Mud Fever in Heavy Horses

[Jen]

My chap in the last couple of years has started to develop a wrinkling effect to the skin on the lower part of his legs which in turn is making the skin sore in the crevices.

At first it was just his front legs, but this Winter it is becoming apparent that his back legs are getting sore too.

I have more or less set too, to treat it as Mud Fever, and clip his legs out, wash with anti bacterial shampoo, and then apply a cream of some sort - not sure what yet.

Does anyone else out there have any experience with this, and if so, can you give me some support / advise at all?

[gwenoakes]

Hi Jen - Jack is prone to mud fever and the only thing we have found that works on him is pig oil. In fact just been to get some more today. Clare doesnt wash his feathers either, just puts pig oil on after getting dry mud off. Touch wood so far this is working. There is a thread for mud fever on here, cant remember what exactly is its heading, but sure someone else will know. I know LisaM has had a prob with it as well and there is something beginning with M that has worked for her. Sorry cant be much more help, really think it is trial and error with each individual horse. What works for one doesnt work for another unfortunately. Good luck.

[LisaM]

hello!!

I used Malandrinum www.helios.co.uk ... feed 1 or 2 x tabs per day with feed. Do not add garlic or touch tabs with hands..

I also use Aromaheel (mail order cant remember the web addy!) google will find it. ATM I'm using Muddy Marvel with great success.

As the skin is cracked I would maybe try Pig Oil to keep the skin supple. It may be more like cracked heels that mud fever.?? Any pics of it??

xx

[Jen]

Hi,

I use Pig Oil and swear by it, but because my chaps legs are becoming wrinkly like baggy stockings there are crevices which if I attempt to go near him with Pig Oil he hits the roof, as it must sting like buggery where it is sore.

He legs just have so much surface area that we get through heaps of cream - like one pot each time which although I don't want to sound tight, but adds up when it's £6 a pot!

It's the layering of the skin which I am interested in. It may be a breed thing as I know a few Ardenne who skin does go more 'loose' as they get older. But this is really hard and tight skin, which obviously hurts to bend and flex.

I think, once I get the clippers which I ordered today, I'll clip off what I can, wash with Hibi scrub, dry and whack loads of Sudo Cream on or something for now tosee if that helps.

I'll also have a word with my Step-Dad who's a Homeopath, and see if he can put a remedy together for him.

[LisaM]

Jen whilst waiting for you clippers, try using scissors to trim hair as best as poss then using a bic razor to take the rest away.

I think it may be a breed thing... It does sound sore for him Try and get something to sooth but keep the area supple... I hope you step dad comes up trumps. Let us know his advice as it may help others xx

[Jen]

Thanks for all the help so far. I have already cut with scissors the effected areas, and have applied Sud Cream, but I need to attack this a bit more seriously, as it was apparent yesterday when my farrier was putting back shoes on that the bending to fit the shoes was making him uncomfortable, which has never been a problem before. The clippers will arrive tomorrow, so I'll set to this weekend (Christmas or not 'G' most definately comes first!), and sort him out and make him as comfortable as possible.

[bertie]

Jen - I've seen this a lot with the Breton stallions in the Haras at anytime of year. Funnily enough my young stallion has the startings of this on his hind legs, which is being kept in check with pig oil.

I wonder if it's worse in Heavies that are entire? The extra hormones maybe?

[Jen]

That's a good thought re it being hormones...could be I guess. It just only seems to have appeared in the last couple of years, so whether it has anything to do with age, as he is in his twenties now...?

It's just the back of his legs on the lower part. Hopefully my new clippers will be at home waiting for me when I get home from work tonight, so I shall charge them up and set too either tomorrow night or on Saturday morning.

I shall take some photos to see if you can see what I'm going on about, as I am not convinced it is mud fever, but is a skin condition of a sort, and as it is so sore I am going to treat like mud fever.

I'll let you know how I get on....

Thanks for everyones help and advise and Merry Christmas for Sunday!

[bertie]

Look forward to seeing the pics to compare with Podges legs!

I wouldn't have thought it's an age thing - Podge is rising 5 and I've seen it on stallions in the Haras at about that age too.

Does he try to itch his back legs?

[Jen]

Yes, he doesn't leave his back legs alone. I had 'the injections' last year but it made no difference. The reason I started to trim his feathers last weekend, was to smarten him up for the farrier as they were all flat and sticking in odd directions and worn out in other places. It wasn't until my farrier went to nail the back shoes on that it became apparent that he was very uncomfortable with bending his pastern / fetlock area... then when I had a better look, he has developed the same layering with crevices like on his front legs, and he doesn't like you poking your fingers in the creases etc.

[bertie]

Have you changed his diet for the winter? Maybe giving him slightly larger ration of cereals?

Must dash now, but will have a think about this overnight.