askHELTIE HELTIEhorse® Allergic reactions in horses: How do they occur and what can you do about them?

Allergic reactions in horses: How do they occur and what can you do about them?

Does your horse ever have itching, a runny nose, or a slight cough? And do you actually know what causes it? Many horses are allergic to things like dust, pollen, or an ingredient in their feed. How does an allergic reaction occur? And more importantly: what can you do about it?

Algae

Skin

Clove

Salmon oil

Sweet itch

Black cumin

24 September '24 • 4 min reading time

Here is the English translation:

An allergy is an exaggerated reaction of the immune system. The defense system of your horse reacts strongly to substances in the environment that are actually harmless. This disturbed reaction of the immune system can result in itching, eczema, hay fever, coughing, or bumps. Often, you’ll see horses suffering from an allergic reaction scratch, lick, bite, and rub themselves.

Congenital or Slowly Developed

Allergies are sometimes congenital. For instance, summer eczema likely has a hereditary component. However, an allergy can also develop over time due to repeated exposure to certain substances. The first signs of an allergy in horses typically appear between the ages of one and six years.

Inflammatory Reaction

Horses can be exposed to irritating substances, called ‘allergens,’ through the air or their food. However, direct contact between the allergen and the horse’s skin is more common. When the horse’s immune system recognizes such an allergen as ‘foreign,’ the body produces inflammatory substances to expel this ‘enemy.’ This is essentially the allergic reaction.

Types of Allergies in Horses

Common allergies in horses include:

  • Dust allergy
  • Pollen allergy
  • Summer eczema (allergy to the saliva of midges)
  • Food allergy

The best solution is, of course, to avoid contact with the allergens causing the problem. However, for many allergens, this is almost impossible (dust, insects, pollen). Managing the inflammatory reactions, itching, and other symptoms is then the best option.

Dust Allergy

Horses can be allergic to indoor allergens such as dust mites, dander, and mold. Symptoms are only seen when your horse is in the stable. Often, these horses suffer from coughing. When a dust allergy flares up, extra mucus is produced, which can block the airways and cause severe coughing. The breathing rate of these horses is usually elevated. There are roughly two things you can do against dust allergy: improve your stable management (plenty of fresh air) and provide supplements. A combination usually works best.

Pollen Allergy

In the case of a pollen allergy, the horse reacts to pollen in the air. You often see a bit of mucus or nasal discharge, and your horse has an itchy nose. Coughing and other respiratory issues can also occur. Some horses may start headshaking. A pollen allergy can be treated with, for example, cannabinoids from clove and a mild detox using nettle.

Summer Eczema

Summer eczema is an unpleasant and complex issue caused by an allergy to the saliva of certain small midges. A comprehensive approach works best to control this troublesome allergy. This means: detoxing twice a year, adjusting the diet, using an eczema blanket, treating itchy spots, managing inflammatory reactions, and supporting the immune system.

Food Allergy

Horses can be sensitive to certain components of their diet, such as oats or alfalfa. There are various symptoms that can indicate a food allergy, such as soft stools or other digestive problems, or a skin reaction. To discover which ingredient your horse is sensitive to, you can exclude certain foods under the guidance of a nutritionist or veterinarian, or perform an allergy test. By removing the food your horse is allergic to from its diet, the symptoms will disappear.

Advice for All Allergies

For all types of allergies, the immune system is ‘out of control,’ and inflammatory reactions occur. To reduce the allergic reaction, it is always a good idea to support and rebalance the immune system. It is also beneficial for your horse to reduce the inflammatory reactions and relieve itching and pain. The plant compounds from the clove plant and black cumin plant form the perfect combination for this. These natural extracts combat both the cause and the effects of an allergy.

Perfect Collaboration: Clove and Black Cumin

The active compounds in the clove plant are cannabinoids, which play an important signaling role. When this signaling system (EDS) functions properly, your horse is in balance, and its immune system works optimally. Thymoquinone is the active compound in the black cumin plant. An allergic reaction occurs because histamine is released from the cells of the immune system in response to an allergen. Thymoquinone blocks the release of histamine during allergic reactions. Less histamine means fewer allergic reactions and less itching. Black cumin and clove also both have anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and antibacterial properties. Additionally, the two extracts enhance each other's effects. Therefore, we always recommend combining clove and black cumin for allergies.

Maintaining Immunity

In addition to cannabinoids from clove and thymoquinone from black cumin, there are a few other herbal supplements that support the immune system and reduce the likelihood of allergic reactions. Think of nettle for a mild detoxification and rosehip for extra vitamin C. Omega-3 fatty acids from sources such as DHA algae and salmon oil also contribute to a healthy immune system.

Bronnen:

Radu Tanasescu, Cris S. Constantinescu. Cannabinoids and the immune system: An overview. Immunobiology, Volume 215, Issue 8, 2010, Pages 588-597, ISSN 0171-2985, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0171298509001880

Klein TW. 2005. Cannabinoid-based drugs as anti-inflammatory therapeutics. Nat Rev Immunol. 2005 May;5(5):400-11. https://greenwaytherapeutix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2005-Klein-Nature-Publishing-Group-Cannabinoid-based-drugs-as-anti-inflammatory-therapeutics-.pdf

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