Mud Stop®

Excessive exposure to moisture, mud and its consequences are an inevitable part of life in Britain, especially if you’re a horse or horse owner! As you will know the effects on your horse and its hooves can be unpleasant, damaging and difficult to manage.
In particular conditions commonly known as "Mud Fever", "Rain Scald" and "Thrush" are widely accepted to be a problem associated with a wet environment and consequent difficulties in hygiene management.

Obviously reducing the exposure to excessive moisture is an ideal start. However if your horse is often out then Equitech’s Hygiene Management System can help reduce the inevitable risks.

First if you can’t stop the water then control the water activity on the skin and manage topical hygiene by use of Equitech’s novel "Spray on and Leave" Mud Stop Disinfectant Cleaner or Mud Stop Disinfectant Cream Cleaner.

Secondly, where conditions allow, you can use Mud Stop Disinfectant shampoo. This is based on the principles behind making medicated handwashes used to clean and reduce microbial contamination in sensitive environments.

Thirdly you can use Mud Stop Hoof Hygiene Spray which is a combination of surface active agents for cleansing and two powerful topical disinfectants dispersed in a potent penetrating liquid. Together these help cleanse the hoof, kill topical bacteria and actually pull some of the excess moisture from the difficult to reach risk areas

If you want to know more of the science behind this look up "water activity" on Wikepedia or if you are a registered veterinarian or farrier e-mail, providing your full contact details, for a copy of our technical briefing note and wall charts.

NEWS! A proof of principle clinical trial of Mud Stop was recently reported in the peer review journal Equine Veterinary Education. A number of horses with long term chronic mud fever symptoms and which had failed to resolve with other treatments were treated . All those that completed the treatment (two were withdrawn for other reasons beyond the control of the vet supervising the study) showed total resolution of their symptoms within a month!

For a view of the original article click here.
For more detailed information

Equitech Mud Stop® Topical Disinfectant Spray is a simple "Spray and Leave" product designed for situations where your horse is tender from trauma or injury and may have scabs etc In some situations vets will say that its necessary to pick the scabs off to allow an area to dry and let anything they prescribe in. However they aren’t the ones who have to pick themselves off the stable floor when the horse has expressed its views on this painful procedure! A few days application of Equitech Topical Disinfectant Spray two or three times a day can help soothe and clean without adding more water to soften the scabs and reduce the problems associated with this procedure. It contains no water, greases or oils. It is composed of high humectancy materials (materials which absorb water and control water activity) and some surface active materials which clean, help soften the scabs and supporting the included antibacterial disinfectant

As shown in the exmple above the scabs usually fall off by themselves within a week or so. They leave an area which looks a bit sore and tender, as in he second photo above but this is all part of the natural healing processand don't worry. Only if the area shows signs of a secondary infection you should then consult your veterinarian.

If your horse reacts adversely to sprays we now offer a similar benefit from Mud Stop Gel, which is applied by hand.

The benefits of Mud Stop® Spray provided in a hand applied Gel for thos who prefer this form of application or in situations where the horse reacts adversly to sprays.

Equitech Mud Stop® Disinfectant Cream has a highly unusual formulation which unlike most ointments and creams contains virtually no water, oil or greases. It is again designed to control water activity but has a higher level of surface active materials to help keep the area clean, support the effect of the antibacterial disinfectants and thus provide an environment which supports the natural healing processes. Mud Stp Cream is usually used once the scabs have fallen off and the horse is less sore to the touch. Applied ideally twice a day reducing to once as healing progresses it will help control the accumulation of debris, make it easy to clean with cold or lukewarm water and will help minimise and clean off any hard scab formation. Unless the lesions are extensive a "butter pat" sized portion is sufficient,, you will find it goes a long way! It readily washes off and makes it easy to remove from hands and clothes unlike some greasy preparations. It helps keeps your hands hygienically clean too!

Excessive exposure to moisture, mud and its consequences are an inevitable part of life in Britain, especially if you’re a horse or horse owner! As you will know the effects on your horse and its hooves can be unpleasant, damaging and difficult to manage.
In particularly difficult situations this bacterial build up can eventually give rise to the condition commonly known as "Thrush"

Obviously reducing the exposure to excessive moisture and sources of contamination is an ideal start. However with UK weather and our busy lives this may not always be easy or practical. Then Equitech’s Hoof Hygiene Spray can help cleanse and reduce the inevitable risks.

Equitech Hoof Hygiene Spray is a combination of surface active agents for cleansing and two powerful topical disinfectants dispersed in a potent penetrating liquid. Together these help cleanse the hoof, kill topical bacteria and actually pull some of the excess moisture from the difficult to reach risk areas.

Good Hygiene is essential if you wish to minimise the risks that prolonged exposure to excessive moisture can lead to.. It is a type of hoof rot, characterized by black necrotic (dead) tissue in the affected area,
caused by pathogens found in barnyard, stable or pasture. These organisms thrive in wet or decaying material such as mud and manure, decomposing bedding material, etc. There are several pathogens that cause thrush, but the most common is Fusobacterium necrophorum .

Environment

These organisms like dark, damp, airless environments and the deep clefts of the frog make an ideal location.
If the hoof is usually packed with dirt, mud or manure, lack of air next to the frog and the constant moisture work together to make a perfect situation for them to flourish. A horse kept in a wet, boggy pasture, muddy pen, or dirty stall, is more likely to develop thrush than a horse kept in a dry, clean pasture or a clean stall. A hoof that is always clean and dry will rarely develop thrush.

Identification

In the early stages of thrush, there is merely some dark coloration and grime around the frog, or in spots along the white line, and the accompanying bad odor. If the condition has reached lameness and the obvious presence of large necrotic areas ask your farrier to trim these back and shape the frog to help it self clean. Deeper penetration still may requires veterinary help

Instructions

Move your horse to a sound and as dry an area as possible. Pick out and clean the hooves and frog from any gross blockages and debris. Then, holding the hoof inverted simply spray the hoof and as deep into any crevices as possible. When all the hooves have been treated then leave the horse on dry hard standing for at least half an hour. Can be used daily but repeat at least twice a week until condition resolves

Thoroughly disinfect any kit used. Wash your hands!