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Horse Skin and Coat Conditions


Ringworm
  • Most common skin condition
  • Symptoms include small round patches with no hair
  • Highly contagious via contact, blankets and cinches
  • Caused by a fungus
  • Treatment = sunlight, nutrition, Captan or iodine

Habronemiasis or Summer Sores
  • Sores around eyes and sheath
  • Caused by larvae deposited by infected flies in wounds or eyes
  • You will notice pus in cuts and proud flesh
  • Treatment = organophosphates such as DSMO paste and fly control

Warbles or Grubs 
  • Found mostly in cattle
  • Larvae under the skin on the back will form a bump and then a  breathing hole will appear
  • Can be cut out or they will just come out when mature

Mange
  • Small hairless patch induced by mites
  • Causes intense itching
  • Treatment = Proper hygiene and Lindane 

Photosensitization
  • Hypersensitivity to the sun
  • Effects white skin, usually on legs
  • White skin swells, gets hard nodules that peel off. The skin gets dry and cracks. The horse can get so sore it will not move
  • Treatment = Bute, apply lots of Zinc Oxide and wrap the area and peel off the nodules.

Warts
  • Epidermal growths caused by a virus, more common in younger horses
  • They will go away on their own, or a possible vaccine

Sarcoid
  • A tumor that grows on the horses head leg or shoulder
  • It is benign fibroblastic growth
  • They can be cut off, but usually reappear
  • Look for growths when buying a horse

Pyoderma = Inflammation of the skin

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