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Horses Mud Fever / Greasy Heel

Horses Mud Fever / Greasy Heel

Horse Fever

Types Of Mud Fever Supplements & How To Choose The Right?

Mud fever, or, alternatively, greasy heel is an ailment that affects the lower limbs of horses and ponies. Bacteria and/or fungi can enter through the hooves, which is an often occurrence in mild, wet weather. As with any disease, prevention is often the best form of cure, and for mud fever, creating a barrier between the hooves and the ground will be most viable. The barrier can either be a horseshoe, a liquid cream or a powder variant of the cream. Keeping the horse’s limbs dry to minimize risk of infection vigilantly is pertinent.

However, when it comes to treating an existing condition of mud fever, proper care and technique is of utmost importance. Horse skin is extremely sensitive, and it will become sore and inflamed very quickly. Sores and scabs with lesions and yellow discharge may also develop, if accelerated. Here, it is important to know what you are treating, as mud fever is a complex disease, with different treatments for different stages of the disease. Proper veterinary consultation will help ease both the horse’s ache and, subsequently, our myriad worries.

Types of Treatments

  • Depending on the source of the disease and its severity, your vet may clean the infected area and remove scabs.
  • If the source is bacterial, antibiotic supplements will be given.
  • There might also be soaked washes, which should be trod upon carefully, as a wash in damp weather might cause more harm than good. The infected area must be as dry as possible at all times – especially after a soaked wash.
  • Barrier creams and lotions, preferably antibacterial, act as supplements which can help in treatment.
  • Wrapping the limbs in clear, dry bandages firmly, while also allowing for blood circulation would be very beneficial.

Proper care at all times, but especially in the cold along with regular health check-ups at the vet will result in the most effective prevention of mud fever. It will the safety and good health of your horse’s limbs.

author avatar
Filippa Friis
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