Mud fever. What is it and what causes it?

Mud fever is a group of diseases of horses that causes irritation and dermatitis in the lower limbs of horses. It is often caused by a mixture of bacteria, typically Dermatophilus congolensis and Staphylococcus spp. Although many simply put it down to the mud, it can also be caused by mites; although this is less common.

Whilst many associate mud fever with muddy fields and wet weather, they are in fact wrong. A horse can suffer an attack of mud fever during any time of the year, whether its dry or wet. Do not think your horse is safe from mud fever just because the ground is dryer – always check for signs, even if your horse isn’t prone to it! Legs should be checked daily for any cuts of scrapes anyway so put this into your daily routine.

Any of the following can be signs:

• Matted areas of hair containing crusty scabs
• Small, circular, ulcerated, moist lesions beneath scabs
• Thick, creamy, white, yellow or greenish discharge (containing the causal organism) between the skin and overlying scab
• Removed scab typically has a concave underside with the hair roots protruding
• Deep fissures in the skin
• Eventual hair loss leaving raw-looking, inflamed skin underneath
• Heat, swelling and pain on pressure or flexion of limb
• Possible lameness
• If severely affected, lethargy, depression and loss of appetite

Keeping the skin clean and dry is the basic necessity to treating mud fever. Sometimes the scabs on the legs need to picked off and treated with a mild disinfectant such as chiorhexidine, iodine wash or surgical scrub. Once the area is washed it is essential to dry to affected area thoroughly. 

Often horse owners put mud fever down to washing legs too much. I have been told my vet this is another myth and in fact wrong. If a horse is prone to mud fever it will get it whether or not you wash its legs too much. When I questioned my vet about if I was doing right in clipping ceasers legs all year round she said it depends on the horse. Some need their legs clipping to prevent mud fever; others need their feathers to prevent it. Do not always follow someone else's advice, do what works for your horse. When you find a prevention, keep to it.

Sometimes if the mud fever is particularly bad your horse may need a course of antibiotics to help get rid of the bacteria infection. Creams can be purchased from vets or your local tack shop that can act as a barrier when your horse is out in the field. Always seek veterinary advice before using something like a mud fever product though. 

Whilst there is no magic cure for mud fever, there are certain steps that horse owners can take to minimise the detrimental effects to your horses health.

Here are some simple tips to manage mud fever:

- Where possible, eliminate any triggering factors that you can recognise. These may be anything from mud to mites. It is also always best to consult your vet so you can accurately diagnose a proper treatment plan.

- Stable the horse on clean bedding and provide good living conditions.

- Carefully clip (not shave) the affected area so that air can get to it and allow it to dry and heal.

- Remove any scabs that you find. An antiseptic wash like diluted hibiscrub is good for this job. 

- If you are using gloves or paper towel to remove scabs remember to use a new glove or bit of towel every time you move onto a different scab. Mud fever is bacterial.

- Carefully dry the area to prevent the skin remaining wet and water logged. Again always new clean towels. 

- A variety of creams, ointments and other lotions and potions are available to use. Again, do not use an ointment or cream without seeking advice from your vet. 

- If the affected area is particularly bad and there are deep heel cracks or big open sores then they should be dressed with a non-stick dressing and cotton wool or gamgee. Otherwise you can leave the area unbandaged in order to allow it to breath and heal. Bugs thrive on damp areas and will flourish in these conditions so ensure you do as much as possible to make sure the area is clean and DRY.

- Severe cases of mud fever may need a course of antibiotics. Vets may also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs such as bute to reduce the pain from the mud fever and swelling.

- If swelling is particularly bad then seek advice from a vet. To help reduce swelling keep the horse stabled and put stable bandages on for a short length of time. Never leave stable bandages on for a long period of time without taking them off and reapplying.

Severe cases may also develop in cellulitis so do not always try to treat mud fever your self. It is always best to seek veterinary advice however bad or mild it is. 

Remember, if your horse suffers from mud fever, it is not the end of the world and it is not your fault. 

There are plenty of boots and things you can buy to protect your horses legs when turned out. One fantastic product is Golly Galoshes. They are designed to go over the top of boots and stop dirt, debris and water from getting on to your horses legs. Please see my previous blog post for more information on golly galoshes or see their website here: http://gollygaloshes.com/

(I do not claim to be right and have written this to advise and help. ALWAYS seek advice from a vet if in doubt)

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