Facial Warts in Older Horses

If you have discovered facial warts on your older horse and are unsure what to do: Relax. Facial warts are unsightly; but if undisturbed -- not scraped or torn open -- they generally do not pose health problems and usually disappear over time. However, older horses do not usually get warts, so you need to make sure your wart diagnosis is correct and that you are not overlooking a more serious problem in your horse.

  1. Causes of Horse Warts

    • The viruses that cause warts in horses are not contagious to other species.

      The manifestation of a wart on your horse is due to a papilloma virus. There is more than one type, but in horses it is commonly referred to as the equine papilloma virus. These viruses are contagious and can live in an environment for as long as two months. Insects and flies, in particular, can spread the virus to other horses and cause warts, but neither you nor other animal species can contract warts from your horse.

    Common Characteristiscs of Horse Warts

    • Older horses will usually have a single wart in areas of its face rather than a cluster of warts.

      Young horses are more commonly afflicted with warts than older horses. Their immune systems are not as strong, whereas an older horse has had more exposure. If your older horse gets warts, it probably just developed a single wart instead of a cluster of them. Facial warts are commonly found in areas without much hair, such as around the muzzle, the nose and lips. Horses can also get them in their ears and on their eyelids. You should also check your horse's genital area, including the teats, as well as the legs. Also check inside the mouth to make sure there are no warts that could interfere with eating.

    Treating Horse Warts

    • Keep your horse's halter and other equipment clean and disinfected.

      Separate your horse from other horses and keep its tack and equipment clean. Use a fly mask to protect against insect transmission and to keep the warts intact so they won't spread. Most horse warts disappear if left untreated, but it can take several months or even a year, particularly with an older horse. The Horse Protection Society of North Carolina recommends mixing 1/2-cup olive oil with six to eight crushed garlic cloves and applying it with cotton to equine warts two to three times a day to hasten the disappearance of horse warts. Some particularly annoying warts may be surgically removed.

    Facial Bumps on Older Horses

    • Because it is uncommon for older horses to get warts, a confirmed diagnosis is important to ensure you are not leaving a more serious condition untreated. In older horses, other causes of facial bumps include abscesses from teeth or seeds, allergic reactions to insect bites, cysts around the eyes and nose, and hematomas from trauma or tumors. Some cancers, in particular, are more common in older horses, such as melanomas and sarcoids.