Equine allergies happen when the immune system overreacts in response to a substance. They can happen any time of the year as well due to different changes in the horse’s environment.
Types of Allergies
Contact/dermatology allergies
Insect allergies
Respiratory allergies
Food allergies
Symptoms of Allergies
Hives
Itching (mild to severe)
Watery, swollen, red, draining eyes
Runny nasal discharge
Coughing
Wheezing
Labored breathing
Tail rubbing
Common Causes of Allergies
Feed changes (some horses are allergic to certain types of feed)
Pollen
Dust
Mold spores
Bedding
Plants
Flies
Bee’s
Mosquitos
Fly spray
Treatment
Treatment can vary due to difficulty in finding exactly what the horse is having an allergic reaction to. Some treatment options are as follows:
Removal of allergen if possible
Steroids
Corticosteroids
Allergy testing (offered as a blood test through our clinic, please call to schedule)
Prevention
Often its difficult to pinpoint the allergen to blame for equine allergies and sometimes things cannot be prevented such as pollen in the air. However, there are measures you can take to help prevent an allergy flare up in your horse.
Slowly introduce changes in the environment such as a new hay, shavings, ect and monitor for changes over time.
Know the symptoms to look for when your horse has an allergy
Eyes: Use fly masks to keep the flies out of your horses’ eyes
Dust: wet down the hay
Try different bedding options
Supplements: For example, Platinum Performance offers a product call platinum skin and allergy (Please call or email to order Platinum products)
*Contact your local veterinarian if you think your horse may be having an allergic reaction