Horse Sinus Infection

Horses are reliant on their sense of smell in order to get around in the world, so a sinus infection is a big deal. A horse's sinuses are located along the cheeks and down to the upper teeth, so eating can be painful when the sinuses are swollen. Horses need to properly grind their food in order to stay healthy, but are reluctant to do so when their sinuses hurt.

  1. Types

    • According to "Horse Owner's Veterinary Handbook," the two most common types of horse sinus infections are sinusitis and rhinitis. The symptoms of sinusitis and rhinitis are similar, so it is best to get a firm diagnosis from a veterinarian before attempting treatment. Your veterinarian also can rule out the possibility of nasal cysts or tumors, which can present similar symptoms to sinusitis or rhinitis.

    Symptoms

    • Equine rhinitis starts with sneezing, coughing, fatigue, gobs of discharge from the eyes and a runny nose. The mucus at first looks clear and thin but soon gets thicker and turns yellow. Symptoms for equine sinusitis are similar, except the horse is usually only affected in one nostril. The affected side can often swell up, so the horse may shy away from having its head touched.

    Causes

    • Equine rhinitis is usually caused by a virus, but the "Horse Owner's Veterinary Handbook" mentions that fungal infections in the warm, moist parts of the nose can also be a culprit. An allergic reaction to pollen is also a suspected cause. Sinusitis also is usually the result of a prior infection. Veterinarian Jill Richardson, FRCVS, also points out that a horse's sinuses can become inflamed because of dental disease, fungal infection, bacterial infection, nasal tumors or nasal cysts.

    Significance

    • If left untreated, the horse will not only have difficulty breathing, but also difficulty eating. Richardson also mentions that if sinusitis appears and the horse has a rotting smell coming from its mouth, this is an indication that the horse has been suffering with a dental disease for weeks. If the sinusitis is not caused by a dental disease, the "Complete Equine Veterinary Manual" notes that horses can be affected if the stable or stall they are kept in is poorly cleaned or poorly ventilated.

    Treatment

    • The horse should be kept outside, weather permitting, in order to get good air circulation and rest. Antibiotics help when bacterial infection is the cause. Vaporizers in a stall can help loosen mucus so the horse can breathe easier. Clean off dried mucus gently with a moist cotton ball. For severe cases, the horse may need surgery to drain the sinuses. The Western College of Veterinary Medicine is experimenting with using balloon catheters for horses with chronic sinusitis. When the balloon catheter expands, it can help push out mucus and keep the sinus clear.