Can Horses Get Mud Fever in Summer?

Posted on April 6, 2022 by Categories: Kyowave
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Summer is fast approaching. For many horse owners, the warmer weather brings welcome relief from the dreaded mud fever. This stubborn and frustrating condition is much less prevalent in the summer, but that doesn’t mean it goes away completely. This blog article explores the question: Can Horses Get Mud Fever in Summer?

What is Mud Fever?

Firstly, we should address the core issue of what mud fever actually is. Also known as pastern dermatitis, mud fever is a skin infection usually caused by bacteria. Wet, muddy conditions can cause and aggravate damaged skin. Bacteria enters the skin through damaged areas and open wounds, resulting in the symptoms we recognise as mud fever. Typical mud fever symptoms include scabs and sore patches, usually on the lower legs.

Summer Mud Fever in Horses

Whilst mud fever is a condition mainly seen during the winter months, it can also occur in the summer. A wet summer that results in boggy fields can have the same effect as winter weather. Whilst horses are less likely to wear turnout boots during the summer, they may be wearing exercise boots. Boots can rub, resulting in damaged skin. Combine this with a prolonged spell of wet weather and you have a potential case of mud fever.

Rain Scald and Dew Burn

Rain scald, also known and dew burn, is caused by the same bacteria that causes mud fever. These conditions are often seen in April, when heavy, intermittent rainfall is combined with higher humidity. Whilst rain scald mainly affects the horse’s neck and back, dew burn is often found on the lower legs. 

Horse owners are always relieved when the first signs of spring emerge in late March and early April, but with this comes highly changeable weather. Drizzle and downpours can occur several times in an otherwise warm and sunny day. This makes it much harder for horse owners to adapt their management practices. As horses come back into work after the winter off, they are more likely to be wearing exercise boots, which can rub. Sweating can also cause skin irritation, which can in turn leave a horse vulnerable to dew burn or rain scald. 

Kyowave Mud Fever Boots for Horses

As much as we look forward to the milder conditions of spring and summer, it may not quite be time to turn your Kyowave mud fever boots away for the season! Kyowave mud fever boots by Cryochaps are a tried, tested and effective in killing bacteria known to cause mud fever and dew burn on the horse’s fetlock area. Purchase Kyowave today and be ready to beat those rainy summers!