{"id":14068,"date":"2022-12-05T14:12:50","date_gmt":"2022-12-05T18:12:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/equestrianbootsandbridles.com\/?p=14068"},"modified":"2023-12-16T12:40:56","modified_gmt":"2023-12-16T16:40:56","slug":"treating-scratches-in-horses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/equestrianbootsandbridles.com\/treating-scratches-in-horses\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Identify & Treat Scratches in Horses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There’s nothing worse than saddling up for a nice ride, only to realize your horse seems lame. Upon closer inspection, a swollen fetlock and red scabby pastern<\/a> greets you! Horse scratches are one of every horse owner’s worst nightmares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s how to deal with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The contents of this article are intended to inform and guide readers, but the final decision on treatment is always the owner’s prerogative. When your horse has a severe infection, it’s always advisable to contact your vet immediately for professional assessment, treatment, and advice.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    What Are Equine Scratches?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    In humans, a “scratch” is usually a mild scrape of the top layer of skin, but it’s different in horses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Equine “scratches” is a skin condition that results from exposure to wet conditions that allow various bacteria, fungi, and microorganisms to enter the horse’s dermis and cause inflammation and infection. It’s often called horse scratch because the horse may try to scratch at the area with their teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Horses of any size and breed can be affected by scratches, either on one or more legs, but larger breeds such as draft horses are known to be especially vulnerable to scratches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Draft breeds and horses with feathers such as Friesians are susceptible to scratches because of the moisture retention that feathers encourage. The skin of the lower legs gets wet and raw, and with the smallest nick, opportunistic bacteria enter the picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A Scratch by a Different Name<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you’re still in the dark as to what exactly scratches are, you’ve most likely seen it before\u2014most horse owners have. Scratches have many different names, from mud fever and greasy heel to cracked heels, dew fever, and the medical name: equine pastern dermatitis<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    All these names describe the same basic condition where the lower leg, from the coronary band and the heel bulbs to as high as the knee or hock, is affected by swelling, raw and crusty scabs, and inflammation that can bring about lameness.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    How Do Scratches Affect Horses?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If your horse has had scratches, you probably know how painful this condition can be. Scratches can cause severe swelling of the fetlock and pastern<\/a>, even moving as high as the knee or lower leg, which will result in severe lameness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Secondary infections of the raw pastern dermatitis sites can cause the oozing of exudate and yellow or green pus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    While horses don’t normally die of scratches, the condition can be excruciating, and some horses may even experience colic<\/a> triggered by pain and dehydration from not being able to graze effectively or travel to their water trough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What Causes Scratches?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Scratches are a compound problem. It’s never caused by only one factor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For starters, most of the bacteria that create the inflammation and infection is already naturally found on your horse’s skin and coat. So where do things go wrong?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These natural microorganisms are supposed to be kept on the outside of your horse’s coat, not inside their skin. When the horse’s skin is softened by excessive exposure to water\u2014like when they’ve been in muddy pastures or deep and wet stall bedding\u2014the skin around their pasterns, fetlocks, and lower legs get raw. All it takes is a slight nick or scrape, and your horse can quickly develop equine scratches.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Identifying<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    A Closer Look at Scratches and Your Horse’s Health<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Of course, it’s slightly more involved than just a bit of water and then a scrape, but that’s essentially what causes scratches to happen. Let’s look at equine pastern dermatitis in more detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Scratches Symptoms<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The first step in treating scratches is to correctly identify it. Not all swollen legs are indicative of pastern dermatitis. Your horse should present with some of the following symptoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n