Mud Fever (Pastern dermatitis)

Seek veterinary advice before applying any treatment.

Mud Fever is often caused by bacteria in wet environments. It is a non-contagious skin disease. When the skin softens due to long exposure to wetness, in combination with mud that rubs against and damages it, bacteria can enter. This most often occurs on the lower legs, horses with feathering are more prone to it since the feathering doesn’t dry well and hold on to mud more.

Another cause can be leg mites, which break the skin allowing the bacteria to enter.

Symptoms

Common in

Treatment

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.

Wash the affected leg(s) with a warm, very dilute Hibiscrub solution – 0.1% solution and rinse it off fully with warm, clean water.

Heavily feathered horses will benefit from having their legs clipped.

Other treatments that may be prescribed on a case-by-case basis are Systemic antibiotics; courses can vary from 3 days to 3 weeks.

Topical antibiotics. Pain relief/anti-inflammatories. Mite treatments. Topical or systemic steroids for horses with immune-mediated conditions.

Prevention

Limit the exposure time to wet, muddy environments. Reduce the risk of pastern injury. Dry your horse’s legs after exposure to mud and wetness. In horses with feathering, it can help to clip the feathering during the wet months.