What is Mud Fever?

Mud fever, properly known as pastern dermatitis, is a common problem for horses during the wet, muddy winter months. Also known as greasy heel or cracked heels, mud fever can be very uncomfortable for the horse and difficult to treat. This blog article covers the causes of mud fever, symptoms of mud fever and how to treat mud fever in horses. 

What is Mud Fever?

Mud fever is a skin condition that tends to affect the horse’s lower legs in wet, muddy conditions. Prolonged exposure to wet conditions weakens and damages the skin’s protective outer layer, which allows bacteria to enter. Fungal and mite infections can also cause mud fever, with feathered legs being especially prone to leg mites. Mud fever usually occurs on the pastern. However, it can be well-hidden in feathered legs so it’s always a good idea to check regularly. 

Symptoms

Mud fever is usually easier to treat when it is spotted early. Therefore, it’s important to check your horse’s legs daily. Mud fever symptoms are distinctive and include damaged skin, scabs and lesions. 

There is often a thick white, yellow or green discharge between the skin and the scabs. Matted or missing hair with raw skin underneath may also be present. There may also be heat or swelling in the affected area, and in severe cases the horse may also be lame. Mud fever can be uncomfortable or even painful. Consequently, the horse may not tolerate the area being touched.

Treatments

Firstly, it is important to contact your vet, especially if your horse hasn’t had mud fever before.

There are a range of mud fever products on the market, including various creams and ointments available from tack shops and on prescription from your vet. Treatment usually involves washing the affected area with Hibiscrub, carefully removing the scabs and applying barrier cream. 

In order to work properly, the process usually has to be repeated several times. In some cases, the mud fever may even get worse. Furthermore, antimicrobial treatments can increase the potential for antibiotic resistance. That’s why Cryochaps invented Kyowave, the mud fever boots for horses.

Using Kyowave – a new Mud Fever Boot for Horses

Kyowave is a new, innovative product designed by Cryochaps. Using tried and tested blue light technology, Kyowave has been developed to kill bacteria known to cause mud fever in horses. Where traditional treatment methods rely on anti-bacterial creams, Kyowave uses blue light therapy to effectively target and destroy the bacteria that cause mud fever.

Blue light technology is different to traditional methods because it can effectively destroy even antibiotic-resistant bacteria. When tested, Kyowave was shown to provide total bacteria killing against methicillin-resistant MRSA in 30 minutes. 

For best results, gently remove the scabs using Hibiscrub and warm water first. Then, dry and clip the area. Next, apply Kyowave for 30 minutes – simply wrap, strap and switch on. If using an antibiotic cream, apply this afterwards. Repeat daily until the skin stops scabbing and the hair begins to grow back. 

Kyowave mud fever boots for horses are available as a single boot or a pair. Wave goodbye to mud fever this winter. Head to our shop to purchase Kyowave mud fever boots.