Mud fever treatments and natural remedies

What causes mud fever in horses?

Mud fever refers to a range of skin reactions due to many different irritants, but essentially mud fever is normally an infectious ‘bug’ which damages the horses skin and tends to thrive in wet and muddy conditions, often flaring up if there are warmer conditions.

In fact, 'rain scald', 'greasy heel' and 'mud fever' are essentially the same skin condition, and are caused by the same bacterium, Dermatophilus congolensis, which thrives in wet, muddy conditions and causes skin infection, inflammation, and scabs on the horse's legs (mud fever), pasterns (greasy heel), or back, neck, hindquarters and even ears (rain scald).

Once the skin is damaged, things can get worse. Dermatophilus congolensis behaves like both a bacteria and a fungus, producing zoospores that penetrate skin (easpecially when it its softened by rain, grazes or mites) - then fungus organisms and secondary bacteria such as Staphylococcus can also invade the damaged skin, complicating the skin infection.

There are various bacteria that cause mud fever (also called pastern dermatitis), and a range of possible factors that contribute to horses getting mud fever such as bacteria in soils, excessive sunlight on some horses pink skin, excessive wet and muddy conditions, excessive washing and poor gut health can all potentially irritate or compromise the horse's skin resulting in mud fever.

As with many equine health issues, prevention of mud fever is the best cure!

Ensuring your horse has good nutrition and all the minerals and vitamins they need is key, as well as a good equine gut health supplement to keep their immune system strong. Choose nutritional supplements designed to address mineral and vitamin deficiencies and boost gut health - this should improve your horses skin and coat condition, which may help prevent mud fever.

Ideally, keeping your horse's legs clean and out of the wet mud is also very helpful, but not always realistic.

Many horses with mud fever issues can reach a point where it no longer troubles them, but it takes time.

How do I care for a horse with mud fever?

It is vital to clean the legs, softening the mud fever scabs that may have formed. A mud fever shampoo can help as they have antibacterial qualities.

Thoroughly dry the legs, with a clean dry towel,  and then apply your mud fever treatment.  It is really important to be vigilant, as what can start as small crack like sores that are uncomfortable, can spread resulting in an acute inflammatory reaction, with swollen legs and resulting lameness.

In general it is important to keep your horse’s legs clean, and keep an eye out for any skin irritation, especially during winter.

If you can be aware of mud fever in the early stages and be vigilant about cleaning, drying the legs and treating the affected areas daily, you may save you a visit from the vet. However if symptoms do not improve, or your horses leg swell, please do consult your vet immediately.

Look out for little bumps, inconsistencies, and anything out of the normal. Each case of mud fever can be a little different!

Over the years we have helped numerous people care for their horses and we have a list of favourite mud fever remedies and products for prevention of mud fever.

Mud fever treatments, shampoos and supplements we recommend

We've made a collection of mud fever products we have seen good results from, along with supplements to support good immunity and whole-horse wellbeing, and antibacterial shampoos for mud fever prevention and treatment. Note - We also included some hoof care products designed to help combat thrush, as this often arises in the same bad weather!

We’re happy to talk to you if you’d like to come on in to the store, or call before ordering. Contact our team. 

Of course, we are not vets, and this information is based on our own experience of which mud fever products have the best results, and valuable feedback from our customers at HorseSports. We hope it is helpful, but for advice on any serious cases of mud fever, we do recommend that you speak with your vet promptly. There are situations where antibiotics are required.