How to treat mud fever in horses?

or blood samples to determine the exact cause or the presence of any underlying pathologies. One example of an underlying condition is equine leukocytoclastic vasculitis best diagnosed by biopsy.
How is it treated?
It can be difficult to catch mud fever early. But careful investigation of your horses legs at least once a day will help to spot any signs. It can be difficult to perform a thorough check in the dark damp winter nights. But early diagnosis and prompt treatment will greatly improve success rates. 
In the first instance consult your vet who will confirm the diagnosis. They will be able to advise and start treatment as necessary.
Changing the environment is the first and most important step It is imperative that affected legs are kept clean and dry in order to treat the condition. This can be extremely challenging when stabling or hard standing is not available. Clipping away feathers and thick hair coat will help to allow the skin and lesions to dry Remember skin cannot heal easily while damp contaminated hair is present. Many of these cases are extremely painful which can make clipping an agonising and potentially dangerous task. In these situations it may be necessary for your vet to attend to provide appropriate analgesia and sedation if necessary. In some cases it may be necessary to start treatment with an aim to make the horse comfortable enough to tolerate clipping. If you do clip your horse remember that the clippers will become contaminated with bacteria from the scabs. Please ensure that you disinfect them between horses. One of the main aims of treatment is to remove the scabs from the skin As previously mentioned scab removal can be extremely painful for the horse. In these cases covering the legs with an antimicrobial thick oilbased cream and allowing this to soak in will help to remove the offending scabs. It is very helpful to cover the legs with cling film under a layer of stable bandage to allow the cream to penetrate overnight. Once the cream has been given adequate time to penetrate and loosen the scabs they can be removed more easily by wiping the skin with a clean disposable cloth. It is important to dispose of this cloth after every use as it will be heavily contaminated with bacteria. It is also advisable to disinfect the surrounding area once the treatment is completed this is to avoid