Equine Allergies

AN INFOGRAPHIC BROUGHT TO YOU BY theHORSE EQUINE ALLERGIES Allergy: an immune response to what's generally a harmless substance. Equine allergies primarily affect the skin and/or respiratory tract in horses of any age and type. FOAL ADULT SENIOR ALLERGIC REACTIONS CAN BE TRIGGERED BY: Dust, mold, and pollen Insect bites Rarely, feed substances Products/ chemicals Vaccines, drugs, and plasma or transfusions applied to or touched by horses Allergic reactions can range from gradual and mildly annoying to sudden and life-threatening. REACTIONS CAN APPEAR AS: Swelling, redness, crusting, and/or itching at the contact site in the case of contact Hair Loss dermatitis (as in sweet itch from insect bites) Regional or body-wide hives Labored breathing, coughing, and exercise intolerance in the case of respiratory allergies (as in heaves from dust or mold) In severe cases: anaphylactic shock EPIPEN NOTE: Controversy exists over food hypersensitivity, but most veterinary dermatologists say most food related reactions are caused by contact rather than ingestion DIAGNOSIS To diagnose an allergy your veterinarian will examine: Where your horse lives Reaction's seasonality Location on the horse's body Horse's age FURTHER TESTS INCLUDE: Lesion biopsy and microscopic examination to rule out other causes, such as tumors, photosensitization, infection, and internal parasites. Intradermal (skin) allergy testing Serum (blood) allergy testing (SAT) TREATMENT & PREVENTION The two main treatments for any allergy are avoidance and corticosteroids. Antihistamines and “allergy shots" might also be effective. Fly mask/sheet Clean hay SHANFOO Medicated Nutritional supplements, such as those containing omega-3 fatty acids, to help redirect the immune system Shampoo Most allergies are not life-threatening. The key to keeping your horse comfortable is figuring out the cause and avoiding it. SPONSORED BY: the HORSE ATIN PERF ORMA NCE www.PLATINUMPERFORMANCE.COM (800) 553-2400