Grease Heel in Horses

Grease heel is a condition that affects horses by causing inflammation scabbing and cracked skin around the lower legs and heels. Most commonly seen in the spring and fall grease heel typically develops when horses stand in muddy or wet conditions that harbor bacteria. This leads to dry skin that eventually becomes cracked then emits a thick fluid that can appear greasy. Any breed of horse can develop grease heel in wet weather but those that spend time in dewy pastures or areas that stay damp are at higher risk making regular stall maintenance especially important during rainy seasons.

Horses that are more prone to sunburns or solar dermatitis like those with white socks or pasterns may also be more likely to develop greasy heel 1 Grease heel is unsightly and while its not immediately dangerous it can cause your horse to become lame and risk serious infections if left untreated. When this condition is caught early persistent home treatment can be effective.
What Is Grease Heel?
Grease heel is a type of dermatitis caused by bacteria that leads to inflammation on the skin of horses typically affecting the heels or lower legs after the horse is exposed to wet weather conditions. Since its common names tend to be regional horse owners may also hear this condition referred to as dermatitis verrucosa seborrheic dermatitis mud fever scratches dew poisoning or greasy heel. Grease heel may begin low on the horses body and concentrated around the heels but it can also spread up the legs to affect the cannon area 1
Symptoms of Grease Heel in Horses
Grease heel appears on the lower legs as patches of scurf beneath the hair. Your horse will experience itchiness and irritation and the following symptoms may present as well
Symptoms
Itchiness and irritation
Cracked red skin
Discharge from affected areas
Granulomas
Itchiness and Irritation
The hair itself will start

to look thin or matted. Under the scurf the skin will be itchy and irritated. If the grease heel is mild it may only look dry and have dandruff. It may not be as obvious on horses with a lot of feathering on their lower legs. 
Cracked Red Skin
When greasy heel isnt caught early the skin on your horses heels will become more inflamed and cracked. Cracked skin in the lower legs can be difficult to heal since the area is always flexing as the horse walks. The pain from the inflamed skin can cause the horse to appear lame.
Discharge From Affected Areas
As the condition progresses a thick mucouslike fluid will begin to emit from the affected area. This symptom is how the name grease heel was coined as it can appear greasy over irritated skin. The lesions may become crusty as the fluid dries onto the affected areas.
Granulomas
Left untreated the skin can become deeply cracked and eventually infected. Granulomas may develop in more serious cases. This type of scar tissue and equine cellulitis consists of inflammation in the deeper layers of skin resulting in heat and swelling in the legs.
Causes of Grease Heel
The same conditions that cause rain scald also cause grease heel microbes that thrive in mud and wet areas. Grease heel is typically caused by the same bacteria thats seen in rain scald cases but if its left untreated other bacteria can also infect your horse 1 The following are common causes of grease heel
Muddy outdoor conditions If pastures and paddocks are muddy it may be hard to provide a place where the horses hoofs and legs arent wet. When the horses legs are constantly damp the microbes that cause grease heel can thrive. Grease heel may be more prevalent in the spring when pastures are muddy from snowmelt and rain