Scratches/Mud Fever/ Pastern Dermatitis

spirithawk06
Junior Member

Posts: 544

Scratches/Mud Fever/ Pastern Dermatitis Aug 22, 2020 17:53:26 GMT

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Post by spirithawk06 on Aug 22, 2020 17:53:26 GMT

I know people call it a bunch of different names, but we flooded from 2 weeks straight of torrential downpours. Water was knee deep in some parts of my pasture and the horses weren't able to access the higher ground for a few days and one mare was stuck in the water. I thought she could cross when I pulled the others into my back yard, but the gate area had gotten so bad that she was unable to cross. I literally sank in mud past the tops of my boots and the water was over my knees. I cut fence and got her out through the breach. I left that spot open in case we flood again because we have 2 hurricanes headed our way and even if they miss us, we are looking at rain, rain, and more rain. I kept the horses in my back yard to treat them and allow the water to go down in the pasture. We don't normally flood this bad but our pumps were inundated and couldn't keep up.

2 of the horses' legs were really bad. Swollen, inflamed, both lame. The mare that was stuck in the water longer also had an abscess on the heel bulb. Gave them antibiotics, used fung-a-way, medicated shampoo/iodine washes, and blue kote with great success. Soaked the mare with the abscess in epsom, iodine, and dmso (vet recommended mix) 2 others were mild other than an abscess that had busted by the time I got to him (soaked him too and it drained more when I pulled his hoof out of the soak. He's all healed up and we're just waiting for the crack it caused to grow out of his hoof) and just needed the fung-a-way on him and the other mare. 1 mare had a mild case of rain rot from staying in rain for 2 weeks but her legs were fine and the rain rot is resolving with treatment. (We have shelter for them. They rarely go in it. *shrugs* )

My question is this, is there anything I can put on them to prevent this from happening if those hurricanes come and we flood again? Their hooves suffered no long-term damage or thrush (thankfully) and the scratches is almost completely resolved, but we are looking at some water in almost any scenario and the water table hasn't had a chance to go down, so we face a very real possibility of flooding again. I have already made arrangements to have other places to put them that are higher (finishing the fencing in that area this weekend), but if there is something I can coat their legs with, I'll be willing to try it..

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Last Edit: Aug 22, 2020 17:59:56 GMT by spirithawk06

mistersmom
Junior Member

Abita Springs, LA

Posts: 3,749

Scratches/Mud Fever/ Pastern Dermatitis Aug 24, 2020 11:32:11 GMT

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Post by mistersmom on Aug 24, 2020 11:32:11 GMT

On my way to work so this may be very short.
First, I'm thinking about you with these storms coming. Like you said, even without a direct hit, we will be getting huge amounts of rain and wind.

We used Desitin on one mare's pasterns to keep the morning dew off of them. You don't have to slather it on, in fact a pharmacist told our vet it is better to apply a thin layer and really rub it in.
You could also try applying MTG or poultice/mud? Just trying to think of something to repel the water. Of course nothing is going to stand up to standing water. I know you are doing everything in your power to keep them as dry as possible.

Let us know how you do through the storms (assuming you have power). Love ya!!!

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horselady
Full Member

Albany, New York

Posts: 5,313

Scratches/Mud Fever/ Pastern Dermatitis Aug 25, 2020 0:52:51 GMT

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Post by horselady on Aug 25, 2020 0:52:51 GMT

That standing water is polluted water,, all kinds of e-coli in it,, of course the best thing to do is get them out of the water,, and yes mistermom is right keeping them dry is best with a layer of ointment to keep the leg kinda dry,.. a coating of desitin is good,,
i think next year i would be building a platform with a ramp and sides on it and use that as a place to bring the horses above the water,, sounds crazy but it might work.. like a house built on stilts in flooding areas.
be safe for the next wave of wet..

www.rainbow-horse-retirement-center.com
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spirithawk06
Junior Member

Posts: 544

Scratches/Mud Fever/ Pastern Dermatitis Aug 25, 2020 22:52:02 GMT horselady likes this

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Post by spirithawk06 on Aug 25, 2020 22:52:02 GMT

Marco only threw a couple of thunderstorms at us. Nothing major and nothing more than we normally would get in a summer afternoon.*Fingers crossed that Laura doesn't turn east*

We packed sandbags into the gate area that sank badly and I didn't close the area I opened up.

The horses now have access to a levee as well as my back yard, so should we flood again, they have high ground. We just had weeks straight of daily rain and then 2 weeks of steady downpours, and I just don't think there was anywhere for the water to go. As soon as it stopped raining, the water was gone within a few hours. We really don't usually flood like that.

I made sure that the gates are all open and they have access to 3 different shelters.

Next income tax will be going to renting a backhoe to completely re-dig my drainage ditch and use the mud to build up the lower parts of the pasture.

horselady Full Member Albany, New York Posts: 5,313	Scratches/Mud Fever/ Pastern Dermatitis Aug 26, 2020 1:12:45 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by horselady on Aug 26, 2020 1:12:45 GMT as long as they have access to higher area you will be ok,, but planning for the next flood is a good idea.
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horselover4life
Junior Member

Central Florida

Posts: 3,297

Scratches/Mud Fever/ Pastern Dermatitis Aug 30, 2020 22:13:48 GMT horselady likes this

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Post by horselover4life on Aug 30, 2020 22:13:48 GMT

A few days now since the storm had passed...
Some are destroyed, most have standing water and some are smiling with nothing and wishing they had some of the rain their way they are so dry...
How are you doing spirit? How is the family and herd of animals doing?

I pray the threat of storms is done for the year but know it has truly just begun...not even "high-season" yet for the storms to arrive..
We too are having daily downpours and we "flood" but 1/2 - 1 hour after rains stop we are completely dry and ground is solid to walk across...then we do it again.

You were looking for something you could use to coat and waterproof the leg area...Vaseline?
Cheap and huge containers of it in generic might give you what you need or yes Desitin sounds a good one to use.

Scratches/Mud Fever/ Pastern Dermatitis

Post by spirithawk06 on Aug 22, 2020 17:53:26 GMT

Post by mistersmom on Aug 24, 2020 11:32:11 GMT

Post by horselady on Aug 25, 2020 0:52:51 GMT

Post by spirithawk06 on Aug 25, 2020 22:52:02 GMT

Post by horselady on Aug 26, 2020 1:12:45 GMT

Post by horselover4life on Aug 30, 2020 22:13:48 GMT