Recommendations / 13/06/2021

What are the signs of mud fever in horses?

Mud fever, also known as pastern dermatitis or ‘cracked heels’ is characterized by scabs and sore on a horse’s legs. It often affects pink skinned areas and may be noticed as red, sore areas of skin that may be weeping, or lumpy patches often on the lower limbs, although any leg can be affected.

How do I treat mud fever in horses?

How do you treat mud fever? If your best efforts don’t succeed and your horse does get mud fever, it’s still really important to try to keep their legs dry. You’ll need to wash the affected leg(s) with a warm, very dilute Hibiscrub solution – 0.1% solution is recommended – and rinse it off fully with warm, clean water.

How long before mud fever goes away?

Systemic antibiotics; courses can vary from 3 days to 3 weeks and will be determined by your vet. Pain relief/anti-inflammatories- are important if the horse has painful scabs.

Can you turn out a horse with mud fever?

You can try to waterproof the legs before turning out or riding in wet conditions. You can do this by using barrier creams or by covering the legs in oils (for example pig oil) that are hydrophobic. You may also opt for using turnout boots as a more physical barrier to the mud.

What helps with mud fever?

Any loose scabs may be gently removed, but scabs should not be forcibly removed unless advised by your vet. Clean the affected area at least twice a day using a mild disinfectant, such as dilute Hibiscrub, then rinse with water and pat the leg dry with a clean towel.

Will mud fever go away on its own?

Just remember, that mud fever and rain-scald are persistent conditions that can take considerable effort to clear up effectively. You will need to keep the bacteria away from the skin for long enough for the skin to heal fully and healthy skin grow back.

How do you get rid of mud fever?

What is mud fever caused by?

Mud fever is most often caused by bacteria and is common in the winter months when the horse is exposed to persistent wet, muddy conditions. This is because the wet conditions cause the skin to soften and mud rubs against this softened skin causing damage to the surface where bacteria can enter.

What does it mean if your horse has mud fever?

This is a non-contagious (which means it doesn’t spread from one horse to another or to people) skin condition that causes irritation, soreness, matted areas of hair and scabs that form on the horse’s lower legs. You may also hear it referred to by a few other names, including dermatitis, greasy heels and cracked heels.

Where does mud fever occur on the body?

It involves painful scabs forming around infected areas. It most commonly occurs on the lower legs, particularly below the fetlock, but can actually occur in other places around the body. What Causes Mud Fever?

Can you get mud fever if you have hair?

Although you’d think that the hair would protect the skin, it can actually hold moisture near it. This is because the more hair there is, the longer it takes to dry. It is also harder to spot early signs of mud fever if the skin is hidden by hair.

When to call the vet for mud fever?

Repeat the scab removal process every 3–4 days. Doing so more often will dry out the skin too much. If after a couple of weeks the mud fever isn’t improving or has worsened, it’s time to call your vet.

What does it mean when a horse has mud fever?

Mud fever is also known as pastern dermatitis. Mud fever is the inflammation and irritation of the horse’s skin, usually on his pastern or heel area. Pastern dermatitis can sometimes be found on the horse’s belly, upper limbs or neck. Mud fever is also referred to as greasy heal, dew poisoning or cracked heel.

Are there any cures or cures for mud fever?

There are many treatments available and no one is a “cure-all”. The basis is to treat any underlying conditions such as mite infection or contact allergy, remove infection and allow the skin’s natural barrier to heal.