Managing pastern dermatitis in horses — causes, welfare impacts, and effective treatment strategies.
Pastern dermatitis causes significant welfare impacts that are often underestimated. Early cases show scabs, crusting, and hair loss in the pastern region. As the condition progresses, the skin becomes thickened, cracked, and exquisitely painful. Horses may resent handling of the affected limbs, show reluctance to move, and develop secondary lameness.
Chronic cases are particularly challenging. Fibrosis and proud flesh formation can cause permanent thickening ('grapes') around the pastern. Limb oedema develops in severe cases. The intense pain of advanced cases causes significant distress and reduction in mobility and quality of life.
Treatment requires removing predisposing factors (particularly mud and moisture), clipping hair from the affected area, gentle removal of scabs (often requiring sedation), topical antiseptic treatment, and in severe cases systemic antibiotics. Prevention is far more effective than treatment — good pasture management and dry standing areas are essential.