[Fiona McLeod]

My gelding, Tally, has been battling mud fever (yes, in the middle of a drought ) on both hinds for a while now. I've tried various remedies and nothing seems to be shifting some of it. The stuff on his heels disapeared but he also had some about half way up his leg and on the outside of both pasterns which won't go away. I now can't get the scabs off as he won't let me touch it.

His off hind with the worst of the mud fever is now rather stocked up. I cold hosed it yesterday which brought the swelling down a bit but it's come back up today. I tried to put Chilla boots on but he flipped his lid about what idea and kicked furiously until it went flying off . He's been "off" for a bit (ie not lame but not right), about a week, so the vet will be called on Wednesday. The main problem is it could be his arthritic hocks playing up, or his hugely overgrown feet (it's only been 5 weeks and his feet are HUGE, they grow really fast) or his mud fever, which I think could be the reason for the puffy leg. He seems to be walking okay, and it reduces a bit when he moves around, we have been having an unseasonably warm spell, so he spends most of the day sunbathing rather than moving.

Mud fever and his puffy leg



Near hind with the other bit of mud fever



His overgrown feet (sorry about the quality, Tally shoved my camera off a fence onto concrete and it isn't very happy)

[PeggySue]

I am fighting it right now too

the best thing I have found for mud fever is cold hosing then applying MTG and keeping them as clean and dry as possible

[Fiona McLeod]

Originally Posted by PeggySue

I am fighting it right now too

the best thing I have found for mud fever is cold hosing then applying MTG and keeping them as clean and dry as possible

Whats MTG? I'm from way down under so I don't know if we'll have it. My current mode of attack is covering it in Equi-Fix and nappy rash cream but that worked for a bit and now isn't.

Dry I can do, cleans a problem, since I'm using cream and there's so much dust around it sticks like crazy. I'd really love some rain to soften and solidify the ground again!

His paddock is like this:



It looks green but it's simply paspalam

[PeggySue]

oops sorry

You might try betadine can you get that there

I wish mine was that dry if it was I wouldn't be fighting it at all it is so wet here that I can't even get the wheel barrow to my barn to clean my stalls and my horses are standing in shin deep MUD but there is nothing I can do about it

[paintlver]

Mud Fever or Scatches as we call it in Canada can actually stay in the soil and re infect.....I also have a bottle of MTG as well and I am sure you can order it from your local tack store..I had a very mild case on my gelding last year and the application of MTG cleared it up...Stocking up could also be cause by a lack of circulation as well.....Cold hosing does not help the mud fever as it is a fungus and will only get worse wet..It needs to dry out and that is what the mtg does....

[Fiona McLeod]

Originally Posted by paintlver

Mud Fever or Scatches as we call it in Canada can actually stay in the soil and re infect.....I also have a bottle of MTG as well and I am sure you can order it from your local tack store..I had a very mild case on my gelding last year and the application of MTG cleared it up...Stocking up could also be cause by a lack of circulation as well.....Cold hosing does not help the mud fever as it is a fungus and will only get worse wet..It needs to dry out and that is what the mtg does....

The cold hosing was more for the stocking up than the mud fever, sadly, I looked and no farming company or tack shop carries it, what is in it as there could be a similar product?

I think the stocking up could be a combination of the heat and him deciding that it's far nicer to sunbathe than walk around.

I tried Vetadine but it didn't do anything really

[Preppy_Ponies]

So I am really not sure what you can get down there but I've had luck with T-zon (http://www.healing-tree.com/T-ZonEquine.html). I'm not sure if you can get it down there but the website lists what's in it so maybe you can find something similar. I've also had luck using a product from Eqyss. I think it was called Micro-tek. It helped a bit but again I'm not sure if you can get it down there. I don't know what your horse website things are otherwise I'd look them up and see.

I do know that you can't get MTG down there. And honestly I really haven't had much luck using it on scratches/mud fever.

Since keeping it clean is an issue maybe you could put whatever ointment on it and then cover it with gauze and vet-wrap. Although I seem to remember with scratches/mud fever it's better for it to be open so maybe ask the vet.

Also is there maybe a medicated ointment you could get from the vet? They might have something that will work.

[tbtrainer]

I would try Witch Hazel (like the kind from the drug store)... and a standing bandage overnight. It will really help soothe the leg, and bandaging will help the stocking up.

I agree about keeping things as dry as you can, so no cold hosing.

I would also try some Panalog Ointment on the sores... not sure if you can get it there either, I would ask your vet.

[Fiona McLeod]

I don't think I'll wrap them, Tally would probably remove the wraps, he can untie knots, I shudder to think what would happen if I tried to wrap his legs (not to mention my wrapping skills are probably below par).

I usually get my creams and potions from the local farm store (Farmlands, Elders or RD1), witch hazel may be a possibility.

I think I'll be summoning the vet, so I will ask him what he would use, I was debating getting some manuka honey to see what happens

[CaliLove1994]

try putting the cream on it and then wrapping it.