Mud fever - Greasy Heal - Pastern Dermatitis - being the correct term- can be frustrating to treat and does require ongoing management. The following protocol is used in our Vet Clinic. Our HoneyPro Vet MudFever Balm has been developed in our clinic and is highly effective in treating and managing Mudfever.
As much as possible keep the animal in dry yard or paddock. Continually wet skin won't be helpful. Use protective boots if necessary to keep legs dry.
Materials required: towelling (tear old towels into hand-washer size pieces), Chlorhexidine, warm water.
Clip as much hair away from the site as possible. This is important - long hair will harbour bacteria.
Remove all crusty debris by pressing area gently with towelling soaked in warm water and Chlorhexidine 5%.
DO NOT RUB the area - this can be painful. Just press and hold for several minutes.
It may take several days soaking to remove all debris. Just soak as much as horse tolerates, then repeat next day. Discard towelling after use.
Dry thoroughly by pressing gently with dry towel. Discard towel after use.
When skin is dry again, apply a thick layer of HoneyPro Mudfever Balm. Repeat daily as required until healed and use as often as necessary to prevent reoccurrence.
Observe where the horse contracts the disease i.e. which paddock? As the disease has a fungal/bacterial aetiology - organisms that are soil and plant associated - shifting to a different paddock may prevent infections reoccurring, depending on the soil and pasture species present.
In the photos below: scabs have been removed; skin has been washed and dry to leave only pink skin; preferably clip all long hair away if horse tolerates clipping; balm is applied to DRY skin.
Boots can be worn over the balm if it is impossible to keep horse out of wet paddocks. However preferably leave open to air.
Use daily to treat as as often as necessary to prevent reoccurence.
Extremely painful or badly infected skin may need dermal antibiotic treatment initially, as well.
