| Just like humans, horses can have a number of | | | | allow it to recover normally. If the horse is allergic |
| different types of allergies. The most common | | | | to something in the stable (e.g. dust, fungus, mold) |
| types of horse allergies are respiratory and skin. | | | | one can let it out to pasture until it has had time |
| Respiratory allergies are also known as 'heaves' | | | | to recover and one has had time to clean the |
| and are often similar to asthma in people. | | | | stable. Alternatively, if the problem is in the |
| A horse can be allergic to things in the air (e.g. | | | | pasture (some plant), one can place the horse in a |
| pollen, dust, mold, spores), certain foods or | | | | stable until it recovers. |
| nutritional supplements, or insect bites. Normally, | | | | Depending on what the horse is allergic to, some |
| allergies develop over time with exposure. For | | | | common solutions are: |
| example, a horse may not have an allergy to | | | | - Hay dust. Try soaking the hay in water or find a |
| straw but if exposed to moldy straw over a long | | | | supplier of less dusty hay. If this doesn't work, |
| period of time may develop an allergy to straw | | | | you may need to switch to an alternative food, |
| mold. | | | | such as pelleted hay. |
| Symptoms | | | | - Straw dust. Try lightly spraying the straw with |
| Just as people can have many different allergic | | | | water, to damp down the dust. |
| symptoms (itchy eyes or skin, bumps or rashes, | | | | - Dust. Keep the stable clean. If necessary, lightly |
| difficulty breathing), horses can have a variety of | | | | sprinkle with water to damp down the dust. |
| symptoms as well. Common symptoms in horses | | | | - Bedding. If the horse is allergic to its bedding, |
| include: | | | | you can try another type of bedding. You may |
| - Coughing or difficulty breathing | | | | also want to consider rubber mats instead of |
| - Reduced energy, especially during exercise | | | | bedding. |
| - Nasal discharge | | | | - Insects. One can keep the horse in the stable |
| - Watery eyes | | | | when the insects are active (e.g. during the day) |
| - Skin bumps | | | | and let it out when they are inactive (e.g. at night). |
| - Itchy skin. The horse can be seen rubbing itself | | | | One can also use insect repellents or fly sheets to |
| on the ground or against objects, or its hair may | | | | keep the insects off. |
| be worn away where it has been rubbing. | | | | - Mold or Fungus. This are normally associated |
| Unfortunately, it can be difficult to diagnose an | | | | with poor quality hay, feed or bedding. Do not buy |
| allergy, as each of these symptoms can have | | | | any products with mold or fungus. Keep these |
| other causes, aside from allergies. For example, a | | | | products in a dry and well ventilated area, without |
| throat infection could cause coughing, or a lung | | | | sitting on a cold floor, so they do not develop |
| infection could result in breathing difficulty and | | | | mold or fungus. If you find any product which |
| reduced energy. Diagnosis is further complicated | | | | does have mold/fungus, do not use it but dispose |
| by the fact that there can be a delayed reaction | | | | of it instead. |
| between exposure and a visible reaction. For | | | | - Plants. If your horses are allergic to certain |
| example, symptoms of skin allergies (e.g. bumps) | | | | plants in the pasture, these should be reduced or |
| may appear 12 hours after exposure to the | | | | eliminated. Be careful of using herbicides for this |
| allergen (the substance the horse is allergic to). | | | | purpose as that can result in laminitis. |
| Consequently, one may need veterinary | | | | Note that in the case of watered hay or straw, |
| assistance to determine if the symptoms are due | | | | one must ensure that the hay and straw is |
| to an allergy or some other cause. In some cases | | | | changed daily so that it does not have time to |
| (particularly in the case of skin allergies) the | | | | develop mold or fungus. |
| veterinarian may take a tissue sample for analysis | | | | Cleaning a stable tends to disturb dust, mold, |
| to determine if the problem is allergic and if so to | | | | fungus and other potential allergens. Consequently, |
| help identify the cause. | | | | one should always remove a horse from the |
| Treatment and Control | | | | stable while it is being cleaned and for some time |
| The treatment of horses for allergies is similar to | | | | afterwards (until things have had time to settle |
| the treatment for people. The preferred | | | | again). |
| treatment is avoidance. On exposure, there are a | | | | Normally, a well ventilated stable will have fewer |
| number of treatments (e.g. anti-histamines or | | | | allergens than a poorly ventilated one. However, in |
| corticosteroids) to reduce the symptoms and | | | | the case of a dust allergy, increasing ventilation |
| make the horse more comfortable. There are | | | | may make the situation worse (at least in the |
| also a number of desensitizing treatments. | | | | short term) as increased wind through the stable |
| Alternatively, if the symptoms are not severe, | | | | may stir up dust. |
| one can separate the horse from the allergen and | | | | |