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Dr. Julie Mason is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. She is interning at Wilhite & Frees Equine Hospital in Peculiar, Missouri. To submit your questions please email her at jnmdvm@gmail.com.
My horse has these scab like bumps on his legs, around the back of his pastern area. What is this and what should I do about it?
A: It sounds like your horse has a case of “scratches,” also known as pastern dermatitis. Scratches is due to a bacteria or fungus on the horse’s skin that creates an infection. This condition looks like scabs on the horse’s legs usually around the back of the pastern and fetlock area, but severe cases can cause skin problems up to the carpus (knee) and hock. Scratches most commonly occurs to horses kept outside for long periods of time in wet, muddy paddocks, or those stalled in wet or dirty stalls. The most important thing to do to prevent and treat scratches is to make sure the horse is kept in a dry stall or turn out pen. Scratches is a condition that must be treated—it won’t go away on its own. In fact, lack of treatment will
make the problem worse. It can be a frustrating problem as some cases are difficult to treat. A severe infection can lead to swelling of the af-
Scratches must be treated. Photo http://www.gvequine.com.
fected leg, creating lameness; this should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. The hair on a horse’s legs can be-
By Julie Mason, DVM, Contributor
come an ideal living environment for the fungus or bacteria that is creating the problem, so clipping the affected area is recommended. The area should be gently washed with an antibacterial solution to help remove the scabs (this may be a slightly painful procedure for the horse as scratches can be very irritating.) After the scabs are softened and removed, the skin needs to be completely dry before applying medication. Any moisture will allow bacteria to thrive, exactly the opposite of what you want to accomplish. After the skin is dry, apply a topical cream or ointment over the area to try and eliminate the infection. There are many different treatment creams or ointments for scratches, with an antibiotic to kill bacteria and a steroid to help decrease the swelling. Ask your veterinarian what topical product they recommend for the treatment of scratches. n
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