Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Pastern dermatitis is a common condition among horses. It is a symptom, a reaction in the skin of the pastern rather than a diagnose. There are a lot of homemade treatments when you ask horse owners how they handle pastern dermatitis, but what does the science say about how it should be treated? Today there is a growing problem with antibiotic resistance, but how good are the veterinarians on testing for resistance before they describe antibiotics? Bacteria and fungus is seldom the primary cause for pastern dermatitis, the reaction is often secondary to environmental factors. It’s difficult to diagnose the primary factor and it´s even more difficult when the horse has been treated in different ways before the veterinarian gets involved. If a licenced nurse can advise proper treatment maybe prescriptions drugs, such as antibiotics, won’t be necessary in the same rate. The importance to confirm the primary cause and the predisponating factors can’t be disregarded, it’s the key to a successful treatment and outcome and will always be important.

General treatment for pastern dermatitis, other than to adjust the environmental factors, is to keep the pastern dry and clean. Advised recommendations is to wash with an antibacterial solution once a day and keep the skin soft with an antibacterial ointment. The crusts should not be removed because of further damage of the skin. A cream with salicylic acid helps to soften the skin and makes the crusts fall of. It´s important to handle the skin gently and not provide more damage that will make the surface of the skin more vulnerable to infection.