Mud Fever

If you’re one of the dubiously lucky ones to live in Vancouver, or a similarly rain afflicted city, you and your horse are probably not strangers to mud fever ;)

Mud fever (aka Scratches, Rain Rot, Mud Rash, etc.) is a type of skin infection most commonly affecting the hollows of horses’ pasterns and heel areas.

Without going into specific medical details, mud fever is generally found in horses exposed to a persistently wet or muddy environment.  It presents with crusty scabs which may make the underlying skin quite sensitive.

In most cases, owners can treat this condition themselves.  However, if the horses’ legs are swollen or the horse is lame, owner’s should certainly consider contacting their vet.   To treat mud fever, remove all scabs (to make this easier on the horse you can first try soaking the affected area in warm soapy water).  Once the affected area is cleared of scabs and dried, treat with an anti-bacterial lotion.

Prevention:

·         Clip any long hairs (feathers) as they will hold moisture close to the horses skin

·         Keep horses in as dry an area as possible.  Rotate winter pastures to minimize mud.

·         When dealing with muddy legs, it’s preferable to let them dry and then brush the mud away but if you must hose them off, be sure to dry them afterwards.

·         Spray potentially affected areas with a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and baby oil after cleaning.  The baby oil will moisturize the skin, preventing it from cracking.  The vinegar will change the pH value of the skin, making it less hospitable to bacteria.