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Food Allergies
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"A better term for the condition would be adverse reactions to food," according to Dawn Logas, DVM, Dipl. ACVD. Food allergies are rare and typically occur in horses that are 1 to 10 years old, are non-seasonal, and not usually affected by environmental changes.
Skin Allergies
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Another form of allergy is atopic dermatitis--sensitivities from contact to the skin. Fly spray, shampoo, some plants, molds, danders and bedding can cause atopic dermatitis.
Insect Allergies
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Almost any type of fly bite can cause adverse reactions--eosinophilic granuloma--but most bothersome are gnats, according to Stephen White, DVM, Dipl. ACVO. The reaction first appears as a benign raised, firm nodule. It is much firmer, raised and more permanent than hives and will not flatten out when you press on it.
Symptoms
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Symptoms vary, but can include serious nasal discharge, sneezing, itchy skin, antipodean-vascular reaction that causes swelling in the capillaries, papules, excoriations, erythematic, loss of hair, lesions, gastrointestinal problems and pyroderma.
Treatment
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If you suspect your horse is having a reaction caused from contact with an allergen, try giving him a bath with a mild shampoo. In more severe cases, treating the horse with corticosteroids can shut down the allergic reaction. For a horse with chronic hives, regular low doses of a corticosteroid are the best course of action, according to Mansmann.
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Equine Allergies
An allergy is a condition in which the body reacts adversely to a certain substance. The reaction might appear locally in the skin or can involve other body systems.