Although it seems a bit delayed this year, inevitably the ice and snow will give way to spring, or as it may be more commonly known amongst horse owners, “mud season.”
For some, this means the endless washing of rain sheets. For others, it brings despair as pastures are transformed into the “swamp of sadness” from the Never-Ending Story.
But for many horse owners, this is the dreaded season of pastern dermatitis.
Often called scratches or mud fever, pastern dermatitis is a multifactorial skin condition that can affect any horse, regardless of age or breed. That being said, horses with white markings on their legs and those with feathers seem to be particularly sensitive.
This condition is known to involve a combination of risk factors including environmental factors (eg. cool, wet weather), immune mediated disease, allergic skin conditions and photosensitization, as well as fungal, bacterial and parasitic infections.
Milder forms of pastern dermatitis result in redness, scabbing, oozing sores and thickened skin affecting the heels and pasterns. In more severe cases, the scabs and sores can spread over the fetlock and sometimes as high as the knee or hock, often resulting in significant soft tissue swelling and sometimes lameness.
Here are some tips to hopefully help owners weather the storm of pastern dermatitis this mud season:
– A good turnout – Avoid turning high-risk horses out when pastures are particularly wet or thick with mud. Instead, keep horses in a clean, dry stall or delay turnout until the morning dew has dried.
– Resist the urge to rinse – Keep the skin of affected horses as dry as possible. If a horse comes in from the pasture with muddy legs, wrap the limbs in standing bandages, allow them to dry, then remove the dirt with a brush or curry comb.
– Trim those feathers – If a horse has longer hair on their lower limbs, trim it short to allow for simpler cleaning, exposure to the air and faster drying, as well as easier application of topical treatments.
– Lather and repeat – Use an antiseptic shampoo or soap to cleanse the affected areas of skin after sweaty work or following exposure to dirt and debris. Towel dry well to avoid excessive moisture on the skin.
– Oil-based is best – Use oil-based topical ointments and antibiotic preparations to help soften and remove scabs and create a barrier to further moisture. Zinc-based skin ointments offer effective antibacterial action as well as helpful barrier qualities.
If in doubt, seek out help – Particularly in cases where there is noted soft tissue swelling, pain or lameness, contact your veterinarian for advice or schedule a visit. Your vet can provide guidance and treatment options you may not have considered, saving you hours of frustration and saving your horse from unnecessary pain and suffering.
Although treating pastern dermatitis can be labour-intensive, the outcome for affected horses is generally good and with warmer weather and drier conditions, many milder cases will ultimately resolve. And horse owners can finally leave pastern dermatitis behind them as they ride off into the summer sunset.
Submitted by Emma Webster, Heartland Veterinary Services, Drayton, Mount Forest, Listowel
