Horse Mud Fever: Skin Infection, Suffering, and Prevention

Mud fever (pastern dermatitis) is a painful skin condition common in horses kept in wet, muddy conditions. Prevention and early treatment are key to protecting horse welfare.

Key Facts

Mud fever is caused primarily by the bacterium Dermatophilus congolensis, often alongside other organisms including Staphylococcus spp.
It affects the lower limbs, particularly the pasterns and heels, where skin becomes softened and abraded by prolonged moisture and mud.
Signs include matted, crusty scabs, weeping sores, heat, swelling, and lameness in severe cases.
Grey horses and those with feathered legs (Clydesdales, Shires) are particularly susceptible.
Prevention focuses on managing wet pasture, providing dry standing areas, and keeping legs dry and clean.
Treatment involves removing scabs (which is painful), topical antibacterial and antifungal preparations, and sometimes systemic antibiotics.
Chronic or neglected mud fever can lead to severe cellulitis, lymphedema, and permanent leg swelling.

Welfare Considerations

Mud fever causes significant pain and discomfort in affected horses. The lesions are painful to touch, and the process of scab removal for treatment — though necessary — is acutely painful without analgesia. Horses with lameness from severe mud fever cannot exercise normally and are further compromised in welfare terms. Chronic cases can result in permanent disfigurement and ongoing pain. Welfare failures are often associated with inadequate turnout management — overstocked, poorly drained pastures where horses cannot avoid prolonged exposure to mud. Prevention through good field and stable management is far more welfare-positive than repeated treatment cycles. Owners should monitor hindlimbs and lower legs daily during wet seasons and act early at the first signs of scabbing.

What You Can Do

Provide dry standing areas (rubber matting, hardcore surfaces, or sacrifice paddocks) to reduce mud exposure.
Check your horse's lower legs daily during wet weather and treat early at the first signs of mud fever.
Allow legs to dry naturally before cleaning; avoid over-washing, which removes protective skin oils.
Use barrier products (petroleum jelly, zinc-based creams) on clean, dry legs to prevent moisture penetration.
Consult your vet for appropriate topical and systemic treatment, and ask about pain relief during scab removal.
Manage pasture rotation to prevent poaching (churning) around gates, water troughs, and feeding areas.