( ask the vet ) Summer Care of the Horse by Nancy Homewood BVetMed CertAVP MRCVS A Eyes
Dust, wind, flies and chemical irritants, as well as pollens, can all act as irritants to the lining of the upper and lower eye- lids. This irritation causes localised swelling and discharge appearing from the eye. This can present in mild forms, however on occasion the horse can present with a moderately painful eye, especially if they have been rubbing the eye to relieve the ‘itch’
Further rubbing can cause ulceration of the cornea. This is a potentially sight- threatening condition and appropriate veterinary treatment should be sought.
Treatment for conjunctivitis would usually include topical or local anti-inflammatory eye drops and anti-bacterial eye drops if there is an infection.
Other eye conditions such as Uveitis, Immune Mediated Keratitis and Eosinophilic Keratitis can have a seasonal pattern and we see these more commonly in the summer months, probably due to the increased UV light and potential irritants to the surface of the eye. Reducing exposure to dry, dusty pasture and UV light may help reduce the risk of your horse developing these conditions. This can be done by stabling your horse during the hot weather, or use of a suitable fly mask.
Eye conditions can deteriorate rapidly, sometimes causing loss of sight. It is important to have your horses’ eyes checked by a vet if you notice an abnormality.
Skin
Ectoparasites can cause havoc at this time of year. Insect bites can cause localised swelling as in humans. ‘Sweet Itch’ is a hypersensitivity to protein in the Cullicoides midge saliva. Horses will oſten have hair loss from the mane and tail due to rubbing. It is also common to see lesions on the underside of the abdomen where the midges feed from. The disease can be very debilitating for affected horses. Prevention is much easier than cure in these cases and should be aimed at preventing midge exposure. Avoid turnout to pasture with stagnant water, stable at dawn and dusk when midge activity is high. There are several good rugs that can
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lthough most of us will enjoy the kinder weather that the summer months bring, it can mean problems for your horse. Dry weather, pollens parasites and hard ground
usually cause some trouble. This article will discuss a few of the more common conditions we see in the summer months and how you can help your horse by preventing these problems
Photo courtesy of T
ash Wheeler
be used to help prevent the midges biting your horse. Permethrin based insect repellents can also be used to help repel the midges and other biting insects. These can be sprayed directly onto the horse where the skin has not been broken. Cattle tags infused with insect repellent can also be tied to the tail or headcollar/rug to deter the midges. Treatment is usually with topical or systemic steroids. Anti-histamines can be useful but are not effective in every case.
Photosensitisation is an abnormal reaction to sunlight due to the presence of a photodynamic agent in the skin. Primary photo- sensitisation occurs due to the ingestion of photodynamic agents such as St Johns Wort or Clover. Secondary photosensitisation occurs due to damage in the liver or bile ducts. This causes an accumulation of a breakdown of clorophyll, which when in the skin causes a phototoxic reaction, leading to ‘sun-burn’ on unpigmented areas of skin such as the muzzle or limbs. The possibility of underlying liver disease should be investigated
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