Mud Fever
The time of year is certainly here where mud fever can become a concern for horse owners. Mud Fever occurs during the wet winter months and is principally caused by the bacterium Dermatophilus congolensis. It occurs because we expose our horses to muddy environments that winter months bring. Mud fever is essentially a form of dermatitis which can affect the skin anywhere on the lower limbs, the back and quarters.
All horses can be affected and these areas can be painful swollen and even cause lameness. If horses become severely affected without treatment they can become very painful, lethargic, depressed and have a loss of appetite. Therefore it is very important to prevent mud fever or catch early signs of it. Below are some helpful tips.
Signs of mud fever
Crusty scabs
Small, circular, slightly ulcerated, moist lesions beneath scabs
Yellowish discharge between the skin and overlying scab
The scabs typically have a concave underside with the hair roots protruding
Eventual hair loss leaving raw-looking, inflamed skin underneath
Heat, swelling and pain on pressure on the limb
Preventing mud fever
Ensure bedding is clean, dry and has a good cover on the concrete
Keep horses prone to mud fever out of the rain and mud as much as realistically possible
Avoid over-washing and unnecessary wetting of the skin
Make sure the skin is dry as much as possible. Dry wet skin with a soft towel
Clip away any excess feathering but try to aviod clipping the legs out
If bandaging, ensure limbs are clean and dry first
Periodically disinfect all equipment, gear and stable surfaces, as they could harbour dermatophilus spores
Rotate paddocks to avoid poaching. In particular keep an eye on gateways as horses tend to stand in them and they are usually the wettest part of the field
Remove any scabs carefully without constantly picking at them. Remove with a wash such as Hibiscrub
Treatment of mud fever
There are many treatments for mud fever. But it has to be remembered that with any condition for which there are a large number of possible treatments, it is often because nothing is a guaranteed success. Keeping the skin clean and dry is the basis of preventing and treating the condition.
Environment
The first step is to remove the horse from the cause, eg: the wet and the mud. Stabling undoubtedly helps the situation, however, if the horse is kept in all the time and not exercised, the legs will tend to swell.
If the horse is able to walk out in dry conditions this will always help the process because the blood will then circulate better which will improve the rate of healing.
The horse should be stabled with a clean, dry bed. Dirty bedding will increase the risk of infection.
Scabs
More specific treatment has to penetrate the causal organisms under the scabs, so these must be lifted when ready. Soaking the crusts or scabs in warm soapy water will soften them and make the procedure much less painful for the horse. When the crusts and scabs have been removed the affected skin should be treated with an anti-bacterial solution , such as Hibiscrub, and then left for 5 to 10 minutes. The treated area should then be rinsed then dried with a dry clean towel.
Bandaging
Bandaging an affected limb can be a good way of keeping it clean and dry, but only if the skin has been properly dealt with beforehand, and the correct bandaging technique is used. Bandaging that’s too tight or has moisture trapped underneath can allow an infection to flare up again.
In the early stages, open wounds resulting from the removal of the scabs should be covered with a non-stick dressing applied under cotton wool or gamgee, held in place with bandages. This keeps the lower limb warm, clean and dry; it may help to leave the legs unbandaged for at least an hour a day to allow the area to ‘breathe’.
Creams and treatments
There are numerous topical treatments that can be used as an emollient to maintain hydration of the skin. These include soothing ointments, gels and creams, some of which contain antibiotics. Recent additions to the mudfever range are a dressing impregnated with silver which has been shown to have strong antibacterial properties. Early trials with these products look promising. Your vet will recommend the most suitable for your horse.
Antibiotics
Severe cases with obvious infection often need a long course of antibiotics. These may need to be continued for 7–10 days after the soreness has settled down. Your vet may also prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as phenylbutazone to reduce the pain and swelling.
Mud fever is a difficult condition to treat and it may take many weeks for the lesions to heal completely. If the case is straightforward and the causes are treated or removed, then the disease will usually resolve quickly. While most cases can be resolved, some chronic epidermal scarring and weakening may be left, contributing to a tendency to re-infection. Management changes to help prevent any further problems are worth pursuing. In problem cases your vet might take a blood sample, to check liver function if the dermatitis is limited to white areas of skin only. Be vigilant. The sooner you spot the first tell tale signs of mud fever, the quicker you can take action and so prevent a lengthy, and costly, recovery.
If your horse or pony has a severe case of mud fever – i.e. He has very swollen legs or is lame you should seek advice from your veterinary surgeon who may prescribe Antibiotics.
