeks and all scabs gone. Not touched heels whilst using this just to see what happened.
Dont know if its coincidence or whether would have resolved anyway.
Just thought I'd pass it on as very cheap to try, only £6.81 plus postage.
ps am also trying homeopothy for sarcoids as another appeared after one was removed using liverpool cream.
Gloria |
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2007 : 9:22:48 PM
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I have to say, I am another that found picking scabs and washing legs just made matters worse. Once you have got rid of it Keratex powder as a preventative measure is brilliant. When you have it rub cream (dont think it really matters what cream)in twice a day - remove when the scabs loosen with a wipe or tissue and start again twice daily until all the scabs have gone.
Something else I was told was to ensure they have enough copper and sulphur in their diet. Freddie hasnt had mudfever for a couple of years and it coincides with me feeding either a balancer or general supplement.
I think its all trial and error and what works for some .............
Good luck, I hope you soon get on top of it.
Sandie |
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Qui Gon Jinn
Platinum Member
Scotland
1627 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2007 : 10:51:46 PM
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| Sandi that would make sense about the balancer, as when I bought my lad he was in quite poor health. He wasn't thin, but his coat wasn't nice, very dusty and course. His feet were dreadful and I found out later that his owners had fed him chaff, oil and garlic granules as his diet for the previous 3 years!! No wonder he didn't look great and took mud fever as soon as I moved him to Scotland. He has been on a Balancer now for 11 weeks and the difference in him is amazing. Could also be why I managed to get the mud fever under control and it hasn't reoccured (touch wood!). |
The Soul would have no Rainbow....If the Eyes had shed no Tears. |
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tamila
Platinum Member
England
2532 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2007 : 08:37:25 AM
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| My gelding had mud fever for the first time ever in 20 years last winter in that dreadful mud. I despaired so in the end I cleaned it, sprayed it with the iodine spray they use on ulcers in humans( Betadine) and then covered it with Cut and Heal. The Cut and Heal I put on everyday for 3 days and then left it. 4 weeks later the 'mess' began to come away and everything as healed up underneath. |
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Eeyore
Gold Member
1181 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2007 : 10:03:40 AM
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I too am wondering if there is a more resistant strain around this year. Nimah has been mud fever free for a couple of years but got it about 6 weeks ago and this time it is proving a nightmare to ged rid of. When she had it before it was because it gained entry through her operation scar and it soon cleared up by using Flamazine cream from the vets. This time the Flamazine is really struggling to shift it, every time I think its on the way out it comes back
I think I will try the homeopathic remedy Gloria mentioned and see if that can kill it. Luckily for me Nimah is exceptionally good at having her legs treated (its on both her back heels) and never makes a fuss. I have been struggling with my leg in plastercast from ankle to thigh which means I can't bend over properly or move quickly, there are not many horses I would treat mud fever with in that condition!
I really hate mud fever  |
Heléna
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suzanna
Bronze Member
Wales
223 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2007 : 11:43:33 AM
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| Neem Oil is brilliant, as it`s an oil it stays on longer. It is also anti-fungal, anti viral, anti-inflamatory and much more. I`ve been using it for many years now, and always keep a bottle in my first aid kit for animals and us. The good thing with neem is that it can be used for so many things, if one of my horses or dogs cuts himself, I will put neem directly onto the cut, it keeps the flies away and the healing properties are amazing. Great for rainscald and sweetitch also. |
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Tahir
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4572 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2007 : 12:02:08 PM
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Now I am going to be the one shot down in flames, both by vets and owners!!!!
I have found, over the years, that mud fever is best left alone to let the horse "get over it" and build up a resistance to this nasty infliction.
I have only intervened when a horse is actually lame. I keep them in for a few days and treat the legs with an initial salt water wash, I also "bute" the horse if in real pain, I then leave the affected area alone until healed and turn out again. I have never gone down the prevention route, and I never touch a horses leg when they come in at night. This has worked for me for over 25 years but I understand that mudfever can be "geographical" and also worse when we have severe wet weather.
I have to say that I have only had 2 horses with mudfever, and that was in a particularly wet year - even the youngsters I have bred seem to have an immunity. Or maybe I am just lucky
Carla, xx. |
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KHA`LILAH
Bronze Member
France
104 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2007 : 09:54:43 AM
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Does anyone still use liquid paraffin? The reason I asked is possible some thing over the last 30 year has come forward to say don’t use because…….....
“Many” years ago an old Irish gentleman told me to use it, to keep off mud fever. He was no vet more of a traveller, with amazing knowledge in herbs, horse psychology and products that worked!!
