horse mud fever

[Cynthie]

My leased horse has mud fever, leg swollen & he's lame from it. Apparently he has never been lame so he was put in a muddy paddock. If treated properly how long would you estimate I'll be off him? Just looking for a ball park idea so I can plan my next few weeks. Thanks anyone for your time. Cynthie

[Horselover2]

Hey there Cyn! Hope your holiday was great!
It's really really cold here, brrrr!!

Anyway, I'd say stay off him for around 2 weeks, but I believe I'd be for getting a vet to look at it pronto!! Sounds infected. Are you sure it's mud fever? Never heard of a horse going suddenly lame from it though. Sounds like something that may have been going on for awhile; how come the other lady on the lease hasn't been treating it? Is she even aware. Only the one leg?? Sounds like something I'd be gettin the vet there for!

[dreamer]

"mud fever aka scratches, greas heels, grease, or cracked heels" (I think it's also called due poisning). "it's an inflamation of the skin of the heel and rear side of the pastern area. " (can you tell yet that I have my vet book infront of me :) ) it says "it's common with horse with long hair that holds dirt and moisture and covers the beginning signs of it. It's not contagious." lets see, "if not treated the problem becomes chronic it says to begin treatment by removing the cause," you said mudy pastures so of course try to keep him out of it whenever posible, "clip all the hair off the area, remove feathers if the animal has them if the wather is wet it's best not to clip them off totally, but remove most it helps drame water off the back of the leg "(I think it's taking about hat little tuft of hair on the back of the leg at the join before the fetlock) "wash skin gently with mild soap and pat it dry iwht pater towels or soft cloth towel. Remove any loodse dead skin and apply a mildly antiseptic product, such as calamine lotion or purple lotion for a few days to help dry the area then change to ointments such as zinc oxide to preent over drying it. a mixture of sulfanilamide powder and mineral oil is siad to work well when the animal can't be removed from wet conditions" basicly you want to dry up the wetness, there are other treatments in here so if that stuff doesn't work let me know, or if you think the leg is infected, call the vet. good luck

[Cynthie]

hi horselover 2 and dreamer,
i was so pleased to just get your replies to
my questions re: mud fever. thanks so much
for your help. i stayed off the horse all
week; however he was ridden in a jumping clinic on bute by the other leasee & yet another rider b/c I thoughtfully stayed off!!!

[Horselover2]

Geez Cyn, was the clinic THAT important that they had to bute him up just so they could participate??? How is he doing now? Is he still off??

I'm thinking that if you really like him, maybe you ought to make her an offer so you can own him outright. It really doesn't sound like she has his best interest at heart!

[olympicprincess]

My Trakehner mare had mud fever a few years ago. It sounds like you've already taken care of it. To prevent it from happening again- keep your horse as clean as possible! Even if it's terribly muddy.

[Cynthie]

hi olympicprincess & horselover 2, sorry so long in reply. my leased horse recovered from mud fever inside of 48 hrs!!! off bute by day 3!?!! Amazing. Still glad I chose not to ride.
Would love to purchase. Owners won't sell due to sentimentalities. will just have to see how it all goes in time. horse is too cool! re; mud fever. scabs still drying, but he shows no signs whatever of discomfort. thanks for your interest AND happy Y2K from me to all! Happy & safe riding . Cynthie