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Mud fever isn't always "just mud fever". We often associate it with fungal or bacterial growth on a horse's legs, leading to mild swelling. However, the swelling might increase, ultimately leaving the horse with a sore and post-like swollen leg. When this happens, it's an indication of an infection that requires penicillin or another antibiotic, and we need to take the situation very seriously. Every year around this time, horses end up with septicemia or worse because their owner either assumes it's just swelling that will go away on its own, or they wait too long to call the vet. Here, we delve into some consequences of bacterial infections.
If your horse is to fully recover from a leg infection, there's only one remedy, and that's antibiotics. In some cases, the horse might even need an extended course to beat the infection. Only a vet should (and must) prescribe penicillin or other antibiotics for your horse, so don't hesitate to call if it suddenly has a swollen leg in the mud.
Also read: Mud fever: Do’s & dont’s – step by step
Lymphangitis is a condition where the lymph vessels get infected and swell. The infection often starts from a tiny tear or wound on the horse's skin, which then turns into mud fever. However, the swelling isn't solely due to inflammation in the vessels, but also fluid build-up. The leg only gets more swollen the longer you wait to treat the horse. The horse can also become lame or trip frequently. If the infection reaches the deeper, larger lymph vessels, a fever might develop. If this occurs, we call the infection "cellulitis". If a bacterial infection isn't treated promptly, the disease can become chronic lymphangitis, also known as elephantiasis.
Staphylococci is essentially a general term for a broad group of bacteria, but we usually refer to the golden ones. Golden staph can cause much more severe infections than other types. Although the infection starts in the skin, in the worst cases, it can spread to internal organs. Since golden staph might be resistant to some types of penicillin, the vet should always closely inspect the bacteria to determine the proper type of penicillin to kill it. Staph infections are spread through direct contact.
Streptococci are often linked to diseases like strangles, which affect the throat's mucous membranes. However, streptococci can also cause skin infections and thus lead to lymphangitis. If a horse gets infected, after treatment ends, it's essential to keep an eye out for symptoms of the lethal condition scarlet fever. Streptococci are spread through airborne droplets like saliva.
If a horse with an infection doesn't get treated in time, the ailment can escalate to life-threatening septicemia. The condition can develop quickly or gradually, anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Symptoms include a bristly coat and chills in the beginning, followed by fluctuating body temperatures from day to day. Some days the horse might have a high fever – other days, none at all. Once a horse gets septicemia, there's no guarantee it will survive. However, with the right treatment, most pull through, although they often suffer significant weight loss and weakness afterwards.
Another fatal complication from a leg infection is tetanus; a condition typically detected after 5-15 days, but thankfully, most horses are vaccinated against it. Signs of tetanus include the horse becoming easily agitated, constipation, and later, difficulty in consuming feed. The gait becomes stiff and painful, and the posture might resemble the rigid stance seen in laminitis. However, if you lift your horse's head and notice the third eyelid covering the eyeball, it's a definite sign of tetanus. Usually, a horse with tetanus will die or be put down. But if you stay up-to-date with your horse's vaccinations, you won't need to worry about it.
Sources:
Birthe Valling & Jens Bakkegaard (2017).
Dyrlaegevagten.dk: Lymphangitis, Birthe Valling & Jens Bakkegaard (2017). Dyrlaegevagten.dk: Tetanus, Birthe Valling & Jens Bakkegaard (2017). Dyrlaegevagten.dk: Blood Poisoning.
