How do you treat photosensitivity in horses?
3 min read
Asked by: Joel Andika
Corticosteroid injections may be helpful in the early stages. Wounds to the skin should be kept clean to minimize secondary skin infections. Exposure to flies must be prevented because skin damaged during photosensitivity attracts flies and other insects.
What causes horse photosensitivity?
A common cause of hepatogenous photosensitivity is poisoning by grazing plants toxic to the liver or ingesting blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) or fungal toxins. The signs associated with photosensitivity are similar regardless of the cause.
How do you control photosensitivity?
Prevention and Treatment
- Avoiding overexposure to sun, wear protective clothing, use sunscreens (prevention)
- For photosensitivity, stopping drugs or chemicals and sometimes taking corticosteroids.
- For solar urticaria, antihistamines, corticosteroids, or sunscreens or sometimes ultraviolet (UV) light therapy.
How do horses treat photosynthesis?
Typically, treatment for photosensitivity starts by taking the horse off all pasture that may contain alsike clover or other phototoxic plants and keeping him indoors, shielded from the sun, until his skin heals.
Can a horse be allergic to the sun?
Sun-related Allergies True allergy, or hypersensitivity, to the sun is rare in horses. More common is “photosensitivity,” sun-related skin injury that’s triggered by chemical imbalances in the body. Forage plants are one possible culprit in the process but certain drugs or underlying liver disease may also be factors.
Can photosensitivity be cured?
The mainstays of treatment of drug-induced photosensitivity include identification and avoidance of the causative agent, the use of sun protection, and the institution of measures for symptomatic relief. Topical corticosteroids and cool compresses may alleviate drug-induced photosensitivity.
How long does it take for photosensitivity to go away?
What are the signs and symptoms of photosensitivity? Your signs and symptoms usually start within 2 to 3 hours of sun exposure. They usually go away within 24 hours after sun exposure. Your signs and symptoms can last up to a week or more.
What weeds cause photosensitivity in horses?
Primary Photosensitivity
Some plants (St. John’s Wort, buckwheat, perennial ryegrass, whiteheads) can cause skin problems when horses ingest or even touch them. Photosensitivity is a severe dermatitis (skin inflammation) that occurs when certain plant pigments damage nonpigmented skin cells with sun exposure.
How do you know if your horse is sunburned?
Red skin and inflammation are both common signs of sunburn, although horses may also experience blisters, peeling, scabs, and cracked skin in more severe cases. 1 This is usually limited to the face and nose, but horses that are thin-coated or have pink skin may also become sunburned on their backs.
Can black horses get sunburned?
Most horses are dark skinned, making it difficult to get sunburnt. However, horses with pink skin can suffer from very severe sunburns, burning and blistering their skin. We’ve compiled a list of some tricks to help minimize the risk of sunburn for your horses.
Can you put sunscreen on a horse?
Apply sunscreen to the muzzle and any white markings on your horse. Use a high-SPF sunscreen and remember that it requires fairly frequent reapplication for complete coverage. Products containing zinc often hold up the best; think of the zinc oxide that lifeguards use. Don’t be stingy—put on a thick layer.
How hot is too hot for horses?
How hot is too hot to ride? Most pony clubs and show venues use 180 as the maximum heat index to ride. Others say if it’s 90◦ or higher, they cancel shows. Personally, since my horse is older, I prefer to keep the heat index closer to 140-150.
