Dermatitis in Horses: Allergic and Infectious

Dermatitis–simply, skin inflammation–is relatively common in horses, whether its cause is an allergic
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Dermatitis–simply, skin inflammation–is relatively common in horses, whether its cause is an allergic reaction, a fungal infection, or an infectious bacterium. Ann Rashmir-Raven, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, of Michigan State University, discussed the most common types of equine dermatitis and the best treatment options at the 2011 Western Veterinary Conference, held Feb. 20-24 in Las Vegas, Nev.,

Insect Hypersensitivity

"Horses develop hives probably more often than any other species," said Rashmir-Raven, who is an associate professor of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, adding that insects are the No. 1 cause of pruritus (itchiness) and are "presumed" to be the No. 1 cause of hives in horses.

Insect hypersensitivity, as the name alludes, is an allergic reaction to the saliva of biting insects such as Culicoides spp. (biting midges), black flies, horn flies, stable flies, horseflies, and mosquitoes, she explained. This is typically a seasonal disorder and tends to worsen over the years as the horse has repeated episodes

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Erica Larson, former news editor for The Horse, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.

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