Pastern dermatitis is a collective term for an intractable, painful, exudative dermatitis affecting the back of the hose's pasterns. It is most frequently found on the non-pigmented (white-skinned) areas.
There are three different forms of pastern dermatitis with the mildest form the most common.
Mild form: Matted hair, minor swelling, scaling and crusting of skin
Exudative: Skin redness, skin erosion, hair loss, serous to purulent crusting of skin, vasculitis
Chronic Form: excessive granulation tissue (fibroblastic proliferation) that becomes cornified, nodular proliferations of hypereratosis and lichenification, painful lesions, lameness
Avoid turning horse out before the morning dew has dried
Keep horse's legs clean and dry during wet weather conditions
Avoid turning horse out in muddy, wet, or sandy pastures
Keep lower leg hairs short by periodically clipping
Topical Therapies
Scrub legs with antibacterial shampoo (active ingredients include benzoyl peroxide (3%), chlorhexidine (2%) and ethyl lactate), applied daily for 7 to 10 days, then 2 to 3 times weekly.
A topical ointment containing 2% mupirocin for Dermatophilus or staphylococcal bacterial infections
Apply a padded, water-repellant bandage changed every 1 to 2 days.
Cases of exudative lesions, astringent solutions such as lime sulfur (4 to 6 oz/gal) or aluminum acetate solution.
