Horse Mud Fever Recurrence: Prevention Through Pasture Management

Mud fever is a recurring condition in wet conditions; effective prevention requires both pasture management and skin barrier protection.

Key Facts

Mud fever (pastern dermatitis) is caused by skin maceration in wet mud followed by bacterial infection, typically Dermatophilus congolensis.
Skin barrier-disrupting factors include excessive washing, feather clipping, and rough pasture surfaces.
Prevention centres on reducing prolonged skin contact with mud and wet conditions.
Sacrificial paddocks, track systems, and hardstanding areas provide mud-free turnout alternatives.
Barrier creams (zinc oxide, Stockholm tar preparations) reduce skin maceration in horses that must stand in wet conditions.
Some horses have underlying skin conditions (chorioptic mange, pemphigus foliaceus) that predispose to recurrence.

Welfare Considerations

Mud fever causes painful skin lesions with scab formation, swelling, and reluctance to bear weight in severe cases. Recurrent cases cause prolonged suffering through repeated inflammatory cycles. Preventive pasture management — reducing mud exposure — is more effective than repeated treatment. Horses with recurrent cases despite management should be evaluated for underlying skin conditions that create predisposition.

What You Can Do

Establish a sacrifice paddock or track system to provide turnout without deep mud exposure.
Apply barrier cream to heels and pasterns before turnout during wet weather.
Avoid excessive washing of lower legs — allow to dry and brush off mud rather than washing repeatedly.
Seek veterinary investigation if mud fever recurs despite adequate management — underlying conditions may be present.