Common Horse Diseases & Skin Conditions

Sadly, health problems can occur in all breeds of horse, regardless of how well cared for they are. Some can be avoided. However, some conditions have no obvious cause. To help owners know what to look out for, we’ve put together a guide on some of the most common diseases and skin conditions that can affect horses.
If you’re concerned about any change in your horse’s behaviour or physical appearance, it’s important to consult a vet. They will know what to do and will offer the best advice and treatment for your horse.

Common horse diseases

Like humans, there are a huge number of diseases, conditions and illnesses that can affect horses. Some of these can be prevented through vaccinations, and spotting signs of disease and other problems early can avoid serious consequences. The conditions below are common in horses in many countries across the world and ones which owners should be aware of.

Colic

Colic is a term used to describe abdominal pain and usually refers to problems in the gastrointestinal tract. There are many different types of intestinal problems that cause colic symptoms, ranging from mild to life-threatening in the worst cases. One of the most common types is spasmodic colic, which can be caused by excess gas. Alternatively, impaction colic may be caused by a build-up of dry or coarse feed in the gut among other reasons. There can also be more serious causes like a twisted or ruptured gut. Typical symptoms of colic include:

• Abdominal pain – horses may kick at their belly or frequently look at their flanks, lie down, scrape the ground or roll on the ground
• Anxiety and restlessness
• Unexplained sweating and odd breathing
• Lack of appetite or bowel movements
• Wanting to spend more time in water or playing with a water bucket, but not drinking from it
• Elevated pulse rate and temperature

Azoturia

Azoturia (sometimes known as Monday morning disease or ‘tying up’) is a condition that affects a horse’s muscles, causing problems like cramping, stiffness, high temperature or elevated heart rate. Usually affecting horses used in sport, it is often caused by a horse being overexerted and left without any changes to its diet.
Sometimes the pain can be so bad that horses find it difficult to stand. A good supportive treatment may ease this pain and help recovery. Azoturia can be prevented by carefully managing the horse’s exercise and diet plans.

Cough

Coughs can be infectious (bacterial, viral or parasitic), or non-infectious, including equine asthma. Coughs resulting from allergic reactions are often caused by dust, so it’s important to make sure stables are well ventilated and that bedding is dust-free.

Equine herpes

The herpes virus can cause respiratory difficulties, miscarriage and neurological problems in horses depending on the type of herpes virus. Horses can be vaccinated before they catch the virus, but symptoms to look out for otherwise are a fever, cough, nasal discharge and loss of appetite. This is extremely contagious.

Skin conditions in horses

Unfortunately, skin conditions in horses are also common. Some can be infectious and so catching them early on is vital in protecting the health of other horses and animals. Some of the most common skin conditions in horses are listed below:

1. Ringworm – A contagious fungal infection that normally shows circular, scaly or bald patches. These lesions may vary in size but are usually found around the head, neck, saddle and girth regions.
2. Rainscald – This is a skin infection often associated with moisture softening the skin and making it prone to bacterial infection. Horses with weakened immunity or in poor condition are particularly susceptible to rainscald. Poor air circulation, leaking or non-breathable turnout rugs, or constant moisture from rain or sweat can be the cause. Owners should look out for patchy hair loss along the back and quarters, matted hair, sores and weeping lesions.
3. Mud fever – Caused by a bacterial infection, mud fever is most common in the winter months when conditions are wet and muddy. Symptoms include inflamed and scaly skin on the legs, typically at the back of the pasterns. In extreme cases it might sometimes cause a fever. Mud fever is caused by bacteria entering wet skin, causing scabs and sealing in the infection. Ensuring legs are cleaned and dried properly after being outside can help avoid mud fever.
4. Sweet itch –Midges (named culicoides) cause allergic reactions when they bite horses. This produces inflammation of the skin and causes the horse’s backs, manes and tails to become particularly itchy. Horses usually rub themselves to relieve the itching. The best thing to do is apply a repellent recommended by a vet and keep the horse inside during dawn and dusk to avoid the wrath of any midges.
5. Aural plaques – Equine aural plaques are found inside the ears and are usually flat, crusty and white. Fortunately, these aren’t usually painful and are purely cosmetic. However, biting flies may irritate the lesions, causing pain to the horse.
6. Dandruff – Also known as seborrhea, dandruff can be dry or oily. Dry dandruff appears as small flakes of skin usually on the base of the mane and tail. Oily dandruff causes larger, waxy crusts, often on the elbows, hocks or lower legs. These may leave large hairless patches when peeled off. Seborrhea may be due to other primary diseases that can be managed under veterinary direction.
7. Nodules – There are many possible causes for skin nodules but allergic reactions to insects are thought to be the most common cause of nodules. Skin nodules are growths or swellings under the skin – usually in the neck, back and withers. Nodules aren’t usually painful or itchy but may occasionally be so depending on their cause. Thankfully, most allergic nodules are harmless and will reduce naturally. However, vets may want to shrink or surgically remove them if they suspect other causes.
8. Mange – Several species of mites can cause mange – a parasitic infection. They appear initially as small, round bumps and turn into bald spots with scaly, thickened skin. Mange can be extremely irritating and itchy; horses may rub, stamp or bite at the areas affected. Mange must be treated and there are products to help, but veterinary advice is essential. Mites can pass from horse to horse, so it’s important to isolate an animal if they are found to be infected.
9. Lice – like humans and other animals, horses can suffer from lice. Having lice is extremely itchy and horses may experience hair loss due to excessive rubbing. There are two types of lice than can infect horses: chewing lice and biting lice. Chewing lice feed on dead skin cells, whereas biting lice feed on blood. Owners must isolate horses and treat the lice, otherwise it can spread rapidly.