Mud fever is a painful skin condition affecting the lower legs of horses in wet conditions, requiring careful management to prevent chronic suffering.
Mud fever causes significant pain that can reduce a horse's willingness to bear weight on affected legs. The removal of scabs during treatment - while necessary for recovery - is acutely painful and must be approached with care and appropriate pain relief. Horses with severe or chronic pastern dermatitis suffer from persistent lameness, swelling, and the anxiety associated with handling of sensitive areas. Prevention through pasture management, barrier protection, and prompt treatment of early cases dramatically reduces welfare harm. Horses kept in permanently muddy conditions are at ongoing welfare risk, and rotational grazing or designated sacrifice paddocks should be considered in high-risk environments.