Horse Supplements for Skin Allergies

Horses are susceptible to a variety of irritating skin allergies.

Horses suffer from a variety of skin allergies, and their reaction can range from seemingly harmless bumps to severe itching, irritation and hair loss. In addition to traditional medications, there are several feed supplements that may help prevent or reduce allergic reactions in your horse.

Fly Control

Skin allergies are often caused by fly bites. There are several commercial feed-through fly-control products that kill fly larvae in horse manure before they mature into adult flies.

Garlic

Garlic can be added to a horse's diet to deter flying insects. According to Dr. Lydia Gray, DVM, while there is no scientific proof that garlic repels flies, "Many people swear by these natural products. The fact that there's no supporting research doesn't mean the products don't work."

Flaxseed

There is evidence that flaxseed reduces the effects of skin allergies. A study by the University of Guelph Equine Research Centre showed that feeding ground flaxseed to horses exposed to allergens resulted in a less severe reaction when compared to a control group.

Other Supplements

There is anecdotal evidence that several other natural supplements, when added to a horse's regular feed, reduce the severity of skin allergies. These include Spirulina, Chinese hemp seed and MSM.

Allergen Avoidance

In an article in "The Horse" magazine, veterinarian Dr. Bettina Wagner said, "My recommended treatment for skin allergies is allergen avoidance." Wagner recommends minimizing exposure by blanketing and/or stabling the horse when insects or airborne allergens are at their peak.

References

• The Horse: Researchers Itching to Find New Equine Skin Allergy Tests
• The Horse: Flaxseed Might Help Fight Sweet-Itch
• Whole Horse: Coping with Seasonal Skin Allergies