With spring upon us and seasonal allergy season well underway, it is an appropriate time to discuss allergies in horses. Equines are just as susceptible to both environmental and food allergies as humans. Knowledge of common allergens and the signs of an allergic reaction will help you be a better equine caretaker. So, what are the common allergies that horses face?
Horses can experience allergic reactions to insect bites, pollen, horse feed ingredients, mold and dust spores, and vaccines and drugs. The best way to prevent allergic reactions is to limit allergen exposure. Corticosteroids in small doses for a short time treat active reactions.
Horse allergies need proper care and attention so that equines living with them have the best quality of life possible. Learn more about common allergies below.
Common Allergies in Horses
Equine allergies occur with hypersensitivity to one or more common allergens. They impact the skin and respiratory tract most often. Allergens for horses include bites from midges, gnats, horse flies, mosquitoes, grass, weed, and tree pollen, ingredients in feed, mold and mildew spores, and vaccines and drugs.
Allergic reactions range from mild to life-threatening. Skin reaction signs include itching, rubbing, scratching, and hives on the coat. Respiratory reactions are marked by coughing, difficulty breathing, lack of tolerance to exercise, and decreased performance.
Anaphylaxis is a severe acute allergic reaction that occurs in extreme cases and involves increased effort to breathe, recumbency, and shock. Seek immediate veterinary care if your horse is in an anaphylactic state.
Veterinarians discover allergies through allergy testing. Food allergies in horses are rare but possible, although they are not well understood by scientists and veterinarians, Furthermore, allergies occur at any age, and older horses are more susceptible to them.
How Does The Equine Immune System Respond to Allergies in Horses?
Allergies in horses happen when the immune system overreacts to the presence of an allergen, which disrupts the immune balance. The stimulation from the allergen is so great that the immune cells jump into overdrive to keep things in check.
The response can be acute or chronic. Upon allergen exposure, the horse’s immune system produces IgE antibodies to get rid of the allergen. If a horse is repeatedly exposed to an allergen, IgE binds to it on mast cells and cytokines, initiating an inflammatory response to combat the allergen.
Allergic Reaction Treatment
The best ways to treat allergies in horses are to limit allergen exposure and to calm the immune system to reduce reaction severity. Remove allergens from your horse’s environment as much as possible and change their diet to avoid what they are allergic to.
Steriods and antihistamines can be used in small doses for severe cases to suppress the immune system and, thus, the immune response to allergens. Use caution with steroids because they are known to adversely affect vital organs.
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