Mud fever , also known as scratch or dermatitis pastern , is a group of horses that cause irritation and dermatitis in the lower leg of the horse. Often caused by a mixture of bacteria, usually Dermatophilus congolensis , and Staphylococcus spp , sludge fever can also be caused by a fungal organism (dermatofita). Photosensitization, korioptic mite mites, contact dermatitis and other conditions also contribute to some cases. This condition is also known as dew poison, heel oil, or oily heel.
Mud fever affects most horses and ponies during the winter and early spring, which produce painful scabies and scabies, which in severe cases can make the horse paralyzed. Mud fever most commonly affects the pastern and heel regions but can also affect the upper legs, stomach, and in some cases the neck region (also known as the Rain Scald). Non-pigmented skin tends to be more affected.
Video Mud fever
Cause
Mud fever is caused by bacterial skin infections, including Dermatophilus congolensis , and often Staphylococcus spp. Dermatophytes (fungal organisms such as Malassezia or Trichophyton ) may also contribute, as are chorioptic mange mites. Photosensitivity or irritant contact may contribute to certain cases. Rarely, vasculitis can cause further inflammation.
Under normal circumstances the skin acts as a protective barrier, preventing microorganisms from entering the horse system and doing any damage. However, the integrity of the epidermis can be impaired through the abrasion of sand, sand or bed soils that are stable on cold and wet skin. Continuous skin wetting causes damage to the epidermal barrier protector, allowing bacteria to enter and cause infection.
Shared boots, sweatshirts, nursing supplies, and hand horse handlers can all serve as fomites, carrying the causal organism from one individual to another. For this reason, mud fever should be considered as an infectious disease, and general hygiene measures should be taken to limit cross-contamination.
Horse and horse horses stand for hours in the mud, wet pads and at the gates are a common sight during the winter and early spring months. Under these conditions, the mud fever thrives. Generally, horses and ponies with white socks are more susceptible to the condition, although Mud Fever will affect horses of all races, ages and colors.
As with any bacterial infection, mud fever can be a very serious condition very quickly. The legs can become swollen and pain and open sores can become infected quickly. Often, such a degree of damage to an open wound can be very difficult to heal and can produce proud meat, permanent hair loss and in severe cases the need for skin grafts.
In horse concepts, especially Clydesdales, Shires, and Belgium, which appear similar, but more serious conditions occur called chronic progressive lymphedema. This condition appears to be genetically related, beginning early in life and developing, leading to thickening, fibrosis, and predisposing to secondary infections. This disease can develop enough to require euthanasia.
Maps Mud fever
Clinical signs
Mud fever is a chronic but progressive dermatitis. It affects all horse races, but this is most common in heavy horses like Clydesdales. It often begins as a small red ulceration of the skin in the plantar pastum area of ​​the foot. The lesion then grows and develops scaling with crust formation, hair loss, edema, oozing and foul-smelling exudate. Skin fissures and papillomatous lesions may develop in chronic cases.
Prevention
Paddock management
Precautions should be taken as soon as the desert begins to become wet and muddy. Rotation paddocks make the horse must stand on wet and muddy ground. Electric fencing can also prevent horses standing for long periods of time in the deep mud collected in high traffic areas.
Stable management
Horses should be kept in a clean and dry cage enclosure with wood shavings for bedding to prevent moist environments around the feet.
Caring
Washing the infected area with an antiseptic solution is part of the treatment for mud fever. However, washing hooves repeatedly can remove natural oils in the skin and allow this condition to become established. The feet should be thoroughly dried after washing with antibacterial shampoos using paper towels,
Care products
There are many products available to help protect the skin from constant wet by forming a barrier between mud and feet. However, barrier creams have the disadvantage that the horse's legs are still covered in mud when they come from the field. Alternatively, some forms of foot cover can be used like anti-mud fever boots.
Treatment
Effective treatment of Mud fever is a three-step process.
- Eliminate predisposing factors.
- Topic Treatment
- Systemic Therapy (for most severe cases only)
Eliminate predisposing factors
One of the most important factors in successfully treating scratches is to move horses into a clean, dry environment.
- Use paddock and prairie rotations and fences to keep the horses from standing on wet and muddy ground for long periods of time.
- Keep the horse stall in the barn clean and dry.
- Avoid using leg wraps, tack items or devices that can increase moisture retention.
Local topical treatment
Steps Prepare areas for treatment:
- Cut hair in the pastern area with scissors or scissors if necessary. Be careful not to damage the skin when cutting around the affected area so as not to irritate the skin.
- This area should be tapped dry and careful using a clean towel or tissue. This area is now ready for topical treatment.
Mask, crust, serum and dried feces should be removed very gently using mild soap or natural mild shampoo, mild chlorhexidine (maximum 2%) or povidone-iodine wash and a little warm water or physiological salt. Other washing methods include using a dampened cloth or wiped tongue.
Topical therapy
The main purpose of topical treatment is to kill bacteria or fungi and to reduce inflammation.
Antibacterial/antifungal
- Shampoo: An antibacterial/antifungal shampoo can help control bacterial and fungal infections when used daily for 7 to 10 days. The active ingredients include chlorhexidine (2%) as antibacterial and miconazole (1%), ketoconazole (1%) or enilconazole as antifungal.
- Creams and Ointments: An antibiotic-like ointment such as 2% mupirocin or a mixture of components such as neomycin, nystatin, and triamcinolone can be used to control bacterial or bacterial infections.
- Ichthammol is also used in veterinary medicine for its bacteriostatic properties for the treatment of inflammatory skin disorders in horses. Other products containing silver and tea tree oil or triclosan associated with 2 humectant monopropylene glycol and isopropanol are also available.
- Kunzea Based Oil Treatment: Finally, in a recent controlled horse trial (3) with horse streaks, treatment with an ointment containing 20% ​​â € <â €
2 to 0.
Anti-inflammatory
Good success has been noted by some with topical steroids such as triamcinolone and betamethasone applied to lesions along with other treatments containing Kunzea.
Antiparasit
Antiparasitic treatment is required only if mites or scabies have been identified or if there is a need to repel insects like Culicoides. Permethrin at concentrations greater than 2%, spray of fipronil or ivermectin orally has been successfully used. Lemongrass essential oil (Cymbopogon citratus) is a good choice for natural insect repellents.
Systemic therapy
Systemic therapy is only for the most severe cases under veterinary supervision.
Anti-bacterial/antifungal
Enrofloxacin and trimethoprim sulfonamide potentiation are among antibiotics commonly prescribed by veterinarians to treat severe bacterial infections from the pastern. Systemic antifungal therapy is rarely needed, but ketoconazole, itraconazole, and fluconazole are sometimes recommended with variable success.
In some cases, immunosuppressive steroid doses (dexamethasone or prednisolone, gradually tapered down) may be needed to control immune dermatitis mediated immune and vasculitis.
If properly treated and full recovery start from scratching can be expected. It does require moving the horse to a dry area, clearing the lesions correctly and using the correct products to control the infection and promote healing.
See also
- Rainscald
References
This article is copied in part from the Equilibrium website. Used by permission. This article is copied partly from ArcaNatura USA website. Used by permission.
External links
- VetSci - Mud Fever Infographic
- ArcaNatura - A Guide to Visual Diagnosis Clinical Signs from Scratches
www.nannasfarmbeautyproducts.com.au
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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