Skin & Coat

Allergic skin reaction (hypersensitivity to the saliva of biting midges) with intense itching, mainly at the mane crest and tail base.

Umbrella term for an inflammatory skin reaction in the pastern fold with weeping, crusty or fissured areas. Usually multifactorial (wet, dirt, friction) and can be complicated by bacteria or mites.

Contagious fungal infection of the upper skin layers (usually Trichophyton/Microsporum) with circular, scaly, hairless patches. Highly contagious between horses and transmissible to humans (zoonosis).

Sarcoids are the most common skin tumours in horses — locally aggressive, fibroblastic skin growths associated with bovine papillomavirus (BPV-1/-2). They do not metastasise but tend to recur and can become more aggressive after irritation.

Acute, often allergic or pseudo-allergic skin reaction with suddenly appearing raised wheals. Can be harmless and transient but may recur — and is a warning sign with accompanying swelling or breathing difficulty.

Bacterial skin infection caused by Dermatophilus congolensis that flares up with persistent wetness. Typical are crusty, paintbrush-like matted hair tufts along the topline; bald patches appear after the crusts come off.

Skin disease caused by parasitic mites (often Chorioptes on the pastern/lower leg, less often Sarcoptes/Psoroptes) with intense itching, scaling and crusts. Mange is contagious and often transmitted via contact or shared equipment.

Hereditary connective tissue disorder of the skin (collagen defect through a mutation in the PPIB gene), in which the skin layers are insufficiently anchored. HERDA is inherited autosomal-recessive and occurs above all in certain cutting/performance lines of the Quarter Horse; only homozygous animals are affected, carriers are clinically unremarkable.

Hereditary connective tissue disorder of the Warmblood through a mutation in the PLOD1 gene (disturbed collagen cross-linking), inherited autosomal-recessive. Affected homozygous foetuses are mostly aborted or come into the world with extremely vulnerable, tearing skin and overextensible joints; the form is regarded as predominantly lethal. Carriers are clinically unremarkable and relatively frequent in Warmbloods.

Chronically progressive disorder of the lymph drainage in the lower legs of heavily feathered breeds (among others Shire, Clydesdale, Belgian Draught, Tinker). There is increasing swelling, skin folds and nodule formation under the dense feathering; a hereditary predisposition for a disturbed elastin/connective tissue regulation is assumed. CPL is not curable but can be slowed by consistent management.