Mud Fever in Horses

It's mud fever season

Mud fever is not a single disease but a collection of diseases that causeinflammation of the skin of the lower limbs. These diseases may occur singlybut commonly occur in combination.

Causes
The most common cause is bacteria, such as Dermatophilus congolensis, that live on the skin become active when the skin is damaged by wet or muddy conditions

Signs
Red, sore areas of skin that can develop into scabs, matted hair, loss of hair, itching and a thick creamy discharge

Treatment
In order to be able to heal the infectious agents need to be eliminated and the cycle of inflammation broken.
Removal from wet, muddy, unhygienic conditionsTo avoid further irritation treatment should be targeted and restricted to only the medications that are truly necessary.
Cleansing with antibacterials. Even if not primarily infected by bacteria, lesions will often become infected. Removal of the crust and application of antibacterial medications such as chlorhexidine (hibi scrub) is important in eliminating bacterial infection.

Removal of the crust is often painful and sedation may be required to enable it to be removed

Prevention
Moving the horse to a drier field or improving drainage in the current field, clipping feathered breeds legs.

Complications
If left untreated, the infection can spread to deeper tissues, causing cellulitis, a painful condition that makes the limb hot, swollen, and very painful

Prone horsesHorses with white legs, pink skin, or particularly hairy feathers are more likely to develop mud fever

Remember, mud fever can be very painful and cause secondary infections. Please contact us on 01856 872859 for advise and further treatment.

Liphook Equine Hospital also have some great information if you are looking for some bedtime reading

https://liphookequinehospital.co.uk/…/upl…/mud-fever.pdf