Horse with mud fever?

Question

My new horse has mud fever on one leg which looks very sore. I have been cleaning it and ok it does look better but does anyone use anything that they swear by that I could try? I am worried about turning him out in the winter because of this problem. By the way I have only just bought this horse and I have never had a horse with mud fever so any ideas welcome!

Thanks

Answer 1

my mare sufferd with this problem,what i used 2 do was hose her hooves and legs down so there is no mud whatsoever,then take her 4 a hack on the road(no muddy areas)so hooves dry out.apply vaseline to affcted areas.(this should act as a waterproof barrier).d this every day and u should see a drastic improvement

Answer 2

To get the scabs off I use Udder cream, it's cheap, you can buy it at any tack/feed shop.

As a preventative I use this spray called "7 Day mud away" you just spray it on and comb it through any feathers. It really does last for 7 days .

I tried vaseline etc but it just gets messy ( especially if you have a horse with feathers)

Answer 3

My highland pony had horrible mud fever last winter,it went right up his legs and was really sore and awful to see him suffer.  

Don't wash the legs as it's the wet that causes it to spread.  Let the mud dry, then brush it off.  You need to clip off any feathers, then remove every single scab, as this is where the bacteria breeds.  A good tip for this is to apply loads of baby oil, then wrap the legs in cling film overnight.  By morning the scabs will be soft enough to pick off without causing any pain or bleeding (gross isn't it?)  Make sure you get every little bit - this bit took me hours!

Then use an anti bacterial wash over the whole area, and allow the legs to dry naturally.  The affected skin is now sterile so you can allow the natural healing process to run its course.

Apply a good barrier cream before you turn him out, rub it well into the heels and up and down against the hair growth so that you coat the skin, not just the hair!  And remember to reapply it daily.

In the winter time or in wet weather, try and bring him in, or move him onto a dryer piece of ground if you can, so that he's getting some time each day to dry off.

I'd never had a horse with mud fever either, I learned the best way to deal with it by trial and error!  The other thing I learned, that although my ground is bone dry, in winter the area by the gate and the hay ring does get poached, the mud fever was caused by a greedy highland standing in puddles waiting for food!  So, this year I will be moving the hay ring as often as possible and will be laying gravel at the gates to help get rid of standing water.

I hope this helps you and wish you best of luck with your new horse!

Answer 4

mud fever/ mud rash rain scold is all caused by the same bacteria just i different place. iv`e found the best thing for mud rash is pig oil and sulphur all the top shire breeders swear by it and U can use it to make your horses tail and main grow longer if need be i have a gypsy cob with loads of feather when i bought him at Xmas he was covered in mud rash now 7months on its all cleared up

Answer 5

Dry the legs either with straw or an old towel.  Leave stable bandages on until totally dry and brush of well with a body brush.

Do not wash them as that will only make the problem worse.  You do not say whether he is scabby or has open sores.

If scabby try and tease some of it off and then apply handfuls of vaseline or udder cream - yes, udder cream all the way up his legs and leave.  It might look a bit odd but it will do the trick.  He should soon be perhaps hair less but certainly soreless and the hair should grow back.

Mud fever is caused by the tiny crystals in the mud penetrating expanded pores in the skin and setting up an infection or reaction.

To prevent it restarting in winter get some car grease from a garage or somewhere and pack the hooves with that and smear the vaseline on the backs of the legs, under the stomach if he is particularly sensitive.  This will prevent moisture getting in the first case.

Good luck.

Answer 6

I have one horse who can get this just from morning dew...he has had it all the way up his cannons once in the past, and I've tried many things including vet preparations.  The product I now use whenever I first discover it starting on the pasterns is EMT ointment...I get it at Farm and Fleet...it works better and faster than the other products I've tried.  When he had it up his legs, I used betadine shampoo to wash the areas, hose rinsed it thoroughly, towel dried  and hair dryer-dried it, and then applied the medicine.  Keeping it dry is essential. The EMT is sticky, so it stays on...I apply it to each sore after the leg is dry.  I always have it on hand so I can get it stopped before it spreads up the leg, and he hasn't had a bad case in years.

Answer 7

Keep his heels and legs clipped and wash and thoroughly dry. Apply Vascaline to keep the skin supple and prevent water and mud getting to his skin. If you keep washing his legs this will take out all the natural oils. When it has cleared allow the hair to grow back. Mud fever is just like chapped hands on a human but if it gets really bad (which you shouldn't allow) keep him in because anything can enter his skin from the field(s) setting up a bad reaction and get into his blood stream. Make sure he is up to date with his jabs, especially anti-tet..........

Answer 8

Pure neem oil is brilliant. You will probably have to get it on the internet and make sure it's not mixed with a cheaper oil. It's about £12 for a half pint. It kills the bacteria, softens the scabs and waterproofs the skin and clears up mud fever in a few days. It's also brilliant for treating thrush and for any wounds and scrapes., and as a facial fly repellent.

