What can you do about mud fever?

How do you treat mud fever? If your best efforts don't succeed and your horse does get mud fever, it's still really important to try to keep their legs dry. You'll need to wash the affected leg(s) with a warm, very dilute Hibiscrub solution – 0.1% solution is recommended – and rinse it off fully with warm, clean water.

1. How do you deal with mud fever?
2. Can you cure mud fever?
3. How do you get rid of a mud rash?
4. How do you prevent mud fever in horses?
5. How do you get rid of mud fever fast?
6. What is a natural remedy for mud fever?
7. Should you pick mud fever scabs?
8. Is mud fever painful?
9. Is mud fever bacterial or fungal?
10. Can mud fever make a horse lame?
11. Is udder cream good for mud fever?
12. Can mud fever cause swelling?
13. Should you wash mud off horses legs?
14. Do feathers protect against mud fever?
15. Is laminitis fatal in horses?

How do you deal with mud fever?

Treating Mud Fever

Washing with dilute chlornexidine, rinsing and drying the skin and application of antibacterial cream often helps too. The scabs and crusts can be debrided if possible. The scabs will fall off after a few days of treatment and care must be taken not to cause further trauma.

Can you cure mud fever?

Treatment varies depending on the cause of the mud fever. There are many treatments available and no one is a “cure-all”. The basis is to treat any underlying conditions such as mite infection or contact allergy, remove infection and allow the skin's natural barrier to heal.

How do you get rid of a mud rash?

If your horse develops scabs, scrub the legs with warm water and a diluted antiseptic such as Hibiscrub, iodine or Malaseb (dog shampoo). Work it into a lather and then leave on for 10-15 minutes to allow contact time for the antiseptic to kill the bacteria. Sometimes you need to soak the leg to loosen the scabs.

How do you prevent mud fever in horses?

If you're unable or not keen on keeping your horses in, turnout boots are a great preventative measure. Designed to offer protection from heel to knee (or hock), these form a physical barrier against mud and water. Always apply turnout boots to clean and dry legs to avoid chafing.

How do you get rid of mud fever fast?

How do you treat mud fever? If your best efforts don't succeed and your horse does get mud fever, it's still really important to try to keep their legs dry. You'll need to wash the affected leg(s) with a warm, very dilute Hibiscrub solution – 0.1% solution is recommended – and rinse it off fully with warm, clean water.

What is a natural remedy for mud fever?

Some people find washing the legs really useful for helping to avoid mud fever taking hold, and others find it doesn't help! Gently washing with warm water (not cold or too hot) will help soften scabs without damaging the skin. Using a natural shampoo - like Aloe Vera can be helpful to cleanse and moisturise the skin.

Should you pick mud fever scabs?

Any loose scabs may be gently removed, but scabs should not be forcibly removed unless advised by your vet. Clean the affected area at least twice a day using a mild disinfectant, such as dilute Hibiscrub, then rinse with water and pat the leg dry with a clean towel.

Is mud fever painful?

Left untreated, mud fever can develop into costly complications if an infection travels up the leg through the damaged skin, causing a painful condition known as cellulitis.

Is mud fever bacterial or fungal?

'Mud-fever' as we will call it, goes by many different terms such as; rain scald (or rain rot), equine dermatitis, scratches or greasy heel. It is a collective term for what is essentially a bacterial, and in some cases fungal, infection that causes irritation and inflammation of the skin.

Can mud fever make a horse lame?

Although there may be some discomfort due to the inflammation, these horses normally do not go lame from mud fever. More susceptible horses can be badly affected, however. Mud fever can lead to deep tissue infection (cellulitis) which causes swelling of the limb, pain and lameness.

Is udder cream good for mud fever?

If you do have to put your horse out, put Vaseline or udder cream onto the area as it will act as a barrier to the mud. There are numerous creams that can be applied once the affected area has been cleaned and dried thoroughly.

Can mud fever cause swelling?

The legs, more commonly hindlimbs, affected with mud fever can become swollen and the skin can look inflamed (reddened), this can make the horse very uncomfortable and sensitive over the affected areas. Scabs may appear on the legs, which may ooze serum or bleed when removed. Hair loss can also occur.

Should you wash mud off horses legs?

A good place to start is to avoid washing your horse's legs as much as you can. We know it is tempting but it may be a good idea to wait for mud to dry by itself and brush it off. You can try to waterproof the legs before turning out or riding in wet conditions.

Do feathers protect against mud fever?

Feathers actually protect the heel from mud fever as it stops the mud ever making contact with the skin. As the others said, remember to brush the mud off when dry.

Is laminitis fatal in horses?

Laminitis is a deadly disease. Find out why—and learn the steps you should take to protect your horse from falling prey to this devastating condition.