by L Hurley

Created on: November 21, 2010

Greasy heel, also known as mud fever, is a painful skin infection in horses caused by bacteria. It generally occurs in winter when paddocks are wet and the horse’s lower legs tend to become mud caked.

The condition is most often seen on the lower hind legs but can also affect the forelegs and spread further up the leg. Named for the responsible bacterium, Dermatophilous congolensis, the scientific name for the infection is dermatophilosis.

Not all horses that are confined to wet, muddy paddocks in winter will contract greasy heel. The bacteria must be present for the infection to occur. Your horse may give you the first sign that they have been infected without the need for a close inspection.

Infected horses will often stamp their feet in response to the irritation and pain the condition causes. It will appear similar to summer stamping when biting flies and insects are around. A close inspection of your horse’s lower legs is necessary to confirm greasy heel.

Although the symptoms may vary there is usually swelling and inflammation of the skin. As the condition worsens the skin cracks and weeps pus, the hair falls out in patches and hard scabs appear.

There are three steps to treating greasy heel; cleaning, decrusting and drying. This must be done daily until the infection is completely cured. To clean the affected areas use warm water and an antiseptic shampoo. Iodine based shampoos work well for this purpose.

Underneath the scabs is a moist environment in which the bacteria thrive. The scabs need to be removed gently. It is easiest to do this after they have been softened by the cleaning process. Dispose of the scabs carefully. The bacterium can survive for years, discarding scabs in the paddock or stall will only serve to create future problems.

Once the scabs have been removed dry the area thoroughly with a soft towel and apply a medicated ointment. In severe cases it may be necessary to consult your vet who can prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.

If you have the facilities it is best to stable the horse while it is being treated. If you do not have access to a dry stable with clean bedding, moving your horse to a drier paddock and applying a water barrier cream will help.

Limiting turnout in muddy conditions and keeping your horse’s legs clean and dry are the best way to prevent the infection occurring. If this is not possible daily inspection of your horse’s lower legs will allow you to identify the condition and get on top of it quickly.

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