The advice he gave me was to rub “liquid paraffin” into the horses lower leg once a month.
Please believe my I do not know the chemical makeup so cannot advice about its safety, but have never heard of a problem related to this product.
In 25years and at least 200 horses later. I can say I have NEVER had mud fever to any of my horses.
Maybe Iam very lucky!
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jaj
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4324 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2007 : 10:15:24 AM
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I use liquid paraffin on my horses legs and it is amazing. Barbara on here recommended it after years of trying everything under the sun. When the liquid paraffin has been applied the mud just slides of their legs and never gets a chance to stick. I never wash them, just reapply the paraffin every few days or so when it starts to wear off. Brilliant stuff and so much cheaper than a lot of potions available
Jen
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Kuraishiya (Maleik el Kheil/Kazra el Saghira) and Sahara Bey (Kuraishiya/WSA Charismma) |
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firstlady
Gold Member
Wales
767 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2007 : 12:43:50 PM
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Hi rarely have mud fever,agree with Tahir,if it aint broke don't fix it,but when I have then have found Zinc and Castor oil OINTMENT (not cream) very effective,very oily and very messy but the oil will lift the scabs off in a few days and the zinc is effective in treating the problem,once they've cleared up tend to use it every other day for a week or so just to make sure that skin gets chance to fully heal.Found that's worked the best for me so far,have tried a few other creams etc but no as effective as the zinc/castor oil oint.
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ACGODFREY
Silver Member
United Kingdom
440 Posts |
Posted - 03 Dec 2007 : 5:49:08 PM
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| Not so great for treating mudfever, but as a preventative I actually think the NAF Mudguard supplement is very good. My lad had mud fever really badly one year up to his hocks(got lymphangitis?) and I thought I'd give the mudguard a shot in the dark, although sceptical. He was in and on hardstand turnout for weeks until the active scabs were gone, but it never returned. He had it in two yards I was at, then I moved quite a distance and the soil flora/fauna is obviously different as he lives out 24/7 and has not been afflicted severely since, apart from a couple of minor scabs this summer (after the eternal rain) which resolved themselves. |
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mazey
Gold Member
England
501 Posts |
Posted - 03 Dec 2007 : 7:25:42 PM
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| Gloria I have used malandrinum for rain scald on my mares back. She had it for weeks and I couldn't get rid of it - malandrinum cleared it within a week, the hair stopped falling out and the bare patches started to grow hair again. |
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Bev Parker
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
148 Posts |
Posted - 03 Dec 2007 : 9:23:57 PM
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We're on heavy clay here and I swear the bacteria lives in the soil as we have mud fever problems all year round and our sheep suffer with scald between their toes which is a similar condition. After trying everything (including antibiotics, steroid creams etc) this is what works for me.
Wash the legs off every night with COLD water. Make sure all mud is removed. Dry the legs off with a towel. Wrap up legs overnight - I've found the Equilibrium stable chaps to be the best. Thermatex leg wraps are good but shavings stick to them! Before turning out, apply Barrier's Hoof to Heel ointment to any scabby areas, heels etc. No need to clip the hair off. When the horse comes in at night just hose off with cold water and apply stable chaps. No need to wash the cream off every day - you won't get it off without warm water and shampoo anyway. After four or five days you'll find the scabs will start to lift away when you rub them. Even huge scabs will eventually fall off leaving healthy (but weak) skin underneath.
When the scabs are starting to lift you can wash with either hibiscrub or NAF tea tree shampoo and get those fingernails under the scabs!
I have stuck to this regime for three or four years now. It doesn't prevent the mud fever from starting but as soon as you find even the tiniest scab rub on the Heel to Hoof and you'll soon get it under control. The cream is basically high grade lanolin with essential oils - tea tree and lavendar from the smell of it.
The key is vigilance and bringing the horse in overnight to allow the legs to dry off.
Good luck folks. I think it will increasingly be a problem given mild winters and wet summers. |
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Cakes
Silver Member
United Kingdom
341 Posts |
Posted - 03 Dec 2007 : 10:00:44 PM
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My boy had this as a yearling very badly when we were at a yard with really bad mud. He did have antibiotics but our routine was hibiscrub, towel dry, powder dry then cream (nappy rash or similar). Ketatex and turnout boots in the day and this all worked really well.
We had something like it in the summer this year on a couple of horses near us and the vet suggested Muddy Marvel as this is better suited to I think he said viral or fungal infections that look like mud fever - it worked very well anyway so worth a try. The Muddy Marvel De scab solution worked well too as a wash for loosening the hard scabs apparently. |
       
www.cakeshorsewear.com
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