Horse Mud Fever: Skin Protection and Welfare Management

Mud fever is a painful bacterial skin infection of the lower legs in horses caused by wet, muddy conditions and requiring prompt treatment and environmental management.

Key Facts

Mud fever, also called pastern dermatitis, is caused primarily by Dermatophilus congolensis and sometimes Staphylococcus species
The condition begins when skin integrity is compromised by prolonged exposure to wet and muddy conditions
Affected legs show crusting, matted hair, swelling, heat, and lameness in more severe cases
Light-colored legs with less pigment are particularly susceptible, as pigmented skin provides greater resistance to infection
Heavy horses including Clydesdales and Shires are especially vulnerable due to the feathering on their lower legs that holds moisture
Removal of scabs, while necessary for treatment, is painful and must be done carefully with appropriate analgesia
Prevention through pasture management to reduce mud exposure is more effective than repeated treatment
Photosensitization can mimic or complicate mud fever, requiring investigation of underlying liver disease or toxic plant ingestion

Welfare Considerations

Mud fever causes genuine suffering through painful, inflamed skin and lameness that can prevent normal movement. The removal of scabs necessary for effective treatment is painful, and many horses become head-shy and difficult to handle around their legs due to the pain they associate with care of the affected area. Chronic or recurrent mud fever causes persistent pain through the wet season and can lead to permanent skin damage and lymphedema. Horses kept in chronically muddy conditions without management experience repeated painful episodes unnecessarily. Prevention through pasture rotation, sacrifice paddocks, and proper leg drying after wet exposure is both kinder and more cost-effective than treating established infections.

What You Can Do

Establish sacrifice paddocks or winter holding areas to reduce continuous exposure to deep mud
Dry horses legs thoroughly after wet work or turnout in muddy fields, using clean towels
Apply barrier creams to vulnerable lower legs before muddy turnout, particularly on pink-skinned horses
Treat mud fever promptly at first signs; early treatment is less painful and more effective than delayed intervention
Clip feathered horses in winter to allow inspection and drying of leg skin that would otherwise trap moisture