Understanding Scratches

April showers might bring May flowers, but they can also lead to skin problems such as scratches. Also called pastern dermatitis, dew poisoning, greasy heel, or mud fever, scratches is not a condition itself; it’s a description of a problem commonly seen on a horse’s lower limbs. Scratches is caused by a variety of skin conditions including viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections. Horses in excessively wet or muddy environments are at greater risk of getting scratches.

What Is It?

According to The Merck Veterinary Manual: