Preventing mud fever

[Sarah]

hello!

What do you guys all do to prevent your horses getting mud fever? My horse has never had it before, but there is a debate at our yard as to whether or not the legs should be washed everynight to remove the mud (it is a really really soupy muddy yard).

Does waching the mud remove the cause of mud fever or does it just leave the legs wet and therefore prone to it? Not even the vets from one practice can agree on this one so what do you all do, and does it work?

bye!

[Rachel R]

Hi Sarah,

The simple answer is only wash the legs if you can dry them properly. I wash mine off about twice a week with hibiscrub and either dry them with a hair dryer or as well as I can with a towel. I then apply Connotrane cream (over the counter from Boots - very cheap!) and apply stable bandages. Try to remove the scabs when you wash, as the bacteria breed underneath.

I would only wash the legs if there are scabs there that need removing, if horses don't have mud fever, and are coping OK with the wet conditions then I see no point in interfering. If you do need to wash, do it when the legs are already wet and cold, and get them warm and dry as soon as possible.

Something like udder cream smeared on the next morning should then protect the legs for a few days.

Good luck. I know what you mean about people disagreeing on washing. I think if it works for your horse then do it!

Rachel

[summer]

I used to work in a riding school that routinely washed the horses legs to save time, and mud fever was rife. If your horse stays in at night, then you can probably get away with washing because the horse has a dry stable to go into, although shavings can stick to wet legs and trap moisture. The best advice I can give is not to wash legs unless you have the time to dry them thoroughly, to brush all the dried mud of regularly, and of course, nature's way is always best...don't trim fetlocks unless you absolutlely have to as the hair allows the water to drip away from the heel!

[clairev]

I find the best way to keep Mud Fever at bay with horses known to suffer from it is to keep the legs totally clipped out all the time. That way there is always plenty of airflow and the legs keep dry. :eek:


[This message has been edited by clairev (edited 28 December 1999).]

[intouch]

Melt down 200 gms emulsifying ointment, add a tablespoonful of olive oil and 12 drops of lavender oil and 12 drops teatree oil, give it a good stir and allow to set. Apply generously to affected area, ease off scabs as they become loose. No need to wash off, apply daily, you should see a big improvement in three days. can be used as a preventative, apply once every three days or so, but not before shows as it is a bit messy.

[Horselover2]

That concoction sounds really good if it's not just treating the symptoms. I mean, since mud fever is actually a fungus, does it kill and/or eliminate new fungus growth? I've heard of tea tree oil being used for other things (like fly spray)...pretty versatile stuff, huh? LOL

[intouch]

Yes, the teatree acts as an antibiotic/anti fungal. If you want to go overboard add some aloe vera gel too. It really does work, and if anyone tries it, please get back to me with results.

[olympicprincess]

My Trakehner mare had mud fever- scabs, hair loss- I used the ointment the vet made for my horse. I used a mild soap to wash them and kept them dry. Since then, I just simply keep the legs (and rest of body)clean of any dirt to prevent any fungus or skin irritation.

[michal]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by intouch:
Melt down 200 gms emulsifying ointment, add a tablespoonful of olive oil and 12 drops of lavender oil and 12 drops teatree oil, give it a good stir and allow to set. Apply generously to affected area, ease off scabs as they become loose. No need to wash off, apply daily, you should see a big improvement in three days. can be used as a preventative, apply once every three days or so, but not before shows as it is a bit messy.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
What is emulsifying ointment and where do you buy it? And are you heating this on a stove or is it melting together in room temperature?

[michal]

My horse got Mud fever from the sand getting under his sport boots this last wet summer in Washington. I changed to polo wraps. I would put on Bag Balm on his scabs and an hour later peel off clean and wash with hot water and dry and cake on more Bag Balm for the rest of the day. It would look bad but it did clear up in about 2 weeks. I think the tea tree oil thing sounds better though.

[intouch]

Emulsifying ointment is a base ointment which can be bought quite cheaply BP at any chemists, it is a bit too hard to use by itself at room temperature, I melt it down in the microwave but you could do it in an old saucepan, just warm enough to turn liquid, not hot.

[Clare]

Hi everyone!

My horse got really bad mud fever while I was away in America, and since then I remove all the mud every night and dry his legs.

I wash the mud off with diluted Hibbiscrub and cotton wool, which is soft and does not cause any breaks in the skin. This has prevented his other 3 legs from getting any mud fever whatsoever, and the one leg that did have it has healed completely and even though it was pink, hairless and sore, after bathing it and applying MSM each night has now even got hair growing back!!

I do think that it is important to dry off the legs too - just washing off the mud is sometimes not enough!! The Hibbiscrub is great stuff - really cheap, and it is what surgeons use to scrub down before operating, so it has amazing antibacterial properties, and as you dilute it, lasts for ages and the legs glow as they are so clean after it!!

[Zoey]

I agree about the hibiscrub - good stuff.
Mud fever is caused by dermatophilus congolensis (spelling?!) which is a microbe that lives in mud. Over washing can cause as much problems as not washing (as everyone has already said!). I do my horse's legs once per week with antibiotic wash (that's what it has got on the bottle!) and dry completely with towels, adding stable bandages to get the rest of the moisture out. The following morning I cover her legs right up to the knee/hock with `Leg Guard' barrier and this seems to do the trick. Mind sometimes I think there is no avoiding mud fever - even a very mild case.

[Margo]

You will prevent mud fever by feeding copper sulphate - 1 tsp in water per day (helps dissolve it). Guaranteed.