Horse Mud Fever: Skin Welfare and Prevention in Wet Conditions

Mud fever, also called pastern dermatitis, causes painful skin infection and cracking in horses kept in wet muddy conditions. Prevention through management is more effective than treatment.

Key Facts

Mud fever is caused by opportunistic bacteria, primarily Dermatophilus congolensis, that invade compromised wet skin
The lower legs are most commonly affected, with crusty scabs, swelling, and painful raw skin beneath them
Pink-skinned horses and those with feathering on the lower legs are at higher risk of developing mud fever
The condition is triggered by prolonged skin wetting that softens the skin barrier, allowing bacterial invasion
Treatment involves careful removal of scabs under appropriate pain relief, cleaning, and antibacterial dressings
Horses with significant mud fever can be severely lame due to pain and swelling in affected limbs
Prevention through providing dry standing areas, reducing mud exposure, and maintaining healthy skin barrier is more effective than treatment

Welfare Considerations

Mud fever causes significant pain through raw, cracked skin and associated cellulitis in severe cases. Affected horses may be reluctant to move and show clear pain responses when legs are handled. The welfare burden is compounded by the prolonged treatment required, which involves regular removal of scabs that is painful without appropriate preparation and analgesia. Prevention through providing hardstanding areas away from muddy gateways and feeding points, rotating paddocks to reduce mud concentration, and barrier creams to protect skin is considerably less welfare-compromising than repeated treatment cycles. Horses with chronic mud fever due to consistently poor management face ongoing welfare compromise that reflects inadequate standard of care. Prompt treatment at first signs prevents progression to severe cellulitis requiring systemic antibiotics.

What You Can Do

Provide hardstanding areas in paddocks and near gates to reduce prolonged mud exposure
Apply barrier creams or leg wraps to protect lower legs of horses in high-risk wet conditions
Inspect lower legs daily during muddy conditions and treat early signs promptly
Seek veterinary guidance on pain relief and appropriate cleaning before removing mud fever scabs
Rotate paddocks regularly to prevent excessive mud concentration that increases infection risk