Managing mud fever

Equine pododermatitis requires careful and thorough treatment, and is exacerbated by damp or wet conditions, says Dr Mac.

- Dr Mac

Recently, due to heavy rainfall this season, horse owners and veterinarians have been seeing many cases of equine pododermatitis (‘mud fever’), an inflammation of the skin on the back of the pastern (between the fetlock and hoof).

The first signs of this condition is a reddening of the skin. The horse may also show mild lameness. Scales and scabs develop on the affected area with time. Washing the area or rubbing in cortisone ointment may worsen the condition. It is more common in draught horses with long feathers around the hoof, as these can become very tangled, wet and muddy.

In these horses, this condition is sometimes called ‘greasy heel’. Mud fever is very common in horses with white socks and hooves, particularly on their hind legs. If untreated, the legs can swell. The lesions are also very painful to the touch, and so are often difficult to treat.