Mud fever, also called pastern dermatitis, causes ulcers and scabs on horses’ legs. It frequently affects pink-skinned horses and appears as red, painful skin regions, which might be lumpy or weeping areas, most typically on the lower limbs, although any leg might be affected. When left untreated, mud fever may have severe consequences if an infection spreads up the leg via the injured skin, creating cellulitis, a painful illness.
Furthermore, Dermatophilus congolensis, a bacteria in the environment, causes mud fever. Wet, injured skin supplies the germs with an excellent damp habitat to flourish. When an infection grows, the skin becomes extremely itchy, further damaging the skin’s outer skin barrier and allowing more bacteria to enter the skin.