Jewel

I was visiting a friend yesterday and she was showing me some lumps that her horse has developed all over her back and hindquarters. The vet told her that the horse had developed allergies. I guess I never knew that horses developed allergies. The doctor has run a few tests to determine what type of allergies, and the best way to treat them.

HorseDaughter

Wow, that seems odd - are they like hives? I guess it IS possible for animals to suffer from allergies - I know at least with our dog, the vet said she can experience the same pollen irritants that we do, which make her have sneezing fits - and she's closer to the ground, so she breathes them in even worse than I do! It does seem strange to hear of a large animal like a horse develop allergies, though - I certainly hope she isn't allergic to whatever they are feeding her! Maybe something to do with the heat and her saddle, since it's in that area?

SaddleSore

We used to have a cat who was allergic to flea bites. When bitten her fur would all fall out in a ring about four inches across. One single flea could cause the cat to lose all the fur on the body.

Worse, she was allergic to the medication and flea collars so we had to bath her weekly in flea shampoo.

HorseDaughter

OH that is so sad - the poor cat! She must have been miserable! It must have bothered you, too, to see her suffering! It's tough when our pets are hurting and they can't even tell us about it.

iHorse

Back and hind quarters almost seem like something that blew into her stall if she's got an open door top half? They can definitely get allergies from bites, sun, and pollen. I've know lots of white/grey horses that seemed to have contact allergies. Especially when trees were pollinating (you know when they turn your car yellow) they'd have to be kept indoors.