I think it is important to rotate paddocks so they don’t become such mud holes. Some horses are more prone to infection particularly if their immune system is poor. I do think white legged horses seem to be more difficult to treat (they are sensitive to medications), but I am not sure they get it more often. I do not think any horse should just stand in a mud hole days on end, but I have seen plenty who did and never got mud fever. We put heavy mulch or some real fine stone (I mean fine not a foot bruiser) at the fronts of paddocks and around water holes so they are not sliding into gates or deep in mud. I don’t like to clip or shave the hair in these situations because we all know how itchy the skin is when hair is growing in, and I do think it can complicate the situation. In some cases it does have to be cut (I usually use scissors) so you can treat the area (keep it clean and allow the medication to be applied to the appropriate area). It is important to clean and dry the area before treating and not use any harsh products (like bleach…alcohol) on the area. I like to use Kirk’s Castile soap. You can rinse with saline, witch hazel or even white vinegar and then dry (daub it dry not rough dry) then the treatment.

I have had success with some sulfur based creams, St Fransis Skin Lotion is a sulfur based rinse that worked in most cases. Once we had a horse that did not respond to anything but nolvasan and crushed aspirin mixed in it. I read online where they combine equal parts furaseptin, DMSO & fenbendazole (Safeguard &/or panacure wormer) I haven’t used this one myself. I have used the athlete’s foot creams and the yeast infection creams (yes, it is true) on a few successful cases but not a lot. My vet made a mix of Adolph’s meat tenderizer and Vita A&D& E ointments. It worked on quite a few. Probably the one I go for first is Captan powder (Captan fungicide is a micro-fine wettable powder for fruits and vegs) I mix it with water and make a paste for the heels and ankle area. If it is on the body like rain rot, I mix it in cup and sponge it on. I have even mixed it in triple antiobiotic and applied it to the infected area, especially if it is real scabby and I want to gently remove the scabs. Some of these cases have matted hair and pussy infected scabs, and I do not like to go in there scrubbing them off because I think this is a setback. I like to soften the scabs so they just wipe off. When I have these cases, I will put the cream on and breathable gauze bandages around it for a day or two until the scabs soften and remove easily. Then I just start daubing the Captan solution on the area several times a day and leave the leg open (no bandages). If you do not start to see improvements then try something else because this is going to get worse. If there is swelling in the legs then call a vet.

I do think applying zinc oxide or Desiden (before the scratches) can help prevent Mud Fever or Scratches. Some horse get them in grassy fields when there is persistent heavy dew so any cream that helps repel water from the leg will help in these cases.