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| Author |
Message |
    
Sharon Thomas (Sefiroth)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jun 5, 2001 - 8:56 pm: |   |
Up until a few weeks ago I had thought that mud fever was more of a dry hard crusting over of the skin in areas around the pastern/fetlock area. At least that's what my horse had and my farrier and a vet said it was mud fever/scratches. Regular application of Desitin got rid of the problem.
But now, I work in a large carriage company with a bunch of percherons. A few of which have what the other drivers say is scratches and is more of a weepy sore that gets crusty sometimes.
So my question is, are there two different infections going on here? Or just two different forms of the same thing?
~Sharon |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 6, 2001 - 8:18 am: | |
Hello Sharon as the name to the article on this disease suggests: the common names are used interchangably and have little diagnostic / treatment significance. Percherons are a little more prone to this condition because the feathers hold water. Keeping the back of the legs clean and dry is key to minimizing the problem. Some have said shaving the feathers has helped them.
DrO |
Helen Weedon (Cara)
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 6, 2001 - 10:34 am: | |
Hi Sharon,
I'm convinced that clipping my mare's feathers off in the winter makes keeping the mud-fever at bay much easier - you can see where it has got to for a start 
Have you considered heel mites too? Lots of heavy horses suffer from them and they are horribly persistant little critters. The horse can scratch, bite or rub its lower legs absolutely raw because of the irritation. The worst case I've ever seen had maggots living in the wounds and the smell would have knocked down a charging elephant. Sadly the owner "hadn't noticed" would you believe?  |
Sharon Thomas (Sefiroth)
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 6, 2001 - 1:54 pm: | |
DrO,
Dryness is the problem. These horses get a bath every day if the weather is warm enough. The past few weeks have been cold but also rainy nearly every day. And we still drive in the rain. (As long as there's no lighting!) Clipping their feathers back probably wont happen as long as their in work.
Helen,
As I said above, clipping them back probably wont happen. The one guy who is the worst tho, when we are parked by the curb will quite frequently put a front foot up on the curb and bite at his fetlocks. So from what you've described he could have mites as well.
I'm considering asking the owner if I could take this horse home when he gets his month vacation so I can clean him up. My only worry is how he'd get along with my 2 horses and pony. I only have one pasture, 4 acres fenced in with a run in shed, with barbed wire and one hot wire. I'd hate to have him or one of mine hurt or the fence broken down cause of horsey silliness.
Also, is it true if you shave their feathers off they come back coarser?
~Sharon |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Thursday, Jun 7, 2001 - 4:39 am: | |
No, the hait is not actually coarser but it looks way until it grows back the same length.
DrO |
Lynn Seitz
New Member
Username: Lynnie
Post Number: 1
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, Oct 5, 2004 - 1:26 pm: | |
I have a 6 year old paint mare that developed scratches on her rear legs (pasterns only) in the late spring this year. I've treated it all summer long (Furasone/Desitin/Cortizone Cream/Neosporin/Lotrimin AF) mixture. The scratches goes away, but always seems to return if I stop treatment for any length of time. How do I get rid of this for good, or am I simply stuck with it?
In addition, this same mare now is developing what look like scratches sores on her muzzle. They are flat, oozing sores, with a hard crusty top to them. Could this be a migration of sorts of the scratches, or possibly something else? Her muzzle is predominantly light colored, although she's been pastured for several years and has never had a sunlight sensitivity problem, etc. No different food source or pasture either. Any ideas for cause and/or treatment? Thanks. |
