mud fever or stocking up in yearling? which one is it?

[tisor]

My 20 month old gelding wb/th cross has been in his stall getting handwalked daily for the past week due to really horrible storms in norcal and a really slick, deep, muddy pasture. The last time I saw him, last week, I put him away in the stall myself and wanted to hose off his muddy legs but we’re having some washrack drama so ultimately I just got him in the washrack and fed him carrots and didn’t hose the legs. I did dry brush them but they weren’t washed.

Today I went out and he was lying down in his stall (not abnormal for this guy) and when I took him out he had some pretty severely stocked-up looking hind legs. My first thought was that it was just that, stocking up – despite then handwalks. BUT this horse was on nearly 5 months of stall rest starting this time last year for two different issues (described below) and was never stocked up so it seemed particularly odd.

I showed the legs to the barn manager and his asst (the vet wasn’t on the property but I’ve called him and asked him to look when he’s out again – likely tomorrow.) Barn owner/manager and asst said “mud fever”.

After about 20 minutes of walking, the swelling seemed to have gone down somewhat. I then bribed him into the washrack and he let me wash his legs – but not as thoroughly as I’d have liked and I washed them with regular shampoo.

When I got home I looked up mud fever and it seems that he ought to have scabs or wounds of some sort which he does not. It also seems that if it IS mud fever, I should have washed him with antibiotic soap. I can do that tomorrow.

More background info: He had been on immunol until I ran out last month. I’ve reordered it but it hasn’t arrived yet. He also had lawsonia last year and STILL has scabbing or proud flesh at the site of an injection post arthroscopic surgery to clean up an ocd and/or blunt trauma lesion last June. He also had low IGGs when he was born and his vet didn’t have colostrum paste and was then slow to transfuse him. They were still low after transfusion. He just had his vaccinations about two weeks ago. I'll find out for what, it didn't say on my invoice.

Questions:

1. What do you think? Is it mud fever or stocking up and how can I tell the difference?
2. Is it possible that he just has a compromised immune system? And if so what can I do?

[okggo]

If it is mudfever aka scratches and that badly swollen - it would be hot, very VERY sensitive to the touch, and you would feel bumps (usually just above the hoof on the back side, but can be anywhere). It's more common on hind legs, and white legs but any can get it.

If he yanks the legs away when you touch them like they HURT, it's likely what you are dealing with. If it were me...I'd gently wash with betadine scrub - pat dry, coat with some soothing ointment like desitin and wrap them. It the swelling doesn't go down in a few days with that treatment - I'd get the vet out as scratches can manifest themselves in many many ways. I had a gal blow up from an alfalfa allergy, as an example.

Compromised immune system CAN make them more likely to get scratches - the key to me is usually HOT, OUCHY, and some bumps somewhere. If you find that, I treat as I mentioned above.

Jingles for your guy!

[tisor]

he's slightly warm but not scabby or lumpy at all. maybe ouchie but he always sort of picks up his legs when you squeeze or poke them. he's a bit prissy about his legs which are - as you said - white. all four of them.

the vet is out tomorrow morning and I’ll have him looked at. there has also been a feed change at the barn. I’m going to sample it and send it out for analysis - I was already planning on it to make sure I was feeding him the right stuff. he's a BIG boy and growing FAST and always ribby.

does it make sense to have a blood test? any sort of analysis for something just to be safe? I'm a bit more paranoid than the vet is and he may be reluctant to send blood for tests he doesn't think are necessary. I'm happy to be overly cautious, especially after the IGG thing, then lawsonia, then the surgery... then this scab that won't heal... his general laziness...

[okggo]

he's slightly warm but not scabby or lumpy at all. maybe ouchie but he always sort of picks up his legs when you squeeze or poke them. he's a bit prissy about his legs which are - as you said - white. all four of them.

the vet is out tomorrow morning and I’ll have him looked at. there has also been a feed change at the barn. I’m going to sample it and send it out for analysis - I was already planning on it to make sure I was feeding him the right stuff. he's a BIG boy and growing FAST and always ribby.

does it make sense to have a blood test? any sort of analysis for something just to be safe? I'm a bit more paranoid than the vet is and he may be reluctant to send blood for tests he doesn't think are necessary. I'm happy to be overly cautious, especially after the IGG thing, then lawsonia, then the surgery... then this scab that won't heal... his general laziness...

Yeah - I wouldn't be convinced based on what you said that it's "mud fever." Good to have the vet take a look, and re the blood test I'd see what the vet thinks. If it may be an allergy to the new feed, certainly worth testing for, or if anything in his vitals indicates a virus/bug coming on. But I will say - it doesn't sound like just "normal" stocking to me, especially with everything else he has going on. I'd bet he is fighting something off, whether a skin infection/scratches or something else. Could be wrong...but worth asking the vet. Keep us posted - and good luck!

[siegi b.]

It could be cellulitis because of the scab that doesn't want to heal..... Your vet should be able to tell you.

[tisor]

vet thinks it's a mild infection. he's on antibiotics for a few days, getting handwalks, being kept dry and in standing wraps. fingers crossed it's just a one-off thing.

[okggo]

Jingles for your guy!! Good luck! Do you have him on any kind of immune booster? I know you mentioned stopping the immunol - if you want a cheaper solution that also tends to be great for allergies/infections/joints - MSM might be worth the try. The filly I mentioned with the alfalfa allergy has quite a few allergies to things. We can't get "pure" hay and battled blow ups now and again. I've had her on MSM about a year and haven't had an episode since - skin looks great, no more rain rot, etc. and it's quite inexpensive to feed.

[tisor]

Immunol is on its way! It turns out they haven't changed the feed yet though it can vary anyway from shipment to shipment.

I saw him last night and the swelling was down but not gone. There is warmth on one and not the other and no discernable discomfort.

standing wraps with upward compression again...

here's a thng: my guy is very frienly and very laid back and I heard from one of the grooms last night that he was going nuts in his stall in the AM. he even kicked a groom trying to change his water or fix his blanket... not sure which. this is UNHEARD of. When I was there in the evening he was nearly asleep.

he did get IV antibiotics the night before last (night before crazy episode) and had powdered in his feed last night before I saw him.

Can equine antibiotics come with some sort of sedative? It's the only thing I can think of to explain this weird behavior and the mood swings.

[Go Fish]

I've seen the swelling occur before the scabs show up, just saying.

[tisor]

k well he's being treated more for mud fever by keeping him dry. i'm working with my barn (which is fantastic) to find an intermediate more dry outdoor situation for him during the day - until the horrible storms and mud let up.

[Zydeco Sport Horses]

Good luck Tisor. My farm is a giant mud pit, so I feel your pain. I think before the next rain comes in Friday, we may actually not have any standing water, but we'll have to see. Sending wishes for warm dry breezes to make things better for you soon!

[tisor]

thanks all!

And I'm in CALIFORNIA. gads. Does eing gelded exclude him from arc selection should it come to that?