He's only got mud fever

[dcp]

Noticed a black scab on Charlie's back leg ahhhhh!

So how do I treat it? I was going to wash the scab with warm water and hibiscrub but was told not to because the warm water would spread the infection. It's not a massive scab but could you give me any tips on how I should be treating this and do I need to be careful about sponges, towels ect

Thanks

[teabiscuit]

weeeell Laurenc i've never tried this myself but it sounds so good that i pass it on- put sudocrem on, then wrap in cling film, then bandage, leave over night. then wash the sudocrem out with hibiscrub. been told that this treatment demolishes mud fever.

[nicolaj]

Hibiscrub with cold water, rinse well and pat dry with kitchen paper, something like Bounty or whatever you use. Don't rub as this will make it sore.

When dry I use Barrier Hoof to Heel, about £5-6 for a tub, but lasts ages. It is greasey and so put on the scab and it eventually lifts the scab off and helps it to heal up nicely. I've used this to good effect over the winter when Fatty has had mud fever.

Whatever you do don't try and pick the scabs off as they will be sore and stuck on quite well, you know what it's like when you pick your own scabs (or is that just me being a horrible scabby person!!:eek: )! I think it's best to leave them and treat with a greasey cream like the Hoof to Heel. Watch some things as they can just provide a nice warm environment for the bacteria to breed in, I'm not a particular fan of using sudocream or other nappy rash stuff on mud fever, but others do like it as it works for them. It's trial and error!

Good luck!!

[teabiscuit]

i don't like the thought of picking the scabs either, it must hurt :(
i think the sudocrem and cling film treatment causes the scabs to become soft and fall off without picking, so that you can then treat and get rid of the bacteria.
ETA i guess any suitable cream would do the job :)

[nicolaj]

The cling film thing is a good idea, but I don't do it as Fatty lives out, just HATES the stable, so have to manage round the mud, wet etc!

Yes if the horse comes in at night then the sudocream and cling film with a bandage over it I've heard works quite well.

On the scab picking, I've seen a horse on our yard they twitch to pick the scabs off after Hibiscrubbing! No wonder she doesn't like people fiddling with her legs - ouch:confused: !!

[Volvic]

Does the Barrier Hoof to Heel cream give some protection to the legs when the horse is turned out? I mean, once its put on, if the horse is turned out, is it likely to contract mudfever again?