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

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

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 we recommend

Mud fever products we have seen good results from include (in no particular order):

• Fix It Cream SPF25 (NZ made) works great for sunburn and scab healing too
• Equine Care Probiotics (NZ made)
• Nettex Surgical Scrub
• Vet Pro Fungal shampoo or the VetPro Mud Fever Packs which include an anti fungal cleansing wash, anti-bacterial gel and Equifix
• Muddy Marvell Barrier Cream
• Keratex Mud Shield

Antibacterial shampoos for mud fever prevention and treatment include:

• Nettex Tea Tree Shampoo
• Anidine PVP Wash

These natural products are designed to address mineral and vitamin deficiencies to improve horses skin and coat condition, which may help prevent mud fever:

• Poseidon Animal Health Digestive EQ or RP for gut health support
• Four Flax Oil Skin and Coat for high omegas
• Hira Immune Tonic
• Elite Equine Compete

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.

What causes mud fever in horses?

Mud fever refers to a range of skin reactions due to many different irritants. But it is an infectious ‘bug’ which tends to thrive in wet and muddy  conditions.

There are many factors, such as possible bacteria in some soils,  excessive sunlight on some horses pink skin, excessive wet and muddy conditions, and in fact excessive washing can all  be  potential irritants that compromise the skin resulting in mud fever.

HorseTalk shared a detailed article about the various bacteria that cause mud fever (also called pastern dermatitis), and a range of additional possible factors.

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.