Here’s help in treating this common ailment.
Maybe you’ve heard it called “scratches,” “mud fever,” “mud rash,” or “greasy heel.” Pastern dermatitis is a dermatologic syndrome that generally first appears as dry scales or crusts and hair loss on the back of the pastern area. The skin may become thickened and painful enough to cause lameness. You may also notice a clear or pussy discharge. Scratches are more commonly seen bilaterally (on both right and left legs), but it is possible for only one limb to be affected. Usually the crusts are first noticed on a leg with white hair.
A variety of factors have been associated with the development of scratches. These include: white hair on the lower limbs, trauma and insect bites, increased moisture or standing water, treated bedding, and poor stable or pasture hygiene. A variety of agents can be responsible for the actual skin changes. Some of the more common are Dermatophilus congolensis, a bacteria with fungus-like characteristics, and Staphylococcus bacteria. Other less common causes include mites, fungus, immune-mediated disorders, metabolic disorders, and neoplastic conditions. These conditions can be diagnosed with skin scrapings, fungal cultures, skin biopsies, and bloodwork, if necessary.
Initial treatment of scratches should include evaluating the horse’s environment. Avoiding pastures that have excessive mud or standing water, and keeping affected horses stalled during wet weather or until the morning dew has dried can be helpful. Clipping hairs, especially feathers, can also help decrease moisture retention. Horses sensitive to chemically treated shavings may require an alternative source of bedding.
The affected areas on the horse should be cleaned with an antibacterial shampoo or solution and the crusts removed once they have been softened. We recommend covering these areas with an eczema ointment we make at the clinic. It is a combination of nitrofurazone, zinc oxide, and a small amount of steroid. It provides an anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and moisture barrier. In more serious cases or those that involve multiple legs, daily systemic antibiotics may be necessary. Healing time generally depends on how serious the case is when treatment is started. Identifying and addressing the predisposing factors is also important to recovery. Unfortunately, those horses that develop scratches tend to develop them again. Early identification and treatment is the best remedy.
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