Horse Skin Disorders

Constant scratching, growths, problems sweating and hair loss are symptoms that may mean something is very wrong with your horse's skin. You may need to have your veterinarian take a look.

  1. Itchy Skin or Hair Loss

    • Horses with itchy skin and/or hair loss may be experiencing internal and external parasites, skin allergies, fungus or photosensitivity (only applicable to horses with unpigmented skin). Another possibility is a lymphosarcoma, a subcutaneous mass.

    Skin Infections

    • Skin infections, or pyoderma, usually come in the form of abscesses, reddened and hot skin and/or swelling. They can be a secondary condition to wounds.

    Other Tumors

    • Other tumors you may find on your horse include sarcoids (the most common tumor in horses, according to the "Horse Owner's Veterinary Handbook"), squamous cell carcinomas and melanomas. Carcinomas and melanomas occur most often in older, light-colored horses.

    HERDA

    • Hereditary Equine Regional Derma Asthenia is a genetic skin disease that causes hyperextensible skin and lesions in the skin. It cannot be cured, and there is a test to find out if a horse has the disease.

    Sweating

    • Horses have two diseases that affect sweating: anhidrosis, where a horse doesn't sweat, and hyperhidrosis, where a horse sweats too much.