Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud!

With the recent snow and rain soaking the ground, mud is an inevitable problem for horse owners at this time of year. Mud can also contain harmful bacteria that can cause health issues such as mud fever.

Look out for signs of mud fever around the pastern and heel and sometimes reaching the belly.

Common signs of mud fever include:

• Crusty scabs on the heels or lower legs
• Broken and/or damaged skin/rash
• Matted hair or patches of hair loss with raw skin underneath
• A creamy, white, yellow, or green discharge between the skin and the scabs
• Heat, pain and swelling in the lower limb sometimes with lameness
• Wet conditions are ideal for the bacteria which cause mud fever. Wet conditions causes the skin to soften. Mud rubs against this softened skin causing damage to the surface, allowing bacteria in.

To avoid mud fever, consider, is the horse:

• Standing in muddy or wet conditions for long periods?
• Standing in dirty bedding?
• Having his legs washed regularly? Are they thoroughly dried afterwards?
• Having broken or damaged skin due to a wound, such as an overreach?
• White legged? (the pink skin under white markings is often more sensitive than dark skin).
• A thin- skinned breed, such as Thoroughbred, prone to be damaged more easily?
• Having a weakened immune system — which is usually secondary to another condition, such as Cushing’s Disease. If these horses suffer from mud fever, it can be more difficult to treat.

Mud fever treatment

• Call your vet so they can give an accurate diagnosis and make a treatment plan appropriate for your horse.

Treatment could include:

• Bringing your horse in out of the muddy and wet conditions to keep their skin clean and dry where possible.
• Removing the scabs gently to help you gain easier access to the skin and to allow air to reach the area and aid healing.
• Cleaning the affected area at least twice a day with mild disinfectant, then rinsing with water and patting the leg dry with a clean towel.
• Applying stable bandages to dry legs can help keep them clean, provide support and reduce swelling.

If your horse has thick feathers you may need to carefully clip the hair from the lower leg to expose the skin to the air and make it easier for you to clean and treat.

If left untreated, mud fever can cause complications such as cellulitis and even lymphangitis. These conditions are both bacterial infections in the lower leg which affect the blood and lymphatic vessels, leading to swelling and discomfort. Speak to your vet if you notice any swelling of the limbs to review the treatment plan.