Mumsnet Talk

It's a bacterial infection, right?

So why can't we just slather it in antibiotic cream?

There must be a good reason, but nobody has even been able to tell me what it is.

I think it's because the skin needs to stay dry to heal coz mud fever is essentially caused by the skin becoming too wet which allows the bacteria to take hold so by softening the skin with cream can make it worse.

but you can get topical antibiotics for mud fever, from the vet

it's pink and begins with F but think it depends if it is dry (scabs?) or a wet oozing mess

I am dealing with a horrid case of this - almost 4 weeks worth so far.... So far dhorse has had 5 penicillin jabs (his leg swelled up hugely and you could see the infection travelling up his leg at one point), the keep it covered and soft treatment, and now after a week of cream and spray and being uncovered we've finally reached the stage where it has scabbed properly and hopefully it won't be long before it goes. I'm not holding my breath though as it keeps erupting in new places - the original bit is well healed, we're now on eruption number 4.

I've never had to deal with it before and can't believe how persistent the infection is. He's even had little bald patches up on his neck and hind quarters which are related to the infection - he's not looking his best poor boy!

There are so many different thoughts on how to treat it, it's mostly a case of trial and error once it gets hold - the vet has been tearing his hair out with it, and been very helpful (I've been sending photo updates every other day, and he's been "visiting in passing" free regularly, bless him.

When I had to call the vet out recently for bad mud fever he said mud fever is just a general term for scabby legs, which can have a lot of different causes. I guess therefore there is no one size fits all treatment. That said, he did give me antibiotic cream, which did clear it up.

What we've really got is an infection which has got into the area weakened by mud fever.......but as you say it's a cover all explanation. Still a bugger whatever you call it. I believe the technical term is pastern dermatitis.

That was it. I was desperately trying to think of the term he used. I knew it was something dermatitis. You are right though, it's a major pain in the bum. I hope it clears up soon Frostyfingers!

Once a week.

Clean with hibiscrub.

Leave until dry.

Smother in udder cream.

The problem is we can't keep her out of the mud. I was hoping it would be frozen this week- because otherwise she's in mud til spring

But can you bring her in for an afternoon to wash and treat her? Apply a barrier (ie udder cream) when they are spotless and totally dry. Or goose fat works.

Yes- we're doing that- and using sudocreme before we have to put her back out again. Is udder cream better? Somebody suggested flowers of sulphur mixed with sudocreme. Anyone tried that?

Never tried the flowers of sulphur. But IME udder cream works really well.Plus it's more wtarproof than sudocreme - which ends up in a bit of a sticky mess

Flower of sulphur mixed with udder cream works wonders. Especially if you can leave it on overnight with horse inside then pick all the scabs off because the bacteria is behind the scab. I'm going to have to bring d horse in tonight and clean and leave with cream on overnight. I thought I was on top of it but she's so scabby again

I swear by barrier cream too. Lather it on up to the knees/hocks. The one I used had a yellow and black label, darned if I can remember the name just now but it really did the job! Used to scrub with warm water and antibacterial shampoo first, towel the worst off and let dry completely, ideally in somewhere clean and dry, or if need be "hack and go"! Then lather up with cream once dry. Seriously, I used loads of the stuff.

I did this once a week, as the barrier cream stayed on unless shampooed out. The rest of the time it was a quick rinse off with the hose if wet and muddy, or a good brush if dry. Cleared my mare up in under a month, but she only had a mild case to begin with thankfully.

Lincoln Mud Screen! That was it! It's antibacterial too, apparently.