What is Scratches?

QUESTION: My Horse has one white sock, and this winter, she has developed “crusties” along the back side of her pasterns.
She acts as though it hurts if I try to pick at the scabs. One of my friends called it “grease-heel” and another called it “scratches.”
Can you please talk about the differences?
ANSWER:
The short answer to your question is that they are one and the same.

Scratches, Grease- heel, or Mud Fever is not really a specific disease, but a set of signs that we see on the legs of a horse called caudal pastern dermatitis. It often starts on the back side of the pasterns, and if left untreated, can certainly spread around and up the limb as far as the cannon bone! This problem occurs almost exclusively on horses with white hair on their legs, and pink skin beneath that hair. There does seem to be some correlation with the pink skin being much more likely to be effected, but it is not impossible for a non-white leg to have scratches present. The current thought is that there is a relation to sun exposure with the pink skin that is also contributing to a horse getting scratches.

Scratches are a skin over-reaction on the leg, having many potential causes. As mentioned above, it is most commonly seen on legs with white hair and pink skin. There is almost always a moisture component with this dermatitis (skin inflammation) as well. Whether it is sweat from splint boots, morning dew on pasture grass, snow, or even just walking through a creek or stream, there is usually some exposure to moisture without allowing the area to fully dry. From this irritation, the skin can then have some weeping drainage which gives fuel to bacteria or even fungi to grow and cause further inflammation. This process can spiral out of control and get much worse without proper treatment. The inflammation that is caused is usually very uncomfortable for the horse and can even cause a severe lameness.

Treatment of scratches is centered on getting the crusts completely removed from the wound, and also getting the area as clean and dry as possible.
This can be difficult since the inflammation itself is often times painful and horses will not let you do a thorough job of cleaning the scabs and crusts.
In these cases, it will be necessary to have your veterinarian sedate your horse so that they will tolerate this uncomfortable initial cleaning.
In severe cases we will also prescribe an ointment with a steroid anti-inflammatory for topical use and instruct the owner to thoroughly clean the
legs every 2-3 days and keep the horse away from the source of moisture. Remember, FULLY removing the crusts, and keeping the leg clean and dry should
help you to prevent a relapse and to have a rapid resolution.

Is equine colic an emergency?

colicQUESTION:
After 12 hours of watching my horse colic, and two shots of Banamine later, not to mention walking my horse for what seemed like a million miles, we resorted to pumping in a gallon of mineral oil with no results. When we contacted our regular vet, he said this was not an emergency and could wait until morning. Is colic a real emergency or were we just panicking?

ANSWER:
Colic is not a disease, but rather a very general term for abdominal pain in your horse.  The most common signs of colic include but are not limited to:

  • Looking at the flank area
  • Pawing incessantly
  • Kicking or biting at the belly
  • Getting up and down
  • Restlessness
  • Repeated rolling
  • Decreased/lack of appetite
  • Stretching out and posturing as if to urinate
  • Yawning/stretching jaw

If your horse is presenting with these signs or other abnormal behavior for that particular horse, time is of the essence, and early intervention can really make the difference.  There are many different causes of equine colic, most of which are related to the gastrointestinal tract, and range greatly in their severity of pain.  The length of time that a horse is experiencing colic can also be important in the severity.  While some causes of colic can take up to a few days to resolve, the longer your horse goes without resolution, the more serious the colic episode can be too.
Many colic cases will resolve without medical attention and we, as horse owners, may never know that they occurred.   If signs worsen, or seem prolonged, it is time to give your veterinarian a call.  Once you have called, wait by the phone and when your veterinarian calls, they will begin with a few questions regarding your horse’s vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration), general behavior, recent bowel movements, and history (How long has he been colicky? When was the last meal?).  Be prepared to answer these basic questions, and if the veterinarian deems it necessary, be prepared for a veterinary visit.