Will this work??

[NoviceNic]

Had a thought of how to try and bait off Greasy heel. Please give me your opinions.

The grease is very prominent in Captains heel. I have clipped him as this seems to ease the sores. Grrom him daily and put on a barrier cream. He is also overreaching and slicing his heels. So was considering turning him out in Overreach boots. Will this also help keep all Mud and Sand off his heel?? Will the boots make him sweat more in his heels??

Crikey have posted a lot tonight. My mind must be on over drive. :p

[Tangle]

Turning him out in over reach boots should help to stop him kicking himself, but won't do much for the mud/sand - they'll be able to get straight in round the bottom :(. The only thing I've heard of that gives a mud-proof barrier are equichaps (http://www.tds-saddlers.com/ProductDetails.asp?PCLinkID=8015)
(I'll say now, though, that I've never used them and never seen them used - they say they'll help prevent mud fever, etc, but it might be worth calling to see if they'd recommend them in your specific circumstances....)

[NoviceNic]

They look very similar to the Sportabbac turnout socks. But unfortunately they can only be used if you have cleared the problem area. :( This something Captain has ahd all his life. Unfortunately the previous owners failed to see it irritated him and he has a lot of scar tissue around the heel. :(

[Jessey]

Bo has had bad mud fever for about 6 weeks now, I have tried everything to get rid of it, the best thing I have found (has now completely cleared one foot) was Aqueous cream (very cheap from the chemist) with Tea Tree Oil in it (about 10 drops per 20ml of cream), I used this to soften and remove the scabs and it disinfects the skin as you do it, then cover the area with Sudocreme (or plain zinc and caster oil cream, mostly used for nappy rash).

I have spent 6 weeks battling with Bo's legs, this worked in a week. Not sure if this will work for greasy heals but has cleared up the mud fever so well (and cheaply) it might be worth a try, also out of interest Bo's mudfever started when he grazed his heal, allowing all the bacteria to get under the skin, so once you have it cleared up it would probably be worth trying some turnout socks or overreach boots to stop damage to the skin in the first place.

J x

[NoviceNic]

Will definately be trying the turnout socks once I have got it clear. But I dont hold much hope for clearing it. I have owned him for 14 months and have tried to clear it since then. I have tried leaving feathers on and using barrier creams. Now I take the feathers off as his heels seem to improve when off. I have used sudocrem, hoof to heel cream, aqueaos cream, vaseline, udder cream, hibscrub, glycerine cream etc................

[NoviceNic]

I have decided to try (wait for it)..................... Talcum Powder. I am applying it only to his worst heel so I can measure/see any improvement. I was just thinking grease v talc, hoping the talc will dry out the greasy skin. Fingers crossed. His other legs are improving quickly as I have clipped them so at least that will ease him. I just have to invest in a pair of clippers and pluck up the courage to keep his legs clipped!!!

[Jessey]

Just a thought, my friend has a cob who they thought had mud fever or greasy heals for ages (about 6 months) when they had the vet to their other horse he gave him something for mite and also an antibiotic - cleared it all up. You have probably spoken with your vet already but might be worth another go, looks like you have tried just about every thing under the sun.

I like your idea though, I think its Keratex do a Mud Guard, antiseptic powder, so its along the same lines.

J x

[NoviceNic]

The vet first came out when I had him on trial. I was given Benzyl Benzoate. His legs seemed to get better but I wondered why he would skip around to avoid me putting the stuff on then I got some in a cut and you jigger I have never felt anything sting sooo bad. So I couldn't put it on his legs as he had open sores. Have also heard about something called Ivemac (sp??). Apparently some kind of injection. Next time the vet is out I will get him out to have a look at Captains legs.