Horse Health
Horse Allergies
By
Jun 17, 2009, 12:44

An allergy is an exaggerated response from the immune system to a substance in the environment, called an allergen. Horses can become allergic not only to a substance in the environment, but also to things they eat, inhale, or touch. Equine allergies can be quite challenging not only for the horse who may have runny eyes, welts or itching, but for the owner who is trying to diagnose the problem and treat it. Allergic reactions, found in a horse's normal living conditions, can occur by environmental allergens (dust, pollen, molds, insect bites, feed, etc.) or reactions to medications or vaccinations. Some of the most common symptoms of horse allergies are tearing eyes, coughing, hives, nasal discharge or respiratory problems. These symptoms can even be caused by exposure to pesticides, heavy metals, bedding, topical medications, soaps, shampoos, blankets, wool, and neat's-foot oil. Other causes can include environmental allergen sensitivity and hypersensitivity to insects.

Allergies causing symptoms such as hives, runny eyes, coughing and nasal discharge may be more of an inhaled allergen. There are management options that can be done to cut down on the exposure to dust and molds.

* Immerse hay thoroughly in water before feeding.
* Replace long-stemmed hay with a complete feed that is made to replace hay.
* Feeding in a trough at ground level.
* Wetting stall bedding or changing the type of bedding.
* Maximize pasture time, keeping the horse out of a dusty environment. Even a short amount of time spent in barns or trailers can cause symptoms to worsen.

The history of the horse, and clinical signs, will give clues as to the cause of an allergy. Such as when a horse develops a respiratory problem after being fed dusty hay, or breaks out in hives immediately after a new type of bedding is used in his stall.

Skin allergies in horses are among the most common. They usually appear as hives, first around the neck and shoulders, and may be accompanied by a fever and/or itchy skin. Skin allergies can also be caused by food allergens or even insect bites. Horses may rub the areas where insect bites are present until they have little or no hair remaining. Fly sprays can be a good preventative for horses with skin problems caused by gnats or mosquitoes, if the horse is not sensitive to the fly spray.

Horses often recover from hives and other skin allergies without the need for any intervention, but if the hives occur on a regular basis, with no apparent reason, a veterinarian may decide to try skin testing or blood sampling. If you suspect your horse has reactions to allergens, contact your veterinarian and your local equine nutrition specialist for assistance with further issues concerning these allergies. Diagnosing the allergy and identifying the allergens is crucial for a promising therapy with lasting effect.

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