Turn out socks for mud fever prevention

[Nats]

Hi,
Does anyone have an opinion on the relative merits of Sportabac Turn out socks versus Equilibrium Equichaps for the prevention of mud fever? My mare has had mud fever on her front heels since february, which has proved very hard to shift - two courses of (oral) antibiotics 2x per day has resolved the infection, although she has quite a bit of scar tissue on both heels. I have tried everything the vets suggested in the way of steriod & antibiotic (Dermobion, Fusiderm) creams plus a raft of the herbal treatments (Mud Off, Aromesse etc). Now that it is looking better I am very keen to prevent it from returning. She is living out at the moment (coming in if it is very wet, like today) and her field is quite well drained.
One other bit of info, she is a Dales, complete with feathers, which I have chopped off & clipped the hair on her heels as close as possible, the vet has advised me to let the hair grow back when I'm sure the infection has cleared.

Any advice, especially on the turn out socks will be very welcome.

Thanks!

[Pam F]

I have just bought a Dales, fully feathered, and close inspection has revealed what looks like old mud fever scars. As we are on heavy clay which gets very wet in winter I am obviously keen to prevent it happening again and I too was considering the Equilibrium Equichaps. So, like Nats, I wondered whether anyone has used them and what the pros and cons are.

Thanks

[Alison+Rio]

my friend has the equichaps for her horse. They are better than the turnout socks because they cover the backs of the heel. The material used is excellent and is quick to clean and dry but it is still worth while to buy a second pair so that there is sufficient time for each pair to dry. The material used for the equichaps is the same used for certain makes of bioflow boots. I would highly reccommend the equichaps and I will be buying a pair for Rio when i can afford them.

[Bebe]

I'm glad this came up, I've been wondering the same thing. Think I might have to start saving up as I'll need 2 pairs of both front and hinds, although I think I'd probably get away with just the hinds if I use barrier cream on the fronts.

Glad to hear they're better than the turnout socks. A friend of mine used those last year and didn't think much of them.

Amanda

[Alison+Rio]

I would also advise you to look about and price them on different web sites. Some sites have them a lot cheaper than others. Robinsons are one of the more expensive sites. Phone your local saddlers and check the prices there as well.

[Nats]

Thanks all for your replies. Just one thing - one of my friend's vet told her not to use vaseline on horses as it can burn their skin. I have used it previously to protect against the flash band rubbing her nose on LDRs and also as a barrier cream on her heels - has anyone else heard this about vaseline?

:rolleyes:

[Lgd]

Vaseline itself does not burn the skin (it is basically inert, it is used widely in human preparations intended for dermatitis and excema) but it will make it more susceptible to sunburn - bit like rubbing baby oil on yourself and going out sun-bathing.

[virtuallyhorses]

zinc and castor oil cream is an excellent barrier cream if you're looking for an alternative and you won't have the same issues with sunburn

[Cochise]

i have never had a horse with mud fever, but here are some of the old fashioned treatments........keep the area as clean as possible, treat with warm water and bleach. And cover with zinc to keep it from further chaffing. Its an old method but it works........(by the way the bleach is diluted a lot!)

[Tina J]

Dilute bleach will kill the bacteria responsible for mud fever, but it can also cause dermetitus, which will then make the area MORE prone to mud fever in the future. Much better to use something like hibiscrub to clean the area and kill bacteria, before using barrier cream of some sort.