Mud Fever

This is a bacterial infection affecting the heels and pasterns. It causes scabs, lameness, sores and inflammation and is brought on by excessively muddy or dirty conditions. The skin around the heels and pasterns lose their ability to protect against the wet and mud from prolonged exposure. The bacteria within the soil then infects the skin and causes scabs to form.

It is best to keep back the long hair around the heel and pasterns so that any mud can be seen and can dry more quickly. Antiseptic washes help to clean the area and fight the infection, lifting off the scabs. Barrier creams will also help to keep the infection from penetrating.  Rotate their paddocks and fence-off any particularly wet and muddy areas in the fields.