If your horse suddenly looks like it has run through hundreds of stinging nettles or been bitten by a swarm of mosquitoes, it could be hives, also known as urticaria. Triggered by certain stimuli, this excessive reaction of the immune system causes hundreds of small, round, raised swellings, known as wheals, to form on the horse's skin. In most cases, this rash disappears quickly once the cause has been treated.
Hives are characterized by the sudden appearance of wheals. Before this occurs, the horse may show signs of restlessness, but these often go unnoticed. The owner usually only notices the full rash. Within a very short time, the entire body is covered with round swellings of varying sizes, some of which are so close together that they appear to form a flat surface. The wheals are particularly noticeable on the neck and trunk. They can change shape, disappear, and reappear immediately. In individual cases, the wheals can also spread in a striped pattern. Rarely, the condition is accompanied by itching, which, if at all, occurs mainly in the initial phase. The general condition of affected horses is usually unaffected, unless the mucous membranes in the head or anal area are involved, which is rather unusual in horses. In rare cases, the wheals are so severe that these horses experience elevated body temperature and fatigue. If the hives persist for a long time, clear fluid may leak from the wheals, which dries on the skin surface and forms crusts.
Hives are the result of an allergic reaction that can be triggered by various stimuli. The horse's immune system reacts to these stimuli, as it would to a mosquito bite, by releasing histamine, a messenger substance in the body's inflammatory response, which leads to the swelling of the skin described above. Triggers can be both external and internal allergens, with the skin reaction to external stimuli usually limited to the site of the incident, while internal stimuli often lead to a spread throughout the entire body.
External stimuli:
Internal stimuli:
Based on the typical symptoms of the disease, making a diagnosis is usually straightforward, whereas identifying the cause proves much more difficult. In many cases, the trigger remains unknown.
Depending on the cause, the wheals usually disappear on their own after 12 to 24 hours. Showering with cold water can speed up the disappearance of the hives. If there is no improvement or if symptoms such as fever, breathing difficulties, or apathy occur, a veterinarian must be consulted immediately. In rare cases, it may be necessary to use medication to slow down the immune system's response, especially if there is swelling in the head area. However, the most important thing is to eliminate the cause, if known. In the case of feed, an elimination process can be used to find out which food may have triggered the reaction.
In general, the prognosis is good, as severe forms involving the respiratory mucosa or shock symptoms are extremely rare in horses. Rapid recovery can generally be expected once the triggering stimulus has been identified and eliminated.
Wobbler syndrome describes a complex of symptoms caused by nerve damage in the cervical spine. The often typical ataxic (irregular) gait of affected animals gave the disease its name, as the English word "to wobble" means to sway or stagger. It occurs particularly often in Dobermans and Great Danes, but other large breeds of dog can also be affected. Male dogs are twice as likely to develop the condition as females.
Dourine is a worldwide, notifiable horse disease that is transmitted through mating. It is highly contagious, spreads very quickly and is almost always fatal. It occurs mainly in Asia, North and South Africa. Thanks to appropriate control measures, the disease is now considered to have been eradicated in Australia, North America and Central Europe.
Narcolepsy is a pathological sleep disorder in which animals initially appear to be dozing, but then suddenly fall asleep and sometimes collapse without support. In most cases, this sleep disorder is associated with a loss of muscle tone, known as cataplexy.
Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining that can occur in dogs as a result of superficial or deep injuries. Persistent irritation of the stomach lining can lead to chronic inflammation and ultimately to a stomach ulcer. The disease can take an acute or chronic course.
Like humans and dogs, horses can also suffer from poor heart performance. In heart failure, the heart is unable to pump enough blood through the body, resulting in a lack of oxygen supply to the cells and a backup of blood in the body and pulmonary circulation.
Giardiasis is a diarrheal disease in dogs and cats caused by single-celled parasites in the small intestine. There are different types of Giardia, most of which are harmless to humans. However, some rare forms can also be transmitted to humans, making it a zoonosis. Young children and immunocompromised individuals are particularly at risk, which is why strict hygiene measures are essential when dealing with giardiasis.
Despite its somewhat misleading name (hematoma = bruise), this very rare disease in horses is not a simple bruise, but a slowly growing tumor originating in the ethmoid bone or paranasal sinuses that can cause severe bleeding. Ethmoid hematoma can occur in horses of any age, but is most common in horses between 8 and 15 years of age.
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, also known as dry eye, describes inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva caused by insufficient or completely absent tear fluid, which in severe cases can lead to blindness.
Pyometra is a purulent inflammation of the uterus that occurs in most cases approximately two to ten weeks after the last heat and is the most common disease of the female reproductive organs. According to recent scientific studies, 25% of all unspayed female dogs develop pyometra within the first ten years of their lives. Female dogs that have not yet been pregnant and female dogs over the age of four are at higher risk of developing pyometra.
This condition, also known as "cold tail," has been known for some time but remains largely unexplored. It occurs mainly in the summer months, is characterized by a distinctive tail posture, and is very painful.
This disease, which has only been known for a few years and is feared by warmblood breeders, is a hereditary genetic defect that leads to connective tissue weakness in newborn foals. It is estimated that WFFS has existed for 170 years and affects approximately nine to eleven percent of all warmbloods.
For many horse owners, this is a sad moment. The diagnosis "unrideable" abruptly ends the dream of experiencing more wonderful moments in the saddle with your horse. But even if riding is no longer possible, the horse should not be any less valuable as a friend. After all, there are wonderful alternatives for spending time together.
