Greasy Heel?

[k8schmutz]

Someone up my yard thought that Lulu might have greasy heel because she was apparently rubbing her foot on everything possible. I've never seen her do this but she does sometimes stamp her back foot a few times. I've just looked up what greasy heel is and apparently she could die!?! :eek: Could someone please explain what it is (couldn't really find anything helpful), what I should do to help her etc.
Thanks

[NoviceNic]

Blimey. Where did you read that??? Captain has Greasy Heel and according to prevous owners has had it all his life. 9 years. I have owned him 15 months and have tried a large selection of potions. The best way we keep it managed is to clip his legs, groom daily and apply barrier cream. I was advised that a good way is Sulphur and Pig Oil. But I am worried about burning his legs. So I use Naf Mud Gard and so far I have cleared up 3 legs. One leg is proving a little awkward though...:(

[becs]

I thought greasy heel was just another term for mud fever - as NoviceNic says above, brush off mud thoroughly, ideally twice daily, and apply barrier ointment eg zinc oxide (we used Sudocrem). Ensure they can dry out eg access to dry standing area / stabled for part of day, good diet plus pooh-pick frequently.

Re. potentially fatal, I wouldn't panic - theoretically I guess wounds could progress dramatically if untreated, through the skin's layers then into the blood, leading to septicaemia - in a neglected case with poor immune system, v. aged etc, this could be fatal. But I bet in reality this has rarely if ever happened / been documented as the key cause of death. Don't worry! They may be temporarily lame, though ours wasn't.

Our two hairy natives are out 24/7 and the old boy had mud fever last autumn - sudocrem helped him heal quickly, then we used it preventatively. I know this is discouraged, but as the vet said, if it works don't fix it.

Good luck.

[Tarlor]

First of all, greasy heel itself isn't fatal. It is the infections that can develop from it that are. One of our thouroughbred fillies has greasy heel and we put lime on it. It has almost cleared up.

[NoviceNic]

Tarlor - I am interested in your use of Lime. How much do you put on??? How does it work??? Does it ust dry the grease out???

[Wally]

What kind of lime are we speaking, I have some horrendous scars on my hands due to using builders lime, burns through flesh in a most spectacular way. :(

[The Flying Irishman]

Skittles sometimes stamps his back foot two or three times (a bit lioke thumper) anyone got any suggestions why he might do this

[notpoodle]

wouldnt lime sting like hell ??

[Wally]

They often do that, a quick thump with the back foot. I havn't a clue why they do it, they all seem to without ill effect, so I never worry about it.

[elise]

Not sure if it's the same but when I hear lime I think barn lime (limestone) aka calcium carbonate, that shouldn't be caustic.

[Tarlor]

I'll find out how much is used. I know it isn't caustic, I held the container and got some on my hands, nothing happened.

[Big Ears]

if it is greasy heal, you will feel some scabby bits and flakes within the feathers - and some harder bits where the scabs haven't come off - if you clip the hair off, and apply a nice greasy barrier cream and massage it into the scabs, the scabs will come off if they are still a bit tight. then you can shampoo and clean up the area, get rid of all the flakes and get some air to it as it is often found in horses with lots of feather, usuall in the fetlock area.

it isn't a huge problem and the key is to get some air to it, and get it clean and scab free. you can use a barrier cream in the future, but often if you just get it opened up it will clear up itself.