7 Common Equine Skin Diseases

Owning a horse comes with many different responsibilities. Aside from grooming and feeding and training the horse, you will also need to look after it’s well-being. Some equine issues are a bit subtle and the symptoms aren’t in-your-face, but others are a lot more overt that you can’t miss it. This is definitely true if your horse has a skin condition.

If you notice odd bumps or marks on your horse or even a bald spot, it’s safe to assume that something is wrong. Skin conditions don’t just appear out of nowhere so a big part of alleviating the issue is figuring out whether the condition has been triggered by a bacterial or viral infection, a bite from an insect or some other external force. 

Some skin ailments are more serious than others and would need the assistance of an experienced vet to check out your horse, while others skin issues you could possibly treat on your own with the right knowledge and tools at your disposal. 

In this list, we will share with you some of the more common horse skin conditions, their severity level and what you can do as an owner to treat the condition and bring your horse some relief.

1. Rain Rot (Rain Scald)

What does it look like? Rain rot comes in the form of crusty scabs on your horse that results in matted hair that raises into turfs. These can appear on their backs, hindquarters, the lower parts of their legs and even their face. These scabs peel off over time and your horse will end up with patches of bare skin.

Why is it there? Rain rot is a bacterial infection which occurs when horses are standing for prolonged periods outside when it is raining or are grazing around in moist conditions. The bacterial organism, known as Dermatophilus congolensis, develops on the horse’s skin because of moisture and dampness and can multiply quickly, especially if it finds it’s way into a break in the skin or an open wound.

Is it serious? Rain rot can be a serious issue for a horse if not dealt with quickly. At the bare minimum, it can feel uncomfortable for your horse, and downright painful in more severe outbreaks.

 

Treatment & Prevention: It’s important to move your horse into a dry environment or modify the current environment so the horse is dry. You will need to use an anti-microbial shampoo and disinfectant rinse that is labeled to treat rain rot and apply it your horse and conduct a daily rinse for a week. For small outbreaks, you can spot treat, or conduct a full bath for more serious conditions.

Once your horse’s skin is back in good shape, make sure to keep your horse out of the rain, groom them regularly and keep them nice and dry on the pastures. You want to reduce as much moisture accumulation as possible so they don’t get infected again.

1. Sunburn and Photosensitization

What does it look like? For light-pigmented horses (which are most at-risk for sunburn) symptoms occur around the nose and eyes and sensitive areas which come in the form of increased redness, inflammation, roughened skin, skin loss and pained reactions.  You may notice suddenly that your horse is head shy due to irritation of the skin. Your horse may not want to be saddled and there would be difficulty in saddling as well.

Why is it there? Much like when we humans get sunburn, horses can also get sunburn from harmful UV rays which can damage their skin and can be very painful. Sunburn has a higher likelihood of happening in the summer time especially between the hours of 10am to 2pm when the sun beats down the worst.

Is it serious? Sunburn is a serious issue for horses as well and overexposure to the sun can cause damage that may result in skin cancer or scarring of the skin that cannot be repaired on top of general pain and discomfort. Too much exposure to the sun can also lead to infections, painful summer sores and lesions.

 

Treatment & Prevention: Treating a horse for sunburn is similar to the treatment and precautions we use when we are out in the sun. Time and less exposure, of course can help heal sunburn as well as applying soothing creams such as Desitin to sooth and moisturize dry skin and prevent cracking of the skin which can be very painful. Topical creams as approved by a veterinarian may also be helpful.

 

When the sunburn has been alleviated from your horse, make sure to prevent future sunburn problems by increasing areas of shade in pasture areas and keeping your horses out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day as mentioned before (10am to 2pm).

 

Reducing photosensitization can be done by changing your horse’s diet to have less plants that cause the problem such as clovers, alfalfa and perennial ryegrass.

 

3. Ringworm (fungal dermatitis)

What does it look like?  Ringworm looks like round patches of skin that are hairless and have a crusty looking scab. These patches develop usually on the face, chest, neck or under the saddle but can show up virtually anywhere on the body.

Why is it there? Ringworm is a fungal infection caused by organisms called dermatophytes that consume keratin on your horse, in other words their hair and skin cells. The fungi is highly contagious and can spread quickly to other animals. Humans can even catch it! The fungi may be around in the environment and can survive for months at a time.

Is it serious? Ringworm may look like it hurts but for the horse, it hardly causes much discomfort and is mostly a cosmetic issue but still should be addressed because it can spread all over the body and other horses can catch the infection because it is contagious.

 

Treatment & Prevention: For horses that have ringworm, you need to quickly quarantine them away from other animals and clip their hair and remove their scabs to reduce the food source the fungus is living off of. Once that is done, you can apply a dandruff or specially medicated shampoo to treat the ringworm lesions. If the ringworm persists, you may need to apply an anti-fungal ointment or some recommended prescription from a vet.

 

To prevent ringworm in the future, avoid sharing equipment and grooming supplies among horses you own and disinfect and maintain good sanitation of all your tack, stalls, fences and communal areas. If you have any new horses, keep them away from your other horses for two weeks to ensure they are not carrying ringworm or any other disease.