Answer 9

You should try putting Vasaline on it.

It should go straight away x

Hope I helped

Lucia

x

Answer 10

My horse gets mud fever. The best treatment I have found is preventative. When winter comes and the rain starts put Vaseline/petroleum jelly on the heels. This helps form a waterproof barrier. If scabs start to form change to an antiseptic cream like Sudocream. This is difficult when the horse lives out I know but it will stay on for a couple of days. It's not ideal to hose the legs off as the damp encourages the infection but you could hose from the fetlocks down and then dry them thoroughly with a towel before applying the cream/Vaseline.

As for now, if the mud fever is very bad antibiotics are the way to go as it will help clear it up. Combine this with the use of antiseptic creams and it should clear up in no time. The better weather is hopefully here to stay so that will help enormously too.

Answer 11

Well my cob has suffered from serious mud fever on all 4 legs! he even has cracks like above the pastern and behind his knees and around the crease of the heel! Someone was on about muddy marvel... yes it works... sort of but will  cause trouble if used to often as it kills all the good bacteria. Washing the leg out doesnt help either (unless its also infected). If you do need to wash it out, use warm water and salt.... if you use anything like shampoos, antibacterial stuff it will kill all the bacteria and you will never get rid of the mud fever. Most creams just coat the leg and dont let the air get in... I SWEAR by using baby oil! yes baby oil lol! I mix it with a product called 'Neem oil' (neat) from neemgenie (type it in on googe). I heat the bottle of neem (as its solid) and then pour some into the baby oil. This coats the skin, but also lets it breath. After a few days the scabs fall off. I use this every other night. When the leg is also infected, i use a mud fever cream from the vets which works a treat.

You shouldnt have a problem turning him out unless the field is very wet and muddy. You could try turnout boots if this is the case.

so wash with salt water, use babyoil and neem.... turnout boots.

good luck!

Answer 12

I thoroughly but gently "scrub" the sore scabby area with Betadine (surgical skin cleanser) then dry as much as possible with an absorbent towel or kitchen towel. I wait for the horse's body heat to finish off the drying then apply either Sudocrem or Protocon ointment. I often find that the "scrubbing" (done with a sponge) will dislodge a lot of the scabs, but when you next bring the horse in for attention and another wash, the cream will have further softened them.

I repeat this treatment daily until the scabs have gone and the skin has healed.

Once you get this cleared up (shouldn't take too long, a week at most) you should be vigilant and treat the smallest sign straight away. My horse gets it every winter but as long as I don't ignore it it's not a big problem. I don't do anything special to prevent it, just keep checking every day for tell tale black scabby areas, and deal with them.

Answer 13

Mud fever is a condition of proud flesh and can become severe, even life threatening.  I would have the vet take a look just to be sure.  I have used a product called Nustock.  It is an oil and sulphur based product that heals and protects and it also makes the flies and bugs stay away.  You should be able to get it at feed/supply stores or online at www.jeffersequine.com.  It also promotes hair regrowth.  This product places a barrier on the sore area and protects it but the area must be totally clean and dry before you apply the medication.  Use betadine to clean the area first.  the betadine will dry quickly and in and of itself, it makes a think barrier layer on the flesh.  Then add the Nustock.  Keep him in as dry an area as possible.  Good luck.

Answer 14

Well if you're willing to try anything, here's a decades old remedy for it... Motor oil (New or used). Simply paint your pony with it and it will kill the fungus. Leave it on at least a month and within 2 weeks of painting it on, you'll see new hair growing in hairless spots.  

For winter, that would probably also coat the skin and keep the crystals of ice from getting near the skin.

I should state that you SHOULD either WASH your horse/pony with dawn or something else that will take the oil off IF you HAVE to ride before you put any tack on it.  IF you don't you WILL stain your tack and boots (I actually heard somebody did ride with it on their horse and it stained all their tack and their black boots turned brown...  Thought that would be a no brainer.

Answer 15

Corn starch--cheap, easy to apply, no side effects and dries it right out.  It works for me all the time.

Answer 16

Anything anti-fungal/bacterial that provides some sort of barrier to the dirt etc works well ie paw paw ointment (natural way) or if it's bad then prednoderm which you can get from your vet, it's expensive but lasts a long time & keeps well too, I've had a jar of it for over a year, it's a green gel.  Good luck xoxo

Answer 17

I had the same problem winter just gone with my new horse.  I swear by a product called Muddy Marvel made by Net-ex.  Its a thick white cream but really protects your horses legs and has worked everytime and she has not suffered with it since.  Dont worry about turning out he will be fine as long as you apply this cream every morning before tun out.  If he has scabs (i mean scabs that are quite bad and really sore) then they also do a product called de-scab, I think thats what it is called anyway, and you just apply this to remove scabs before you apply the Muddy marvel.  Hope this helps x x

Answer 18

Try Vasaline! Hope I helped! Good Luck!