Cellulitis Treatment and Prevention in Horses

My gelding had a really bad bout of cellulitis last summer, and we almost lost him to the disease. I’ve heard there is a greater chance he will get it again in the future. What are some possible preventative measures I can take to protect my horse?
Share
Favorite
Close

No account yet? Register

ADVERTISEMENT

Cellulitis Treatment and Prevention in Horses
Common clinical signs associated with cellulitis include painful swelling, heat, and lameness of the affected leg. | Photo: Courtesy Ryan Penno
Q. I am looking for some information on cellulitis in horses. My gelding had a really bad bout of it last summer, and we almost lost him to the disease. I’ve heard there is a greater chance he will get it again in the future. What are some possible preventative measures I can take to protect my horse?

Darlene, via e-mail


A. Cellulitis, which is also referred to as phlegmon, is characterized by a severe, deep, suppurative (pus-forming) infection that spreads throughout the layers of tissue located underneath the skin. In some instances the infection can even extend to the skin surface, which results in pus-containing discharge draining from the skin surface. It is the combination of depth and severity of infection that can allow the disease to persist or reoccur. Because of this, cellulitis can be a frustrating disease to treat for both horse owners and veterinarians. In addition the need for prolonged treatment can become expensive.

The disease process starts with a wound that allows bacteria to breach the protective layers of the skin and spread to deeper tissues. Interestingly, the hind legs appear to be more commonly affected than the front legs. Other contributing causes to cellulitis include external parasites (e.g., mites), disease of the lymphatic vessels in the legs, and other unknown factors

Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content.

TheHorse.com is home to thousands of free articles about horse health care. In order to access some of our exclusive free content, you must be signed into TheHorse.com.

Start your free account today!

Already have an account?
and continue reading.

Share

Written by:

Eric Renner, DVM, is a graduate of Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He joined Colorado State University’s Equine Field Service team after completing his internship there in June 2013. Renner has particular interests in equine dentistry, lameness, and teaching veterinary students. In his free time, he enjoys fly-fishing, skiing, road biking, and exploring the mountains and rivers of Colorado.

Related Articles

Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with

FREE weekly newsletters from TheHorse.com

Sponsored Content

Weekly Poll

sponsored by:

How much time do you usually spend grooming your horse?
440 votes · 440 answers

Readers’ Most Popular

Sign In

Don’t have an account? Register for a FREE account here.

Need to update your account?

You need to be logged in to fill out this form

Create a free account with TheHorse.com!