The terms scratches, greasy heel, and pastern dermatitis refer to the same disease, namely leptospirosis (mud fever). Leptospirosis is an infection of the back (pastern) of the horse's leg. Leptospirosis is a painful disease and can cause thickening of the skin, hair loss, lethargy, and an unsightly appearance. You can try to prevent this by keeping your horse clean and not entering wet and muddy areas. However, some horses are more susceptible to this disease. Among them are horses with long hind legs and reared in muddy and dirty environments.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Preventing and Recognizing Leptospirosis
Step 1. Clean the horse's paws regularly
Watch your horse's paws daily and look for signs of irritation or scabies. If there are signs of irritation or scabies, clean the horse's paws with a good quality soap, such as a scrub containing chlorhexidine. Rinse the horse's feet and apply an adequate amount of chlorhexidine to the area. Gently clean the horse's paws and rinse thoroughly.
Avoid using too many products to treat leptospirosis, which may make it difficult for your veterinarian to diagnose your horse's disease. These products are designed to prevent leptospirosis by moisturizing the skin or protecting it. However, if the symptoms of leptospirosis have appeared then these products will not be effective and the horse should be given medication
Step 2. Find the cause of leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a "secondary condition" caused by another problem, such as a bacterial or fungal infection, caused by weakened skin from being constantly wet. Some of the primary causes of leptospirosis include bacterial infections due to wet folds of the skin, fungi, mites, minor skin injuries and autoimmune diseases (the horse's immune system attacks the horse's own body). If the cause is an autoimmune disease (which is rare), the inflammation, sores, and itching will weaken the skin. This condition allows bacteria to enter and cause leptospirosis.
- Bacteria are also normal to be found on the surface of horse skin. However, these bacteria will not cause disease unless the horse's skin surface or immune system is weak and unable to fight off the infection.
- If the horse is constantly wet (such as standing on muddy ground), its skin will become tender and swollen. This condition weakens the horse's natural defense system.
Step 3. Check if the horse has symptoms of leptospirosis
Signs of disease usually appear in areas that are often exposed to mud. Leptospirosis usually affects the back of the heel and the joints of the horse. However, leptospirosis can spread to the back of the calf, as this area can be exposed to mud splashes when the horse walks on dense, damp ground. Look for the following symptoms:
- A scab with moist sores underneath
- Swollen feet
- Viscous liquid with an unpleasant odor that is white, yellow or green
- Cracked and sore skin
- Possible lethargy
- Fatigue and loss of appetite (in some severe cases and in addition to the above symptoms)
Part 2 of 2: Treating Leptospirosis
Step 1. Prepare the horse for treatment
Don't leave the horse wet and trim the hair behind the heel. This will make it easier for you to clean the mud and apply ointment to treat it. Use a sharp razor to trim the hair down to the roots. This will also make it easier for you to check for new scabs in the area and monitor the healing of existing scabs.
You may have to stabilize the horse for several weeks in clean dry hay. Move the horse to dry pasture, or improve the drainage system of the existing pasture
Step 2. Remove the scab
Soften the scab by applying baby oil, a cold poultice, or moisturizing cream. If you use cream or oil, cover the area with plastic wrap. Do this process for one to three days until the scab softens. Change the plastic wrap and apply the medicine every day. When the scab has softened, remove the scab until it is completely lifted.
You will need to remove all the scabs until they are completely removed to remove the bacteria that cause the disease
Step 3. Clean the horse's legs
You will see an open wound on the underside of the horse's leg after the scab is removed. Clean the wound with a disinfectant and dry the area by wetting the horse's paw thoroughly with warm water. Apply a disinfectant, such as chlorhexidine solution, to the area and leave for 10 minutes to allow the liquid to kill bacteria. Rinse the area thoroughly. Use a paper towel to dry the horse's paws and repeat this process twice a day.
Avoid drying the horse's paws by using a terry or cotton towel. Using a towel can expose your horse to the infection again
Step 4. Call the vet
If you have trouble removing the scab, even after softening it for days, call your vet. Otherwise, by trying to remove the scab yourself, you may end up hurting the horse. You should also contact your veterinarian if you are having trouble keeping the affected area clean. The vet will take a sample of the area and examine it to determine the exact cause of the disease.
- Because leptospirosis can be caused by many things, a proper diagnosis will determine the most effective treatment.
- For example, if your vet suspects an autoimmune disease is the cause, your horse may need corticosteroids to suppress its overactive immune system. Or, if mites are the cause, the treatment needed is medication to get rid of the mites and prevent the horse from itching anymore.
Step 5. Treat the infection and the cause of the infection
If you have signs of infection, such as a moist area and a sticky discharge, call your vet for an antibiotic ointment. Apply an adequate amount of the ointment on the cleaned horse's paws and cover the area with plastic wrap. Do this process twice a day and keep treating the skin for two weeks after the infection looks better.
- Completion of antibiotic treatment will ensure that the infection is completely gone. This is important because stopping treatment too early is a major cause of treatment failure and recurrence of the disease.
- Do not ride the horse while the treatment is in progress to facilitate the healing of the skin.
Step 6. Determine why treatment may not work
If your horse has frequent leptospirosis and you are unable to treat it yourself, there may be several reasons why the treatment is not working. Some of the factors in treatment failure include:
- Ineffective use of preventive medicine to treat disease.
- Horses stay wet.
- An underlying problem such as mites or an autoimmune disease that has not been addressed.
- Removal of the scab that is not total thus preventing the drug from entering the skin.
- Feathers that are not properly trimmed make it difficult to clean the skin.
- Discontinuation of treatment before the disease is completely cured.
- Deep infections that require oral antibiotics (not just topical medications).
Tips
- If you can't visit your horse regularly, wash and dry its paws every time you see them. However, do not use antibiotics because they will make the bacteria/fungus more resistant. Leptospirosis usually goes away in the summer.
- Never brush a horse that is wet and muddy. This will cause problems under the tack and will not clean the mud.
