Ringworm In Horses: Owning a horse entails a lot of responsibilities ranging from the basics such as feeding and bathing them to always being in the know with regard to the horse’s health.
A well-kept horse is a healthy horse. Thus, as a horse owner, you need to be always on the lookout for possible ailments that may hit your beloved animal. Among the most common horse-related diseases you should know about is ringworm in horses.
Wondering what ringworm in horses is and how one can get rid of it? Continue reading below for more information.
An Overview Of Horse Ringworm
Ringworm in horses is a disease due to a fungus that thrives in damp soil. It usually spreads to horses or other animals while they’re playing in the grass or lying on the dirt.
Do note that fungus may also thrive in other places where your horses are staying for extended periods. The fungus that causes ringworms can live for months in your equine’s grooming equipment, fence posts, stalls, railings, and bedding. It’s from such surfaces that this fungus may find its way onto your horses.
Upon contact, the fungus stays on the moist surface of your equine’s skin and eats the keratin in the horse’s hair. And it’s believed that lesions on the horses’ skin can cause rain scald on horses, besides horse ringworm.
Signs Of Horse Ringworm
There are different tell-tale signs of ringworm infections in horses.
For starters, one of the most obvious signs of ringworms in horses is a bald circular area on your equine’s skin. This hairless area sometimes has rashes or redness too. In some cases, the bald patches can come in different shapes. Another sign of horse ringworm infection is flaky skin and some broken horse hairs. It’s recommended that you reach out to a licensed horse veterinarian immediately the soonest as you spot any of the symptoms mentioned.
Ringworm infection can affect any area of your beloved horse’s body. It’s believed that the areas of the equine’s body that are in most contact with the harness or tack, like the saddle or girth, are most prone to ringworm infestation.
Typically, young horses are more at risk of contracting ringworms due to their weak immune systems. On the contrary, older horses that have mild ringworm signs can recover quickly. So, if you’re planning to buying additional horses in the future, be sure to remember this information.
5 Ways To Eliminate Ringworm In Horses
Keep your horse’s health in top condition by preventing them from contracting diseases like horse ringworms. Nonetheless, if your equine has been infected with the illness already, you need to eliminate ringworm infestation immediately.
To effectively get rid of ringworm in horses, here are some methods you can try out:
1. Call Your Horse Veterinarian
The soonest you spot any signs of ringworm infection on your horse, don’t hesitate to call your equine doctor. They can carry out a physical examination of your beloved animal friend to determine if they’re truly infected with horse ringworm. Besides that, they can come up with a treatment regimen that you can use on your horse.
2. Isolated The Infected Horse
When getting rid of ringworms in horses, one of the first things you should do is to isolate the infected equine from others. Since ringworms are contagious and may quickly spread through direct contact or sharing grooming equipment, isolating your horse can prevent the situation from worsening.
3. Follow The Veterinarian’s Treatment Regimen For Your Horse
In terms of ringworm treatment, several effective sprays, washes, and shampoos can be applied to your horse’s skin. If possible, treat your horse’s entire body unless your veterinarian suggests focusing on particular areas.
While treating your horse, use disposable gloves and clean your hands properly after each treatment session. Depending on your equine’s condition, veterinarians may prescribe antifungal powder treatments as well.
4. Disinfect Your Horse’s Stable And Tools
Eliminating ringworms doesn’t only involve your horses. It also includes your horse’s stable and tools, including the tack, grooming kit, and stall. Ensure to either dispose of or disinfect anything your horse can have contact with while infected, such as transport vehicles, stable floors, grooming tools, and more.
To further lessen the risk of contamination and protect yourself from ringworms, wear gloves and don’t forget to disinfect your boots thoroughly. You must also wash your clothing. Even if such measures sound extreme, they’re crucial to getting rid of ringworm and preventing its spread.
5. Strength Your Equine’s Immune System
Aside from treating the infection directly, supporting your equine’s immune system is critical to combat ringworm in horses. To boost your sports horse’s immune system, do your best to provide them with proper nutrition, including diets rich in minerals and vitamins. Plus, provide your equine with a clean stable, and safe drinking water.
Conclusion
Ringworm in horses, although not a life-or-death situation to most equines, needs to be treated accordingly to promote the health and well-being of horses. Hopefully, the pieces of information are helpful for horse owners like you in helping you handle cases of ringworm infestations on your beloved equines. Lastly, it’s highly recommended that you reach out to your partner veterinarian the moment you suspect your horse is suffering from ringworms.