How to Treat Mud Fever in Horses

There are a number of mud fever remedies available, but many horse owners aren’t sure how to treat mud fever in horses. Mud fever is a very common, but stubborn condition for horse owners to deal with. Furthermore, some methods for treating mud fever in horses can actually make the condition worse if they are not used properly. This blog outlines how to treat mud fever in horses.

Note: It is important to always seek veterinary advice, particularly if you are unsure or if your horse has swollen, hot legs or is lame.

Tips for treating mud fever in horses:

• Treat mud fever early – it won’t go away on its own
• Keep your horse’s legs clean and dry
• Carefully remove the scabs
• Apply an antiseptic treatment 

Treat Mud Fever Early

Ideally, you want to prevent mud fever from occurring in the first place. However, early detection and treatment is vital if you are to get the situation under control quickly. Symptoms of mud fever include sores and scabs on the horse’s lower legs, discharge, and hair loss in the affected area. Mud fever can remain hidden underneath hairy or feathered legs, so be sure to check your horse’s legs daily. 

Keep Your Horse’s Legs Clean and Dry

Keeping your horse’s legs clean and dry is just as important for treating mud fever as it is for preventing it. Don’t wash your horse’s legs every day, because this is likely to make the problem worse. Ideally, keep your horse stabled or at least away from the worst of the mud. Allow the mud to dry before brushing it off. If you do decide to wash your horse’s legs, be sure to dry the legs completely afterwards (pat the legs dry instead of rubbing them to avoid making the irritation worse). 

Carefully Remove the Scabs

Scabs must be slowly and carefully removed in order to treat mud fever. Soak the scabs first in order to soften them before removing them. This is likely to be very uncomfortable for your horse so be careful so as to avoid causing undue stress to your horse or injury to yourself. Keep the area clean and allow exposure to air to promote natural healing where possible. 

Apply Antiseptic Treatment

Antiseptic treatments in the form of creams and ointments can be used to kill bacteria and keep the affected area clean. There are a range of products on the market, as well as from your vet.

Use Kyowave Mud Fever Boots

For an innovative and effective alternative mud fever boot, look no further than our Kyowave mud fever boots. Our mud fever boots use blue light therapy to target and destroy the bacteria that cause mud fever. Kyowave allows horse owners to combat mud fever without the fuss. Our Kyowave mud fever boots can be purchased as a single boot or a pair via our shop.