Mauke is one of the most common skin diseases in horses. With the right care, you can prevent the development and heal affected areas of skin.
What is mauke in horses?
Mauke is an inflammatory skin disease that often occurs in the fetlock area of horses. It is caused by a combination of moisture, dirt and bacteria or even mites and manifests itself as redness, swelling, crusting and weeping wounds.
Horses with long fetlocks are frequently affected, especially in the winter months. The disease occurs quite frequently and is considered difficult to treat if severe, as therapy is often laborious and takes a long time. If left untreated, mauke can lead to pain and restricted movement.
Causes of mauke in horses
It is almost impossible to keep the skin in the crook of the fetlock free of germs. Normally, germs are repelled by the skin's natural protective barrier and by the immune system when they enter.
However, the skin in the crook of the fetlock is under a lot of strain as it is exposed to constant movement and stretching. Tiny injuries, such as small tears in the fetlock bend, are the gateway for germs and mites to enter the skin. Insect bites can also severely irritate the skin and promote moulting. The slight hairiness also makes it easier for germs to reach the skin.
Once they have reached the uppermost layer of the skin (epidermis), they can spread further. The body reacts to this with an inflammatory reaction. A mixture of wound fluid, dead skin flakes, dirt from the environment and the germs causing the infection then results in the typical crust of the scab, which sticks very firmly to the skin and hair. Under the crust, the germs can continue to multiply in the moist, warm environment and attack new, still healthy skin. This creates a vicious circle in which ever larger crusts and more severe inflammation can develop.
Mauke can also be caused by a longer existing thrush, in which the germs spread from the frog, over the bale, into the fetlock bend!
Foxes and horses with light skin in particular are affected more frequently and more severely than horses with dark skin.
Symptoms: Recognize Mauke
Small rednesses, which are usually not taken too seriously, are often the start of a mauke. A few hours to days later, small crusts may cover the skin. These then quickly become larger and stand out more and more from the healthy skin.
Sometimes the areas ooze and are very red. In this case, the areas hurt the horse and can lead to serious, difficult-to-treat skin inflammation or even phlegmon.
Prevent mauke
In order to prevent mud fever, it is primarily important to keep the skin of the fetlock bend clean and supple. If the skin is cared for and small wounds are cleaned directly with a disinfectant soap, it is difficult for the germs that cause foot and mouth disease to penetrate the skin. Hygiene in the stable and exercise area reduces the bacterial load in the fetlock bend and is therefore essential to prevent mastitis.
If you detect crusts in the fetlock bend, it is necessary to treat them immediately and not let a few more days pass, as the mauke can spread very quickly.
Common mistakes in moulting treatment
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Remove the scabs without pre-treatment
Whether dry or previously soaked: Removing the scabs without suitable pre-treatment damages the underlying skin and allows germs to penetrate new areas of skin. The next day, the crust is back and the scab is even worse.
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Washing the fetlock bend
Washing the horse's fetlock bend when it is heavily soiled is useful to remove additional dirt from the already irritated skin.
However, frequent washing is counterproductive, as pathogens multiply even faster in damp conditions.
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Wash the fetlock bend with curd soap
Bacteria and fungi love an alkaline environment. Soaps have an alkaline pH value and therefore promote the growth of germs.
The right treatment
The correct treatment is to remove the scabs as gently as possible without damaging the underlying skin. Keralit Keralysin Ointment is a good option for gently removing crusts.
As soon as the crust can be gently removed, the areas underneath can be disinfected or soothed with a nourishing ointment. Keralit Dermacure Ointment is ideal for skin care and regeneration. The areas can regenerate and the skin can restore its protective barrier.