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Mud fever is a common condition affecting horses lower limbs; especially the back legs, and particularly if they are white. Occuring mainly during winter months and wet weather due to bacteria that thrives in wet conditions. Nevertheless mud fever and rain scald can occur in summer months with a damp summer leading to wet and hot conditions in which the bacteria love to thrive.
As with any condition, often mud fever can be secondary to other factors such as stress, skin infection or wounds and lowered immune system. In the winter it can result from an infection that allows the bacteria to take hold in the body.
The bacteria enter the body where skin is broken or softened and often puss filled sores develop which lead to scabs. In some cases, the horse may become lame and the leg swollen.
Preventing mud fever in the first instance by boosting your horse’s immune system is preferable, especially if your horse does not get much turn out or access to a variety of herbs which out grazing or hacking. Echinacea, garlic and rosehips are the most common herbs that are selected to boost immunity. Either choose from our dried herb range or give your horse a course of an extra strong E-mmunity from our James Hart range, both will work wonders.
If your horse has mud fever, plantain is an excellent herb for skin and to draw out impurities and toxins from the body.
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