SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Horse Care
Teach Me Horse Care Tips
Horse
Skin Conditions
There are many contributing factors that relate
to skin conditions in horses. The weather plays a significant
role as well as various insects that are around them. Another
possible cause is the physical and mental condition of the,
a strong or weak immune system or trauma.
Winter’s climate is a haven for bacteria to breed and wreck
havoc on horse’s skin condition. Some conditions to watch for
are:
- Itching
can come from allergies caused by the saliva of bugs called
“no-see-ums”. The itching may
appear on the
shoulders, withers, back, tail also the hindquarters. The use
of oral corticosteroid will ease the itch.
- Lice
bites cause extreme itchiness and present with heavy, waxy
dandruff and bald spots. Dust
or wash (with an
insecticidal preparation) your horse including everything and
everyone that has come in contact with them.
The most appropriate method to avoid skin problems in winter
is a matter of diligent grooming and cleaning.
A common skin infection found among horses is rain
rot (rain
scald or streptothricosis). An environment that is warm, damp
and has high humidity is where this organism thrives. Rain
rot looks like scabs that appear large and crust-like. They
can also appear as small matted tussocks of hair. When the
scabs are first removed the skin may be pink with puss then
will turn gray and dry as it heals. You can treat rain rot
by washing your horse with antibacterial shampoos and rinses
and keep your horse in a dry ventilated environment. It is
also important to keep your horse away from other horses that
may have rain rot. It is important to remove all scabs that
are present, gently, and then apply a topical ointment obtained
from your veterinarian.
Skin
diseases tend to occur in patterns. If you recently washed
the saddle pad and there becomes a visible irritant on the
horse in the area of the saddle pad, then you have a clue as
to what caused the skin problem and what to do to ensure it
doesn’t happen again. On the other hand if the skin appears
reddened on the underbelly and hindquarters, this is a clue
that the problem may be due to insects or contact with plants.
You can tell if the skin is itchy or irritating your horse
because they will spend a majority of their free time finding
a scratching post to alleviate the irritation or biting themselves.
This visible check will help you determine the next step to
take, which could be to either apply the topical ointments
you already have at your disposal or to contact your veterinarian
for a consult.
Queensland
itch can usually be found when a horse with sensitive
skin or has metabolic stress, whatever the reason may be, or
difficulty breaking down a chemical substance that may be occurring
in the feed or supplements. Another cause of Queensland itch
could come from insect bites, mites or fungal infestation.
Regardless of how it came to be, the best way to treat this
skin condition would be with healing agents, immune boosters
and antifungal/bacterial agents applied to the sections where
the insects are infiltrating. As with any illness your horse
may have if after you have applied your knowledge to the illness
and your horse does not show improvements call your veterinarian.
During the winter mud
rash can affect your horse’s backs or
legs and this rash can be severe enough to cause significant
lameness. This is a bacterium that thrives in a warm moist
environment and lives at the base of the hairs. An effective
treatment would be first to change the environment of your
horse so that moisture cannot be trapped near the surface of
the skin. Clipping the area that is affected and using topical
ointments can also be effective. It is best to consult with
your veterinarian and they will help you decide what is the
most appropriate method to speed the healing process.
Mange is another skin condition and if you suspect your horse
is suffering from this please contact your veterinarian. Some
symptoms you may see would be itchiness, tearing of the skin
surface due to excessive rubbing, which then would lead to
a secondary bacterial infection at the site of the exposed
skin.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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