Managing Mud Fever

Mud Fever, also known as ‘cracked heels’ or pastern dermatitis is a common condition affecting horses. This condition is typically seen on especially feathery legs or pink skin.

The skin in this region becomes inflamed, covered in scabs and can ooze a clear serous fluid leaving a crusty appearance, or in worse cases can cause ulceration. In more serious cases this condition can lead to cellulitis where the leg swells significantly and the horse goes lame.

Whilst this condition tends to occur on the hind legs in the pastern area it can also appear on the body of the horse which is colloquially called ‘rain scald’. Mud fever tends to occur during wet and muddy months since the skin has no time to dry, and is caused by bacteria such as Dermatophilus. However, it is often caused by a combination of factors, all of which need to be addressed for treatment to be effective.

So how would we treat this on the yard?

It is important to wash the affected area with dilute hibiscrub, using warm water softens the skin and allows scabs to be removed easily. Once the legs have been thoroughly dried, creams such as Flamazine create a protective and moisturising barrier to help heal the skin.

Prevention is important, especially in horses prone to getting mud fever. Horses that live out 24 hours a day are most likely to get this condition, so bring them in frequently to dry and brush the legs. For horses with recurrent episodes, applying a barrier cream to combat moisture, such as Vaseline, will act as a good preventative measure. It is important to check horses often for mud fever scabs to allow prompt treatment. This reduces the severity of the dermatitis and can prevent cases from becoming more serious and developing a cellulitis.