Mud Fever

[Alex T]

Just wondering if any one has experienced extreme mud fever and what the symptons are? can it travel up the leg causing other problems??thanks

[Jessey]

Yep mud fever at its worst can go right up the leg and all under the belly - rain scald is the same as mudfever and is found ontop of the body so normally rump back neck etc.
It first causes scabs etc but can progress to open weeping wounds which can then get infected etc it can be very serious if not ddelt with.

J x

[Alex T]

thanks jessey thought i might add a bit more to why im really asking .with out saying too much as its not my horse we have an older pony up the yard about 20plus (one of those no one really knows) has gone down about 3times this week and each time been unable to get up without help the pony does have quite severe mud fever on both hind legs which are swollen and wheepy(it is being treated but with out much sucess).could the infection of gone up the leg into the hock joint as as one of them is now also swollen and is the hock which causes the trouble with the pony getting up ??

[Jessey]

It really could be a combination of things, but if the scabs are weeping and the leg swolen it sounds like it is well and truely time for a vet to take a look, if its that bad I would expect to be given antibiotics (either a shot or powders) to clear any infection up and probably some anti-inflamitorys to get the hock down.
If its that bad I would also expect the vet to recomend clipping all areas where the MF is to allow more thorough treatment of it.
Something as simple as mud fever can be really hard on an older pony, and getting stuck down can cause untold ammounts of stress :(
Definatly see if you can advise the owner to get the vet asap.

J x

[Iron Maiden]

I've seen mud fever go really out of control on horses who have had their immune system compromised, so I would be concerned that an unusually severe mud fever problem is secondary to something more scary. Either that or the horse is at a low ebb generally & needs a bit of TLC. Definitely try to get the people who own the horse to get the vet out asap, hopefully it's none of the above but worth getting it checked out!

[Nik-n-Kia]

Yup I agree with all the other and I would tell you to get the SSPCA/RSPCA out ASAP!!!

Such bad peeps that can't see to their own hossy!!!

F*&%$"s I hate peeps like that poor hossy!!!

Nikki xxxx :mad: :eek: :mad:

[Alex T]

should really of said that the pony in question has only just been brought by the people !its not in that state through them. i was just wondering if the swollen hock could be due to mud fever or if it was arthritis. i belive the pony is now on antiboitics

[Jessey]

Good news about the antibiotics, they should help clear the worst of it up pretty quickly :D just encourage them to keep treating the skin externally aswell as that will stop it getting re-infected :p

[becs]

Only other thought - IMHO, if the pony is _that_ old, ensure it is nutritionally at it's best, to aid healing etc.

I only say that as owner of a 32 year old NF who came to us with scabby legs. On veteran mix he's tubbed up, blossomed in fur & mane and legs healed all round! (with local treatment too, of course).