Mud fever can be controlled and cured by a new approach that compromises the
conventional treatments, including antibiotics.

After a six-month period as a Master Thesis supervisor for two newly graduated
veterinarians, DVM., Ph.D. Rikke Buhl from Copenhagen University believes that we
need to set up new treatment approaches to the commonly found skin disorder in horses
often called “mud fever” or the clinical name pastern dermatitis. A newly published
Veterinarian Master Thesis proves that Stalosan Ointment meets the demands for this
new approach.

“Pastern dermatitis is one of the most common skin diseases in horses and one of the
most frustrating to treat. Usually horse owners treat pastern dermatitis with a variety of
ointments and pastes with variable results. When these treatments fail a veterinarian
often first is consulted and presented with a late stage of disease, complicating the
diagnostic work.
When the veterinarians find the true cause of the disease, it still can be challenging to
find an effective treatment strategy. That is why there is a need for new effective
treatments as well as documentation for the effect of those already existing. The
different causative agents of pastern dermatitis give a similar cutaneous reaction
pattern, making it impossible to know the exact reason without further testing.
However, it is often not possible to determine the causative agent even after further
testing” (citation from the Veterinarian Master Thesis of DVM Gitte Baunbæk and DVM
Jennie Hed, 2009).

Mud fever can affect horses of all breeds and ages, although draft horses and horses
with white legs often are more affected. Various bacteria, fungi, mites or sensitivity to
sunlight can induce thedisease. The latter is particularly seen in horses with white legs
and can be induced by certain plants including St. John’s wort, buckwheat, perennials,
parsley and Bishop’s weed or liver disease. It is difficult to identify the cause of a mud
fever attack and therefore many therapies are ineffective due
o improper treatment strategy in relation to the causative agent. For example,
antibiotics have no effect on mud fever if the cause is ringworm (fungus) or mites.
A recently completed Master Thesis at Copenhagen University shows that Stalosan
Ointment is even more effective in treating mud fever as daily chlorhexidine wash
followed by a mud fever ointment consisting of antibiotics, zinc oxide and salicylic acid
– the product of choice at Copenhagen University.
In this Master Thesis 93% of the horses treated with Stalosan Ointment achieved a
significant reduction of their mud fever attack within a period of 14 days. All included
horses have had mud fever on both rear legs from 3 days to 3 years, with an average of
3 months. The causative agent varied between bacteria, fungi, mites and sensitivity to
sunlight.
Conclusion from the Master Thesis: “Stalosan ointment is considered as a convenient
and effective choice for treatment of non-severe cases of pastern dermatitis.”
The Master Thesis has been conducted by: Gitte Maria Frost Baunbæk & Jennie Maria
Hed, Department of Large Animal, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen,
2009, under the guidance of the leading Danish horse dermatologist, Associate
professor DVM., Ph.D. Rikke Buhl.
Efficacy of Stalosan Ointment on mud fever is not depending on the causative agent
(bacteria, fungus or mites). In cases of hypersensitivity to sunlight Stalosan ointment
could act as a shield against the sun. This makes Stalosan Ointment the choice of
treatment for mud fever without an
initial veterinarian consultation.
Stalosan