It's nearly that time of the year again - mud fever!

[seeker]

Is there anythinga t all we can do to stop dd's pony getting mud fever this year? She got it in about January last year - but the field is muddy already, and I'm dreading the really bad weather.

She can't be kept in, she goes really ballistic if she's in a box for more than 30 minutes, she she spent a significant part of last winter in the indoor school, which is hugely inconvenient for everyone. Is the anything we can do to prevent it? Would using some sort of anti bacterial cream prophylactically help at all?

I've seen this sort of thing advertised. Never tried them myself so I don't know if they work (maybe someone else here has), but they've got to be less work than trying to wash and dry legs/apply creams etc I would have thought. I think if I was going to try them I'd want two lots though so I could always have some clean and dry.

Udder cream. It's fantastic and I've used it on hunters for years as treatment and prevention. Keeping the feathers really short helps imo, as you can see any problems quickly and it's so much easier to treat them.

I've looked at Mud fever boots, but you can only leave them on for 10 hours at a time, so they are really only any good for horses that are in at night - and ours is out all the time. Thank you for looking though.

What do you do witht he udder cream - just plaster it on whenever they go out?

And is there any reason, apart from the cost, why you can't just usea an anti bacterial cream prophylactically?

Udder cream has been formulated to keep milking cows udders from getting sore and cracked. It is waterproof as well so it forms a good barrier against mud and wet. I always put it on before hunting on the back of the pastern from the heel bulb up to the ergot. Rub it into the hair so it gets onto the skin (hence clipping the feathers as short as poss). It is really sticky so it lasts longer than anti-bac cream. I would also worry about long term use of any anti-bac cream because you're killing off all the skin defending bacteria as well as the nasties. I'm not sure a vet would recommend using anti-bac as prevention either.

Cost is an issue, udder cream is around £10 per kilo or less so it's really cost effective.

Off to stock up. Thank you! If only the bloody animal would stay in her stable we wouldn't have this problem. Wouldn't you think that givent he choice between being knww deel in freezing mud and in a nice dry rubber matted box, you'd cohhse the box. Particularly with a nice expensive mirror to look at yourself in?

Pig oil and sulphur works as a preventative. You can google for how to mix it up.

I got mine ready mixed from ebay if that helps.

Sorry btw, didn't see the 10 hour thing on the boots. I thought it seemed a bit too easy and why hadn't I seen any horses in fields wearing them!

There's a horse in our yard that wears the boots - he is in at night and the work really well -he has a clean set every day and got through last winter clear of mud fever for the first time ever. So they are a good idea - so long as you fit the exact requirements! Our mare can't be in a box for more tha 30 minutes without going completely mental, so the are no use for her. If anyone knows a good equine psychologist though.......!

Also, don't hose her legs, unless you desperately have to. That softens the skin and makes it even more open to infection. Echo those above, just slather her legs with something that will repel the wet and mud and you should be OK. I just wipe the excess off and apply more, and trim the feathers but don't clip them right off. They are there for protection.