The Top 4 Causes of Allergies in Horses

If your horse has itchy skin or started coughing and shaking its head more often, it could have allergies. You can also watch for hives during allergy season, displayed as small bumps to large welts. It’s important to treat its allergies with the pet care products at Gou Gou Pets before their symptoms take an anaphylactic turn.

Watch out for these likely suspects to keep them healthy during spring and summer.

1. Summer Eczema

Your horse may be allergic to Culicoides Biting Midges. Coming into contact with these tiny pests may result in rashes along the dock, neck, and stomach. These rashes might ooze if left alone long enough, leaving dry and crusty skin behind.

If your horse has tried rubbing and biting itself, you might want to check for summer eczema, aka sweet itch. If left untreated, this allergy could lead to a chronic illness or, worse, yet another bacterial infection.

2. Heaves

Heaves is an allergic respiratory disease caused by pollen. If your horse has insect- or food-related allergies, they are more likely to be allergic to airborne particles like pollen, dust, and mold.

All of the above lead to respiratory symptoms like:

• Runny eyes
• Headshaking
• Breathing problems
• Excessive nasal discharge

While heaves usually occur in older horses, their younger counterparts aren’t immune to the allergic triggers in their environment. If left untreated, the blocked airways may develop an infection.

3. Miscellaneous Insects

Midges aren’t the only insect species your horse might be allergic to. They’re just as likely to display signs of insect bite allergies upon coming into contact with horseflies, mosquitos, black flies, and stable flies.

The following symptoms appear around the tail, stomach, mane, and face.

• Bald patches
• Itchiness
• Inflammation
• Scabs

While treating these allergies, you can offer your horse some relief through our Allergy Pet Shampoo. It alleviates redness, itchiness, and dryness, among other painful and uncomfortable symptoms.

4. Edible Culprits

Equines aren’t strangers to food allergies but don’t come across them often. Your horse might be allergic to certain grasses, grains, and ingredients in nutritional supplements and processed feeds.

There are several ways to spot food allergies. As soon as you change their diet, keep an eye out for:

• Nasal discharge/bleeding
• Hives
• Diarrhea
• Swelling around the shoulders
• Bloating

Relieve the Itch with Horse Health Products Online

Instead of letting your horse scratch that itch, relieve it with our natural pet health products for equines. Bathe your horse(s) with our holistic infused shampoo and have a pet first aid kit nearby to see to their allergy-related injuries.

You can also invest in preventive care with our horse supplies, starting with the right grooming products. Rid their mane of any seasonal pests with the Foldable Grooming Kit and Detangler Spray, and let the anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory pet shampoos relieve their symptoms.

Get in touch for more information about our veterinary products.