Credit: vetspecialists Pigeon fever (aka “dryland distemper”) is a bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis . Most horses show firm, painful swellings that mature into abscesses—often over the chest (pectoral area), along the belly midline, or on a limb. Cases rise in warm, dry months and spread via flies and contaminated equipment or hands. Your first move is safety: isolate the horse , start a vitals log every 30–60 minutes  (temperature, heart rate, respirations,...

Credit: Equestology Mud fever—also called pastern dermatitis or scratches—is a skin infection that targets the pasterns and fetlocks, often the hind limbs. Wet, muddy footing plus tiny skin nicks lets bacteria/yeast/mites take hold. Your first moves are simple and safe: bring the horse onto dry footing, part or lightly trim hair so you can see skin, do one gentle clean and full dry, then apply a thin, breathable barrier only when the skin is dry. Avoid heavy pastes on damp skin and skip...

Credit: The Horse A raised temperature is one of the earliest and most useful clues that a horse is getting sick. The challenge for owners is knowing what number truly counts as a fever, how to take an accurate reading, and when that reading means “monitor” versus “call the vet.” This guide walks you through a clear first hour plan, red flags that change the timeline, and the most likely causes by season so you can act with confidence rather than guess. We’ll start by defining normal versus...