Contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes in contact with an irritat- ing substance, causing it to peel,
blister or develop sores. Common summer plants that can produce such reactions include but ercups,
St. John’s Wort and stinging net les. Such plants produce chemicals that damage the skin and sometimes cause great physical discomfort.
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WHAT’S BUGGING YOUR HORSE: THE UNCOMFORTABLE
Many other insect-related problems are not life threatening, but they
can make life very unpleasant for your horse. Of these, one of the most common—and uncomfortable—is insect bite hypersensitivity. Bites from summer-loving insects such as midges, mosquitoes and black fl ies can cause varied dermatological reactions in diff erent horses. While one horse may not be bothered much by multiple bites of a given spe- cies, another may have a marked reaction to even one bite. Reactions to insect bites range from small bumps to the severely
itchy allergic condition known as recurrent seasonal pruritis (RSP) or sweet itch. Horses with RSP are allergic to the serum of tiny biting fl ies of the genus Culicoides, commonly known as midges or “no-see- ums.” In these horses, the bites cause intense itching, skin irritation and patchy hair loss, most commonly in the mane and tail areas. T e relentless itchiness can cause horses to rub their skin raw, sometimes leading to permanent skin damage or secondary infections. General symptoms of a dermatological reaction to insect bites
include: » itching of the skin, mane or tail » raised lumps on or under the skin » sores » bald patches » raw, bleeding patches
While the relentless onslaught of Culicoides and other irritating
insects may seem daunting, there are measures you can take to protect a horse with insect bite hypersensitivity. “Management of this problem is largely environmental,” says Brooke Johnson, DVM, of Kulshan Veterinary Hospital in Lynden, Washington. “T e best strategies are to avoid peak insect feeding times by stabling horses at sunrise and sunset, using screened windows on barns, fl y control via repellents and minimizing standing water, fans to keep a breeze that interferes with insect fl ight control and physical barriers such as fl y sheets that prevent insects from contacting skin. Medications such as anti-infl ammatories and antihistamines can provide additional relief.” It is also wise to avoid housing or turning out horses near manure piles, marshy areas or wooded areas, all of which are particularly at ractive to insects. Frequent bathing with an anti-itch formula followed by application of
a barrier ointment on the most-aff ected areas of the horse can also help, as can feeding the horse supplemental omega 3 fat y acids or fl axseed. Another type of insect-related problem more commonly seen in the
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summer is habronema infection. Habronema is a genus of nematode worm that is transported onto the horse by fl ies and can infect the skin, eyes, stomach and lungs. Most oſt en, the microscopic larvae cause skin problems that show up as irritation, itching and ulceration. T is condition is referred to as cutaneous habronemiasis, more commonly called “summer sores.” T ough the larvae do not survive long in the skin, the sores they cause may at ract more fl ies, perpetuating the cycle of infection. As they thrive in moist environments, they are most likely to be found near the mouth, nose and eyes, or the sheath of geldings. Since the Habronema larvae are too small to see with the naked
eye, a skin biopsy is helpful for diagnosis. T e biopsy will also enable your veterinarian to distinguish between habronema infection and squamous cell carcinomas, which are oſt en located in similar areas and may look somewhat similar. Deworming is the usual treatment for cutaneous habronemiasis, along with the use of steroid medications to reduce infl ammation and irritation. Fly control measures, including fl y sheets and repellents, may reduce or prevent infections.
ENVIRONMENTAL WOES: WHEN BRIGHT IS A BLIGHT
Summer sunshine can create problems for horses in a number of
ways. T ree of these—sunburn, contact dermatitis and photosensitiv- ity—have such similar symptoms that it can be diffi cult to distinguish one from another. “With all three of these conditions,” says Wright, “what you see is a sunburn-type reaction, but this may or may not be sunburn. All of them show up as red skin, peeling skin or even full thickness peeling of the hide. Aff ected areas tend to be parts of the face or body with white hair and pink skin, and horses that have white hair and pink skin all over are particularly sensitive. Horses with no white can still suff er from these ailments, but if you see the symptoms on a dark-skinned horse or in dark-skinned areas, it is less likely to be sunburn and more likely to be something like a contact dermatitis.” Contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes in contact with an
irritating substance, causing it to peel, blister or develop sores. Com- mon summer plants that can produce such reactions include but ercups, St. John’s Wort and stinging net les. Such plants produce chemicals that damage the skin and sometimes cause great physical discomfort. Contact dermatitis can also occur in response to chemicals from non- plant sources, such as those found in fl y sprays, so it is worthwhile to keep notes on any new products you use on your horse in case you
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