Thursday, April 9, 2009

Mud Fever

Maddy has Mud Fever. I am mad at myself for not checking into it earlier. On Saturday, I noticed her right hind was a little swollen and there was a tough patch of skin on her leg. I brushed it and the tough patch loosened up and I went to work her and she seemed fine so I didn't think much of it. On Wednesday, I went to brush her legs and felt all sorts of lumps and scabs. I talked to my trainer...yep...she has mud fever. I was told to mix a concoction of Desitin, anti-fungal cream, and triple antibiotic cream and apply to the sores after I clip the hair away and open the sores up. Her right hind is really agitated. To be honest, I didn't even know what mud fever was, but I knew something wasn't right and didn't look into it. So right now I feel like a bad owner. She is staying in a couple days and am hoping the cream starts kicking in. On the upside, all the work I have done handling her legs has paid off. She was a really good patient and let me clip away and pick away without any fuss. For those that have never seen this, it is like bubbles of scabs mostly around the pasterns. It is higher up in places, especially on that back leg. Treatment involves keep her legs dry and covering with the salve I made. Also brushing out the fungal organisms...ick! All my reading about Mud Fever, says horses with white socks are more susceptible. So how did my dun with black points get it:-) For being a good girl, I took her for a little walk, avoiding all mud, to visit with her girlfriends.

18 comments:

Esther Garvi said...

The walks are great! Whenever our horses get sick, we still make sure to take them out on a happening, so they don't get all pumped up with energy they can't let out. Heading off to read up on Mud Fever. Wishing your Maddy a quick recovery!!

Anonymous said...

Is this the same thing as scratches? I have a mare with white legs who is prone to get this - in her case it usually starts on the back of her pasterns. I use Listerine to keep it from getting started!

Anonymous said...

Easier way: Squeeze ingredients into zip-lock bag, squish around to mix, smoosh into one side of bag, snip off corner, apply a la piped cake icing. Close off corner of bag with twist tie until next treatment. Hope it resolves soon.

Lori Skoog said...

Hopefully you will get through this quickly. I love the suggestion about putting everything in a bag so you can apply it like cake icing...very clever!!!!

jane augenstein said...

Gilly has had rain rot same as mud fever. Terrible stuff, he had it on his back after getting covered in mud during wet cold weather. I didn't find the stuff on him until I was brushing the dried mud off.
I used a product called MTG (Mane Tail Groom) smells like bacon grease! Works GREAT!!! His hair came back in quickly and the oily meds stayed on his back very well. He is outside all the time and not stalled so this worked out very well.

Drillrider said...

Don't feel like a bad owner. You do live in the PNW you know! Mud fever is very common due to the wet conditions.

Here in Idaho, they don't even know what rain rot or mud fever ARE. YAY!

Anonymous said...

You're in OR. It happens!

I second MTG. It's AWESOME and for a horse product, inexpensive at $15. I use it for cannon keratosis ("stud crud"), itchy tail, blanket rubs, miscellaneous scabs/rashes, everything! Just shake it and use gloves becuase it's stinky and greasy.

Did you find a new barn yet?

photogchic said...

Lots of good ideas from all my blogger buds. I like the zip lock bag trick...great tip. I will look for the MTG...I think I spent about $12 on the three items I used...but it didn't yield very much product. She is looking much better today. Thanks for all the well wishes for her speedy recovery. And BridgetJones...I am moving at the end of the month. I am nervous but excited. I will be 4 miles down the road at a very private barn...only 7 horses. I can't wait to post pictures of my new place. It is really nice and $150 less per month. Yeah!

Sarah Henderson, BCCDC said...

In the scheme of things mud fever is a minor problem. The best thing you can do is pick the scabs off with your fingers (shaving can spread the spores) and collect them in a container that you can throw away and wash your hands. Keep the legs as dry as possible, but in my experience lotions and potions will not help in the least -- though they may make you feel better. Letting the skin stay open to the air is the most important thing.

Good luck!

Lori Skoog said...

I am looking forward to seeing photos of your new barn. Glad your horse is doing better.

Grey Horse Matters said...

Poor Maddy. Hope she is feeling better soon. We've never had to deal with this but it doesn't sound like a lot of fun. I like the trick with the zip lock bag. Clever idea.

allhorsestuff said...

Jules!
Oh Maddy mare...Wa had that once in my very first barn where the manuer was thrown in the paddock and it was ultra wet.I did the wroing thing too(my sissy told me) by washing her off with warmer water on tyhe legs..it opens the pores and can spred the problem. Use cold water.
I only had to spray it with "Shriners Herbal Spray" a few times and it went right away!
I love that stuff!!!

I can help you move if you want..I am so EXCITED to be able to ride with you soon!!! I have some really nice places to take you too! + the Beach trips and camping is coming...lots to look forward to my friend!
HAPPY EASTER new beginings abounding!
Kac

restoration42 said...

Mud Fever, scratches, greasy heel - think they are all the same icky set of nasties. Red had a case last year on, guess where, his one white foot. Shriners Herbal Spray wiped it out.

Heidi said...

Poor Maddy! Jack has some rain rot on his back this year from being blanketed in our wonderful wet PNW weather. They are all waterproof and breathable, but apparently winter was too much for his sensitive skin this year. So I can relate to your sentiment about being a "bad" mom ;-)

smellshorsey said...

Goodness! I never heard of mud fever.

Don't beat yourself up. You're not a vet. Those lumpy things on the leg could have come from walking through briars -- that's what I would have thought.

And now, thanks to your experience, you've educated the rest of us. That makes you a good horse owner.

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Anonymous said...

My horse has mud fever too. Just so people know mud fever and rain rot are NOT the same. Rain rot is a FUNGUS, mud fever is a BACTERIAL INFECTION.