 

4. Warts or Papillomas

What does it look like? Warts are pink or gray in color and look like little cauliflower-shaped growths that appear on your horse. They may appear on their own or in clusters of multiple warts usually around the ears, backside or genital. In some cases they can also be found around the eyes, ears and muzzle area. 

Why is it there?  Warts usually show up because of the papillomavirus which is an organism that can be found on horse skin, equipment, and structures for weeks at a time.

Is it serious? While some warts look bad, they are harmless to the horse and cause no discomfort and can go away on their own after a few months. On older horses or horses that don’t have a well-developed immune system, warts stick around longer and may take up to a year to go away.

 

Treatment & Prevention: If the warts are causing irritation to a sensitive horse or you yourself would rather cosmetically remove the warts from your horse so they have a blemish-free body, you could talk to your vet about laser removal of the warts or a prescription that can boost your horse’s immunity so warts aren’t a recurring problem.

 

To prevent ringworm in the future, avoid sharing equipment and grooming supplies among horses you own and disinfect and maintain good sanitation of all your tack, stalls, fences and communal areas. If you have any new horses, keep them away from your other horses for two weeks to ensure they are not carrying ringworm or any other disease.

 

Prevention is pretty much the same in the case of ringworm, isolate horses that have warts and keep them away from other horses, especially younger horses because they are more susceptible. Regularly disinfect your horses tack and equipment and try not to share items between horses.

 

5. Fly Bite Hypersensitivity

What does it look like? Visible irritation by the horse in being bitten, itchiness, hives, skin inflammation, hair loss, redness and crusty scabs. 

Why is it there?  Commonly known as “sweet itch”, fly bite hypersensitivity is caused by an allergic reaction to fly bites, specifically the saliva of the biting insect. There is a genetic component to the sensitivity as horses in the same family maybe more prone to the skin disease. The common culprits causing this problem are midges, horn flies, horse flies, black flies and mosquitoes.

Is it serious? Some horses are more tolerable of flying pest bites than others but those with sensitivity will be a lot more uncomfortable. In severe cases, you will see the horse exhibiting signs of self-mutilation or secondary skin infections from trying to relieve the itch and opening up sores and bacteria getting in there and making matters worse.

 

Treatment & Prevention: To relieve itching and lesions on the horse, an antihistamine is recommended as well as other steroids and itch creams. Cold water also helps as well as applying shampoos and hydrocortisone. Dietary supplements can also help their skin and inflammation with Omega 6 or Omega 3 fatty acids.

 

To prevent symptoms of the sensitivity should also aim to reduce exposure of the horses to biting insects by applying fly repellents (containing permethrin or pyrethroids that are safe to apply on the horse coat) on the horse or covering them with fly masks, sheets or stockings.

 

6. Mange

 

What does it look like? Mange starts out as small, rounded bumps on the horse that develop into bald spots of thickened skin that appears scaly. The area is most commonly affected by mange are the lower legs of the horse but other parts of the body can also be affected. The horse will be visibly irritated by this spots and itch them by rubbing or biting their legs or rub against fencing or other surfaces to the point that those areas will go raw.  

Why is it there?  Mange is a parasitic invasion on your horse caused by tiny mites that can hardly be seen by the naked eye. These mites will bite on the lower legs of the horse or even areas under the mane and tail, genital areas or over the face depending on the species of mange and their preference. 

Is it serious?  Mange is a serious issue on horses because of the discomfort they cause. Irritated horses will itch themselves to the point of causing secondary infection. Mange can also cause thickening of skin that can be permanent and can lead to scarring.

 

Treatment & Prevention: There are a number of different products that can address mange on horses either in the form of sprays, medicated shampoos, sponges or solutions where you can dip their legs in. There are also insecticides that can be safely sprayed on horses to get rid of mange mites. In cases that are severe, you may need to contact a veterinarian.

 

To prevent horses from coming down with mange, you will need to quarantine any new horses to ensure they do not have mange because it can spread from horse to horse. Wash and groom your horse regularly and monitor them to see if they show signs of itchiness or have bald areas on their skin.

7. Lice

 

What does it look like? These are flat-bodied  insects, that will only reach about 2 to 4 millimeters in length.  Sympthoms include itching, visible raw patches of skin on the horse, irritated skin and a rough hair coat.

Why is it there?  Horse Lice is common in the winter months when the horses coat is thick and long.  They can live in all areas of the horse, including the mane, tail and coat.

Is it serious?  Horse Lice  is a serious issue on horses because of the discomfort they cause. Irritated horses will itch themselves to the point of causing secondary infection. Lice can also cause thickening of skin that can be permanent and can lead to scarring.  They can be transmitted from horse to horse or through horse clippers, sharing grooming equipment, and blankets.  It can also cause lead to general lethargy if the horse is already in poor condition.

 

Treatment & Prevention: There are a number of different products that can address lice on horses either in the form of de-lousing dust.   You can also contact your vet to have louse medication administered.There are also insecticides that can be safely sprayed on horses to get rid of mange lice.   Common permethrin treatments such as dust, shampoos or rinses.

 

Conclusion

Skin issues on your horse can range from major to minor but as long as you monitor your horse closely and routinely check them for discomfort or lesions on their body, you can tackle a skin infection or problem before it gets worse.