07/26/2025
This week’s horse health topic: Hives! ‼️💥
Hives (urticaria) are local inflammatory reactions in the skin. They manifest as raised, flat-topped bumps of varying sizes and appear within minutes of contact exposure to an irritation, including:
Insect bites or stings 🐝
Snake bites 🐍
Certain drugs or vaccines 💉 💊
Soaps or shampoos 🧼
Plant allergens, including pollen or irritating particles in feed or bedding 🌾
In severe reactions , affected horses may also develop a fever (temperaute 101.5 F +) or mood changes (lethargy or anxiety).
Treatment may include:
1) Anti-inflammatory medicine, such as corticosteroids, anti-histamines, or NSAID (Banamine)
2) Cold-hosing of the affected area to reduce inflammation
3) Daily cleansing with a gentle shampoo or detergent that’s free of fragrances or dyes to remove topical allergens.
4) Discontinuing the medicine or topical product (soap/shampoo) that may be causing the hives
5) Changing bedding and/or hay
What sets off hives in your horse? Sound off in the comments!
