The skin is the largest organ of a horse’s body and is the first line of defense against harmful bacteria, viruses, insects and substances. So if your horse’s skin is compromised, then there is potential for the whole horse to be compromised too.
Below are a few common skin issues to look out for this winter.
Mud Fever
Probably one of the most common ailments that we see in winter. It is caused by a bacteria which thrives in wet conditions. This bacteria then gets into the horse’s skin once it’s been softened and damaged by the constant wet environment. Mud fever is usually seen on the lower legs around the heel & fetlock in areas of pink skin but can also affect any colour legs. The scabs that develop can be very thick and incredibly painful, sometimes causing heat, swelling, lameness and even cellulitis in severe cases.
Treatment: The best thing for mud fever is to remove the horse from the wet conditions if possible. Wash with an antiseptic and remove any scabs that are ready to come off. The legs should be thoroughly dried and there are some great antiseptic creams on the market that you can apply to help soften up the scabs and heal the skin.
Rain Scald
Is caused by the same bacteria as mud fever. Rain scald is found on the body and can affect any colour skin. It thrives in wet conditions and is often seen under the mane, on the back and belly where the skin is unable to dry due to wet weather or wet rugs being left on. The scabs that develop are not as thick as mud fever, and the hair usually comes off in a small clump where the irritation has occurred.
Treatment: Is very much the same as mud fever. Wash in antiseptic, keep dry and use a good antiseptic cream.
Mites
Not visible to the naked eye and love to feed off dead skin often behind the knee or in the fetlock area. They thrive in warm, dark, moist environments so horses with a lot of feather are more prone to mites than those with fine hair. Horses with mites on their legs will often stamp their feet a lot or try to scratch their legs on objects to relieve itching. They can also develop bald patches on the head where the mites have transferred when the horse is scratching at its legs with its teeth.
Treatment: Clipping the legs exposes the mites and allows treatments to be applied directly to the skin. Speak to your vet, there currently is no licensed product in the uk to treat mites in horses but they will be able to recommend a topical antiparasitic for dogs, sheep or cattle that may work for your horse. Its also important to remember that mites can live off-host for up to 70 days, so bedding, rugs, grooming equipment etc and possibly other horses who have come into contact will also need cleaning/treating.
Lice
Visible to the naked eye and can be found anywhere on the horse’s body but they do prefer warmer areas like at the root of the forelock, mane and tail or in thick hair like feathers and unclipped native types. There are two types of louse, the chewing and the sucking. The chewing are those you tend to see moving when you part the hair and feed on tiny bits of dead skin. They prefer finer hair like the head, neck, flanks and base of tail. The sucking louse feeds on blood right at the root of the hair. They prefer longer, thicker hair like under the forelock, mane and tail and also in the feathers.
Treatment: Clip the coat to expose the lice and allow for treatments to be applied directly to the skin. Clean the area before treating, dirt can reduce the effectiveness of insecticides. Treat with a good insecticide such as a shampoo, powder, lotion or spray specifically for horses and always apply as directed on the label. Lice are also transferable to other horses so any shared items like grooming kits and any other horses in contact will need to be treated also.
Ringworm
Caused by two types of fungus which feeds on the hair and top layer of skin. It leaves a bald patch in the shape of a ring and can appear anywhere on the body. It is highly contagious and can be spread from horse to human/human to horse as well as other animals. It usually doesn’t affect the horse unless the bald/scaly patches become a little itchy.
Treatment: Ringworm will actually go away on its own. But because of its highly contagious nature it is best to treat it as soon as possible with an antifungal wash either from the vet or store. Make sure to treat all rugs, saddle pads, boots etc that may have been used on the horse too.
Folliculitis
Is a bacterial infection of the hair follicles which creates small bumps or spots which often break open and get a little crusty. It’s often seen in the saddle area and any other areas which may become warm/sweaty. The sores can be quite painful especially if pressure, such as a saddle or rug is continually pressing on the area.
Treatment: Your vet can prescribe some antibiotics to help clear up the infection fairly quickly. Washing with a disinfectant and avoiding any pressure on the sores will also help. To avoid future infections, make sure you thoroughly wash off any sweat after exercise and keep saddle pads and rugs as clean as possible underneath.
Thrush
A common bacterial infection of the frog which is caused by constant wet conditions either in the field or stable. The frog can become very soft and dark in colour, sometimes black and is often accompanied by a rotten smell. In severe cases the infection can travel into the structures inside the hoof and cause swelling up the leg or lameness.
Treatment: Remove the horse from the wet conditions if possible. Pick out feet twice daily and scrub with an antibacterial solution. Try to keep it as dry as possible.
So what can you do to help prevent these ailments?
Grooming is a massively important part of horse care. Not only does it allow you to thoroughly check over your horse for any cuts/scrapes, changes in skin, it also increases blood flow to the skins surface. This then helps to increase the production of natural oils which protect the skin and reduce the risk of infection or bacteria entering the skin.
Pick out feet at least once a day if you can. I know this can be more tricky with field horses but it doesn’t take long for bacteria to get to work on your horses hooves/frogs. It’s also a great opportunity to feel legs for any scabs and get a barrier cream on them before it gets worse.
Avoid bathing too often. Over bathing can strip these natural oils and it will dry out the skin. This makes the skin more susceptible to cracking or flaking which allows infection to get in. If your horse has sweated after exercise, consider just washing off with some warm water. If you are washing off any stains, there are a few really good stain removers that don’t require bathing.
Try not to over rug. Choosing the right rug can be extremely difficult in the UK. One minute it is freezing, the next it’s 15 degrees. Whilst no one has time to be changing rugs every hour, it is important to make sure they are not getting too hot. Sweating under a rug can cause rubbing and sores. And that warm, damp environment is a breeding ground for fungus and bacteria.
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