A rose by any other name, said the poet, is still a rose. So it is with a form of dermatitis that afflicts the pasterns and fetlocks of horses. There is a wide range of names for this multifactorial affliction, but they all mean the same thing–a form of dermatitis that, at best, is uncomfortable for the horse and, at worst, can cause severe pain, bleeding, and lameness. Some call the affliction dew poisoning. Others use the term scratches. Still others refer to it as grease heel or cracked heel. There are yet others who call it mud fever. Whatever the term, the affliction is the same–a form of dermatitis that usually has its origin in a marshy or wet pasture and in unsanitary paddocks.

While all of the above terms identify the affliction, there are some who confuse it with photosensitization. Photosensitization is a somewhat similar problem but has a different cause, is manifested in a different way, requires a totally different form of treatment, and calls for different preventative measures. More about that later