Resources - Interesting Horse Facts

UNDERSTANDING YOUR HORSE'S SKIN

Did you know that the skin is a horse's largest organ and most important organ, and that the percent of this organ on your horse gets larger as they age? This fact is also true for humans as well. Therefore, why is it that we spend so little time focusing on the products we apply to our horse's (or our own) skin? What are the most significant skin problems that you are likely to see on your horse?

Itching - Itching can be caused by a variety of influences including insect bites, such as gnats or biting midges. These insects generally feed on sensitive skin on the muzzle, belly, inner thighs, chest and other sensitive areas. They may also attack the pole and cause hair loss at the base of the tail. These insects may also introduce a disease or parasite that can cause increase inflammation in those areas. The common name given to this condition is "sweet itch." Treatment includes bringing your horse in at night, or covering the horse with a protective blanket. And, insect control sprays should also be a part of the treatment.

Dandruff - This is a general term for the shedding of old skin. The shedding of skin is a natural function, but excessively dry, flaky skin can be a sign of a nutritional deficiency or it could be secondary allergies to insect bites. It is important to recognize when this shedding becomes excessive and to begin treatments to include a potential change in your horse's diet or a soothing shampoo treatment to restore essential oils to the skin.

Scratches - Your horse can get scratches for a large number of reasons. However, it is important to treat these cuts, regardless of size, with a product that is soothing and that contains ingredients to combat both fungi and bacteria.

Allergies - Horses can have allergic reactions to certain substances or from insect bites. Contact dermatitis is a condition in horses that results from an allergic reaction to things that touch the skin. This could be ingredients in shampoos or fly sprays. Or, horses can be allergic to plants that it may come in contact with out on the trail. If your horse is sensitive to fragrances in shampoos or fly sprays, look for a product that is both natural and free of odor.

Rain rot - Rain rot, known as Dermatophilus, is a skin problem created by a bacterium. It can be spread to your horse by another horse or by another animal. Once spread to your horse, it lives dormant under the skin until the right environmental conditions are present. Those conditions include times of prolonged wetness, high humidity, high temperatures or during outbreaks of biting insects.

And, the symptoms of the disease are made worse in horses that are weakened which may be due to poor living conditions and/or poor diets.

Although the condition may clear up when the weather conditions improve, it is always better to treat even minor cases before they become worse. A treatment with a shampoo that has anti-bacterial characteristics will help a great deal to clear up the condition. If this doesn't clear up the condition, call you veterinarian who may decide to provide antibiotic injections.

Take home message - there are many influences on a horse's skin that can cause painful irritations and can even severely impact the health of your horse. Therefore, it is important to take care to inspect your horse's coat and skin regularly and to undertake consistent grooming. Don't share your grooming tools with other horse owners, or if you do you may want to disinfect these tools on a regular basis. Also, take notice of any bumps or lumps and report these to your vet.

During the warmer months, or if your horse gets a lot of work, treat minor irritations with a soothing shampoo that will not dry the skin. Also, if your horse is sensitive to odors, avoid shampoos or fly sprays that contain highly fragrant products. Natural Groom is formulated from a proprietary blend of coconut oils to replenish the essential oils to your horse's skin. It is free of any odors and is gentle enough to be used in even the most sensitive areas of your horse's body. There are no toxic chemicals or fragrances in Natural Groom. We think that you will agree that it is the most gentle and effective shampoo and skin and coat conditioner that you can buy.