Mud Rash in Horses

[Lvm]

Anyone any ideas on how to get rid of mud rash on a mare's white stocking fetlocks. Came back from the Stud with it. I am not a happy bunny

 

[johnflimston]

Strange to have mud rash this time of year, are you sure it's not photo sensitivity.
Are the legs white?

 

[Lvm]

Yes white stockings. But I think she's had it for a month or more as she was at the stud since April and only came home last week they had her legs smothered in sudacrem so I didn't cop the severity until I got her home and cleaned it off

 

[unlacedgecko]

Best thing for mud rash is sulphur and paraffin.

 

[bovine]

I suggest you get your vet to have a look. I'm not a horse vet, but traditional mud fever is a bacterial infection, but it can be commonly found with mixed infections of chorioptes feather mites or even fungal infections. Skin scrapes or even biopsies will rules these out as contributing factors. In horses photosensitisation tends to be as a result of liver disease so a blood sample may also be taken to check liver function.

Beyond that the hair needs clipping. All scabs need to be removed - a twich may do, but some horses are so painful they need sedating. Warm water and Hibiscrub is ideal to soak them off. All scabs must be gone - let Hibi have 10-15 minutes contact then rinse and dry thoroughly. I can't stress the dry bit.

I would them use Vaseline on dry legs as a protection. Repeat the Hibiscrub treatment every 3rd day until healed.

Some horses with nasty infections require a course of injected antibiotics to get on top of the infection.

Prevention centres around clean and dry legs. Avoid muddy pasture. Consider turning out with bandaged legs.

 

[Old Boar]

Scrub first with Hibiscrub, soak and then gently remove scabs - can take an age but worth it, and then I found zinc and castor oil rubbed on for a few days can help remove any scabby bits. Then dry, and dry again.
Once fairly clear it is the dryness that will heal it, so dry bed and keep in. Barrier cream such as udder cream can help to keep it dry.
I resorted to a hair dryer in the end - horse seemed to like it!

Then he got sweet itch....

 

[Lvm]

Thank you all very much. Doing the wash bit-using Hibi and then aloe Vera gel. Kept her in. Will get Vet probably best option. Stud Manager said she got sunburn, but she's an older mare and never previously got it.
By the way Skin so Soft from Avon is the answer for sweet itch. I had. Friesian Mare who had sweet itch and Skin so Soft did the trick

 

[andybk]

we had similar in a couple of ewes last year where some small patches got in the wool and around pasturns , tried hibiscrub over and over , and stood in zinc ,but only checked it , in desperation to clear it i mixed some idofel and water (fairly strong mix) and poured it on and scrubbed it in , was gone in a week and didnt come back ,

 

[Lvm]

Thank you Andybk I am a bit concerned now re the possibility of liver issues.

 

[llamedos]

Clean legs, dry them, Battles Green oils, and keep the horse out of the mud. Fence it off if necessary.

 

[Lvm]

Thank you. Have her stabled at moment, she didn't get it here, it was at the Stud.

 

[llamedos]

Thank you. Have her stabled at moment, she didn't get it here, it was at the Stud.

You might struggle to by the green oils from tack shops now, but you can get it online or from screwfix on pre order. Usually there next day for collection. Their horsey section is quite good now.
Start at the back of the knees and work down, then back up again from the bulb of the heel. Work it in really well with your fingers.

 

[Lvm]

You might struggle to by the green oils from tack shops now, but you can get it online or from screwfix on pre order. Usually there next day for collection. Their horsey section is quite good now.
Start at the back of the knees and work down, then back up again from the bulb of the heel. Work it in really well with your fingers.

 

[Lvm]

Just visited the site. Thank you again. Fingers crossed

 

[jemski]

My sisters mare one year suddenly got photosensitisation. Never had it before, and she was an old mare. It looks a lot like mud fever, and only on her white legs. She had to wear turnout chaps whenever it was sunny.

 

[jemski]

But if not I have found removing the scabs, then alternately spraying with Terramycin and mud fever powder by keratex was the only thing that works for my gelding.

 

[yellowbelly]

All the old remedies are based on the use of heavy metal compounds(zinc sulphate,lead acetate, copper sulphate etc) Most lead compounds are unavailable/frownded upon nowadays(toxicity), but they do work.
Our old method was to soften scabs and wash off with soft soap then apply the following mix 2 or 3 times a day:-
2 tablespoons zinc sulphate
2 tablespoons lead acetate
1 1/2 pints water
Once you get it cleared up keep legs as dry as possible and heels smeared with petroleum jelly.
White legs are worst as the pink skin is softer and more vulnerable.

 

[llamedos]

If it is only on the back of the knees, I would know this as mallenders often diagnosed as all kinds of other ills.
Sallenders is on the hock.

This needs treating well, both on areas of maximum flexion, and must be incredibly painful for them.
Dont just treat as normal mud rash.