Just like humans, equines can be allergic to various substances, such as plant particles, substances in the air, or some kinds of food. Allergens are the term used for such substances. When inhaled or absorbed by the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract, these allergens in horses incite histamine production in the body, leading to inflammation.
Some medications or vaccinations can also trigger allergies in horses. Allergies can be broadly classified as airborne, foodborne, or seasonal. This article focuses on equine allergies, causes and symptoms, and supplements or diet for your horse's overall health.
Types of Allergies In Horses
Let’s understand the equine allergy types before delving into the causes and symptoms:
1. Airborne Allergies:
This is common in horses with high dust, mold, or other plant allergens. Usually, the horse's immune system takes care of these allergens, yet in some horses, the immune system reacts disproportionately in the presence of these airborne allergens. Airborne allergens such as pollen dust, hay dust, mold, etc., generally affect the skin, causing itching, urticaria, and rashes.
2. Foodborne Allergies:
Although rare, there are chances of foodborne allergies in horses. Certain types of grains or hay are found to cause urticaria-like reactions on the skin of horses. Food allergies with specific high-protein concentrate diets have also been reported.
3. Seasonal Allergies:
Seasonal allergies in horses most commonly arise at certain times of the year. Due to the abundance of potential allergens in the environment, they are usually observed in the spring and summer months.
4. Agents of Seasonal Allergies:
- Biting Insects/Flies: Biting insects such as mosquitoes, stable flies, horseflies, and others can induce an allergic reaction in horses. The saliva of these insects triggers this allergic reaction.
- Molds: It is common for molds to develop in hay. Consumption of such mold-affected hays could trigger an allergic reaction.
- Pollen and Dust: Like humans, horses can develop pollen allergies from various plants. Dust can also be a problem with bedding or even hay.
What Are the Symptoms of Horse Allergies?
Allergies in horses manifest in two primary ways: dermatological and respiratory symptoms.
Dermatological Symptoms:
- Itchy rash or raised bumps (hives) on the neck, flanks, and body
- Patches of hair loss due to intense itching
- Scratching or rubbing against objects
- Coughing, sneezing, wheezing
- Nasal discharge
- Exercise intolerance or behavioral changes
Respiratory Symptoms:
In some serious forms of allergy, severe respiratory distress can occur, which requires immediate intervention by a veterinarian.
Diagnosis of Equine Allergies
Identifying the precise allergen is a challenging task. Standard diagnostic methods include:
- Skin Testing: Injecting allergens under the skin and observing reactions near the injection site.
- Diet Elimination: For food allergies, eliminate the suspected food from the diet and observe if symptoms resolve over 14 days.
Prevention and Treatment
Once the allergy is diagnosed, the first line of treatment is to avoid the allergen, if possible, and use antihistamines or corticosteroids, which could control the inflammatory reaction.
If the horse has respiratory allergies, it is preferable to keep its stable and bedding clean and free from dust and mold.
In severe cases with few improvements after caring for the bedding, keeping it outside for as long as possible rather than limiting it will be the logical course of action.
Using less dusty feeds may also help. However, if the horse is susceptible to pollen allergies, it can be kept inside to avoid pollen.
Dietary Changes:
The most effective way of preventing horse allergies is to maintain a healthy diet and check if your horse is allergic to a specific food. Here are a few dietary changes you can make:
- Low-Dust Feeds: Use pellet or cubed feeds that produce less dust.
- Soaking Hay: Soak hay in water before feeding to reduce dust and mold spores.
- Eliminating Problematic Foods: Identify and remove any food items causing allergies.
- Supplements: supplements that include ingredients like MSM, spirulina and citrus bioflavonoids help to support a natural inflammatory response.
Take Care of Equine Allergies with the Right Amount of Vet Approved Supplements
Although most allergic reactions are not life-threatening, they can be managed by making a few environmental adjustments and providing immune supporting supplements like vitamin e supplement for horses. However, some severe respiratory allergies may require immediate veterinary treatment.
At MedVetPharm, we understand the challenges that come with allergies in horses. Our team is dedicated to delivering complete support and high-quality supplements to improve your horse's health and well-being.
Visit our website or call us at 833-809-4848 to speak with our experts. Let our professionals help ensure your horse leads a healthy, allergy-free life.