What is mud fever and can blue light really help?
Mud fever, also known as pastern dermatitis or cracked heels, is a common non-contagious skin condition that affects horses, particularly during the wet and muddy winter months.
<< What to look out for >>
Redness and inflammation: The skin appears red, swollen, and warm to the touch.
Scabs and crusting: Lesions develop, forming scabs and crusts that may ooze a yellowish or greenish discharge.
Itchiness and discomfort: Affected areas may be itchy, causing the horse to rub or stomp its legs.
Lameness: In severe cases, lameness may occur due to pain and discomfort.
<< What's the solution? >>
Ultimately, prevention is better than cure, so keep a close eye on your horses skin to ensure you spot problems early. Treat underlying problems such as mites or infection. It's also really important to keep the affected area clean and dry - which can be a challenge as we all know!
<< 5 ways to help your horse >>
Consider restricting turnout, or providing shelter to give your horse time out from the muddy conditions.
Clean affected areas gently, using a mild antiseptic, and once dry, use your preferred cream to moisturise and protect sore areas.
Apply a barrier cream to help protect your horses heels when they return to the field. If stabled, you can bandage the affected area to keep it clean and dry.
In more severe cases your vet may need to prescribe antibiotics, antifungals, or anti-inflammatory medications to combat infection and reduce inflammation.
Finally, use #OptimusLumina blue light therapy to kill surface bacteria and help your horse heal!
Blue light is an incredible tool in the fight against bacteria. With a wavelength of 470 nanometers, Lumina is able to painlessly kill pathogens on the surface of the skin. What's more it's safe and easy for you to use with your horse - just a few minutes of blue light focused on the affected area will help the healing process.
