Horse Skin Problems

Horse skin problems can be very troubling for horses and owners alike. Some skin problems render a horse useless, some are potentially deadly, and others are barely distinguishable from the norm. Identifying the type of skin problem in a horse can allow for complete recovery and prevention of transmission as well as an overall increase in the horse's quality of life.

Hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA) is a genetic horse skin problem. HERDA makes a horse impossible to ride due to sensitive skin that frequently chafes and breaks under a saddle. The only positive way to identify a case of HERDA is through a blood test. A positive test frequently results in euthanization in an attempt to remove the horse from the breeding pool. Horse breeders must take extra care: The University of California at Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory estimates that nearly half of all horses are carriers of HERDA.

A staph infection is a powerful and resistant bacterial infection. The bacteria staphylococcus is found naturally in feces. Horses most commonly contract a staph infection when a small cut or sore comes in contact with the bacteria. Staph infections appear as crusted sores with warm and red skin. Occasionally, when left untreated, staph infections spread to organs and cause death. To prevent a staph infection, you must keep a clean housing area for the horse and clean sores that may become infected.

The most common horse skin problems are the result of parasitic insect infestations. When a horse's coat is at its longest, insects such as mites, gnats, flies and ticks tend to latch onto the skin of the horse. This can cause patchy hair loss, open sores and itchy skin. Additionally, mites can leave brown grime in the ears that imitates a thin layer of mud. Treatments include topical solutions and washes rich in sulphur that rid the horse of all parasitic insects.

Like humans, horses are susceptible to squamous cell and melanoma types of skin cancer. These cancers appear as broken skin that does not heal over time in the light-skinned and fleshy areas of the horse. Older white or gray horses are the most likely to develop skin cancer and should be monitored for skin irregularities frequently. When a skin cancer develops on a horse, the ulcerated tumors are surgically removed. This helps prevent the spread of cancer to other organs--which is not always possible if multiple lesions have appeared.

Horse skin problems called "papillomas" spread virally or through insect bites, and manifest as wart-like bumps in the ears and on the face of a horse. While varieties found in horses under one year old will diminish over time, other papillomas persist through the lifetime of the horse. While these warts may not be attractive, they are harmless to the horse and typically go unnoticed by the infected animal.