Written by Emily Roberts, NC State Intern, Person County
Much like us,
horses can develop skin conditions that require attention and treatment. The weather plays a large role in controlling
the horse’s environment which can greatly affect the health of the horse. While we can’t control the weather, we can
help alleviate undesired skin conditions through some preventative management
and recognizing some common skin conditions.
To begin, we
should regularly observe our horses to recognize their normal, healthy
behaviors and appearance. Therefore, if something
seems awry we can better pinpoint the problem.
We should practice regular grooming such as currying, brushing, and
combing to remove daily dirt and debris.
In addition to caring for their coat, hooves should be cleaned out daily
as well. By practicing daily grooming,
this allows us to inspect them for any cuts, bumps, discolorations etc. It’s also helpful to know our horse’s normal
temperature, pulse, and respiratory rate (TPR) in order to establish a healthy
baseline.
More info on TPR
below:
Through
recognizing some common skin conditions that affect horses, we can better
pinpoint what problem our horse may have.
The list below briefly covers a few common equine skin conditions. *We should develop and maintain a good
relationship with our veterinarian, and consult them for diagnosis and recommendations.
*
Rain Rot, also known as Rain Scald, is a bacterial infection caused by the
bacterium Dermatophilus congolenis.
Horses are susceptible in wet, high moisture conditions. A heavier coat can trap moisture in, making
it harder for the horse to dry out.
Moist coats can soften their skin, so the combination can allow the
bacteria to thrive. The active bacteria
can cause scab-type lesions under matted hair.
Removal of the scabs usually pulls the hair out with it, leaving a bare
area. The scabs are commonly found from
the neck down the back and over the croup.
To help alleviate this, keep the horse dry and clean. Scabs can be removed, but some removal may be
painful to the horse. Topical treatments,
antimicrobial shampoos, and currying the area can be helpful in minor cases,
but more severe cases may require antibiotic injections. Because this infection is contagious, it’s
wise not to share the infected horse’s equipment or tack with other horses, and
to clean the equipment after use. Depending
on the situation, isolating the infected horse from the herd may be necessary
to avoid spread as well.
Scratches has a few other names such as Mud Fever
or Greasy Heel, but veterinarians will probably refer to it as Pastern
Dermatitis. While we may find Scratches
on any of our horses, we may find it more frequently on draft or feathery
breeds due to the longer hair at the pasterns.
The effect of Scratches has a number of potential causes from bacterial
to fungal to other irritations. Examine
the skin of the pasterns and look for redness, discharge, swelling, scaling,
bleeding, and crusting. The combination
of signs can vary as well as the severity of signs. To help alleviate Scratches, groom and clean
the fetlock area, and clip long hair if you are willing. A horse constantly treading through manure,
urine, and mud will be more difficult to cure.
Horses should be removed from wet, muddy areas and stalls should be kept
clean. Some treated shampoos and ointments
can help, but a diagnosis is necessary for effective treatment.
Sunburn isn’t pleasant for us or for our horses. While any horse can get sunburn, lighter
pigmented horses such as Paints, Appaloosas, and Cremellos are more
susceptible. In addition to skin
pigmentation, certain plants and medications contain chemicals that can
increase photosensitivity within horses.
Clinical signs include redness, blistering, and peeling skin which could
possibly swell, crack, and ooze. Prevention
is key here. Limit the horse’s sun
exposure by bringing him inside during the hot, bright hours of the day. Apply sunscreen or zinc oxide creams to
protect against UV rays, and be sure to reapply as necessary! Some fly sprays may also contain sun
protection. Physical barriers such as
fly masks or fly sheets can help reduce the amount of sun exposure the horse
receives as well. Fresh, clean water
should be available to help hydrate the skin.
If a horse gets sunburn, applications of aloe can help alleviate the
burn, and a heavy coating of sunscreen can help prevent further damage. More severe cases should be treated by a
veterinarian.
Insect Bite Hypersensitivity or as some refer to as Sweet Itch or
Summer Itch, can be common among horses.
Certain insect bites can cause an allergic reaction like inflammation
which leads to itchy skin and hair loss.
The main culprit is the saliva from the bite of the Culicoides midge, or what we may refer to as “No-See-Um”
gnats. Prevention is another important
tool in this situation. Use fly masks, sheets,
and spray on horses; stable during the day and turn out at night to help reduce
insect bites. Netting can be installed
around the barn door and window openings to create physical barriers against
insects, and fans in the barn help keep flies out. Standing water and piles of manure around the
barn and pasture should be reduced or eliminated to help reduce insect
populations. Affected horses may be
treated with topical creams, shampoos, or feed supplements. Treatment of horses with severe
hypersensitivity should be recommended by a veterinarian.
Hives, or Urticaria, appear as small, swollen bumps due to
swelling in the upper layer of the skin.
The swollen bumps can appear anywhere on the horse. The allergic reaction can be caused by a
variety of factors. Physical factors
include stress from heavy exercise, heat, cold, and sunlight. Immunological factors include reactions from
feeds, medications, insects, airborne agents, bacteria, and viruses. Because so many factors can trigger the onset
of Urticaria, it’s important to consider all of these factors to find the
culprit. Consider any changes in feed such
as hay, pasture plants, supplements, and treats. Take note if there’s been any new or
different medications administered such as vaccines, de-wormers, or antibiotics. Keep in mind seasonal factors such as pollen
and mold, and if he’s been heavily worked or in extreme temperatures. Finally, think if there’s been any different tack,
sprays, shampoos etc. recently used that could be triggering the reaction.
The take home
message from this is not really to educate about these skin conditions, but
rather to:
1.
Observe
horses daily to distinguish their “normal” from their “unusual”
2.
Maintain
a consistent working relationship with the veterinarian
3.
Know
that preventing problems is better than fixing them
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