Brilliant channel. Also, I've a lot more confidence in listening to a vet rather than online forums. I question a lot as quality information seems to be diluted by differing opinions online. For example, picking scabs off. Seems like a counteractive thing to do but... must not be. Are there any other conditions I should be aware of that could be mistaken for mud fever? I've a horse with flakey heels, and a bit just above his hoof nail on the front. I'm presuming it's mud fever but i always take him out of the field when it rains, and the field isn't mucky. He would be standing in a field with dew and grass that has had rain. So, I'm just a little bit confused as to why he's getting the condition.
Hi Conor, Mud-rash or mud-fever are the most common condition but you are correct that there are other conditions that can be mistaken for it. Mites are relatively common (especially in horses with lots of feather) and will cause similar scabs even in dry conditions. Horses can also get infected by a bacterial infection, Staphylococcus to cause a quite painful condition that can occur secondarily to mud-rash or mites. It is usually so painful that the horse is lame. There are other conditions that come under the term “pastern dermatitis” that are related to the immune system such as vasculitis which are difficult to determine a cause and can be quite difficult to treat (partly for that reason!). These may respond to topical steroids but I would only use hers as a last resort. Picking scabs off is, as you say, counter-intuitive because you are exposing damaged skin. However this allows treatment to get to the source of the infection. If it’s not mud-rash the scabs will be incredibly sore and veterinary treatment is needed (as for pastern dermatitis). I hope this helps for what is a very difficult condition that may be affected by the horse’s immunity and the soil type (in my opinion) and can be difficult to resolve!
@@simonconstableequinevets5219 we've had the vet over and he said it's mud rash. Picked the scab off, it bled which I was expecting, washed it with some form of antibacterial wash (reddish/pink liquid?) and put blue spray on it. Told us to repeat this over the next week. It's a racing thoroughbred so I'd imagine we wouldn't be allowed use any form of steroid? Anyway, the horse seems to be getting better. It's hard to tell how his skin is doing with the blue spray but I'll be keeping an eye on it for sure.
Brilliant channel. Also, I've a lot more confidence in listening to a vet rather than online forums. I question a lot as quality information seems to be diluted by differing opinions online. For example, picking scabs off. Seems like a counteractive thing to do but... must not be. Are there any other conditions I should be aware of that could be mistaken for mud fever? I've a horse with flakey heels, and a bit just above his hoof nail on the front. I'm presuming it's mud fever but i always take him out of the field when it rains, and the field isn't mucky. He would be standing in a field with dew and grass that has had rain. So, I'm just a little bit confused as to why he's getting the condition.
Hi Conor,
Mud-rash or mud-fever are the most common condition but you are correct that there are other conditions that can be mistaken for it.
Mites are relatively common (especially in horses with lots of feather) and will cause similar scabs even in dry conditions.
Horses can also get infected by a bacterial infection, Staphylococcus to cause a quite painful condition that can occur secondarily to mud-rash or mites. It is usually so painful that the horse is lame.
There are other conditions that come under the term “pastern dermatitis” that are related to the immune system such as vasculitis which are difficult to determine a cause and can be quite difficult to treat (partly for that reason!). These may respond to topical steroids but I would only use hers as a last resort.
Picking scabs off is, as you say, counter-intuitive because you are exposing damaged skin. However this allows treatment to get to the source of the infection. If it’s not mud-rash the scabs will be incredibly sore and veterinary treatment is needed (as for pastern dermatitis).
I hope this helps for what is a very difficult condition that may be affected by the horse’s immunity and the soil type (in my opinion) and can be difficult to resolve!
@@simonconstableequinevets5219 we've had the vet over and he said it's mud rash. Picked the scab off, it bled which I was expecting, washed it with some form of antibacterial wash (reddish/pink liquid?) and put blue spray on it. Told us to repeat this over the next week. It's a racing thoroughbred so I'd imagine we wouldn't be allowed use any form of steroid? Anyway, the horse seems to be getting better. It's hard to tell how his skin is doing with the blue spray but I'll be keeping an eye on it for sure.
We mostly call Mud Rash…Scratches…in Western USA states..California, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado. And yes more on white lower legs…fetlocks pasterns.