Oakhill Veterinary Centre https://www.oakhill-vets.com/equine/mud-fever/ Export date: Thu Apr 25 7:03:02 2024 / +0000 GMT |
Winter Series: Mud FeverMud fever, also known as greasy heel syndrome but correctly termed pastern dermatitis, is an infection of the skin usually of the pastern.
The bacteria causing the infection can be from the environment or living on the skin itself and will gain entry due to an injury to the skin surface. It more commonly affects white socked legs, as the skin's immune function of these areas is reduced. In minor cases it may present as just a few scabs, however, it can spread above the fetlock, occur concurrently with cellulitis, or leg filling, and be openly bleeding.
Although it can have a typical appearance sometimes a vet visit is needed to rule out other conditions and to identify predisposing factors.
The skins integrity is weakened by continuous wetting of the skin and rubbing from mud meaning it is a problem commonly seen in Winter. However, it may not just be wet and muddy conditions that are causing the problem........
To rule out these conditions it may be necessary to take blood samples or biopsies to determine if one of these are involved.
In order to treat Mud Fever you may need to treat the underlying cause. Sometimes a thorough antibacterial cleaning and removal of scabs is needed, under sedation, so that topical antibacterial, steroidal and protectant creams can be applied directly onto the damaged skin. In some cases when associated with cellulitis or more widespread infection of the leg systemic antibiotics may be needed.
The deliberation is always; do you wash the mud off your horses legs or do you brush it off when dry ?? In our opinion neither is superior. If you are to wash your horses legs they need to be thoroughly dried and if there is already some mud fever present avoid wetting the leg further.
If you are concerned about Mud Fever in your horse, please call us on 01772 861300
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Post date: 2018-11-01 17:50:58 Post date GMT: 2018-11-01 17:50:58 Post modified date: 2022-06-21 14:12:19 Post modified date GMT: 2022-06-21 13:12:19 |
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