Mud fever treatment
Mud fever is a secondary infection with primary causative problem. These could be e.g. sun burned skin (white socks), over softened skin in wet weather and cuts. Mud fever results from situations where the ability of skin to defend from external pathogens is reduced.
Veterinarian can best analyse the comprehensive clinical situation and define the right treatment.
In mud fever there is an overgrowth of microbes on the skin and this can invade the skin tissue due to decreased skin condition. Often the causative microbe is Dermatophilus congolensis, an anaerobic bacteria. In the worst case the bacteria invades into deeper skin tissue and the infection spreads from local to systemic. This can be seen in swelling and warmth, which can lead to cellulitis/lymphangitis.
When topical treatment alone is not sufficient, ask your veterinarian to evaluate the need for systemic antimicrobic medication. Scabs are often seen in mud fever. These scabs are very infective and protects the causative microbe. These scabs are outside the blood circulation and thus not curable by systemic antimicrobic medication. Hence, the scabs require effective topical treatment.
Please note, that vaseline and parafine based products improve the conditions for anaerobic bacteria, which is not desired.
Mud fever is often very painful for the horse and the treatment requires extra cautions and respect for the horses pain. If needed the treatment is started under sedation.