
*An Introduction To The Horse Skin And Hair (Integument) System And Diseases
The purposes of skin and hair are many and equally important. They keep everything inside in and everything outside out. It grows hair and adds fat to keep us warm and it sweats to keep us cool. It senses movement and helps to feel the blades of grass that are succulent. It shakes off flies and screams for attention when it is damaged. It remains flexible around joints but firm over muscles and the face.
Skin is cleaver in that it can take care of itself. When cut it heals through an amazing and precise process. But when humans and other factors mess with this process healing becomes troubled in a process almost unique to horses. It also can become allergic to fly bites and a bed of food and a breeding site for flies when damaged. Viruses can affect the integrity of skin and may be the cause of several skin neoplasia types (equine sarcoid, aural plaques, warts). Cancer can strike which can be troublesome (melanoma) or life threatening (squamous cell carcinoma). It can react with foods that cause sensitivity to light (photosensitization). It can itch to the point of damage. It can also be rubbed to ecstasy (mutual grooming) or torn from fighting or self inflicted wounding (self mutilation).
The skin is normally covered with good bacteria and excreted oils that keep the skin healthy. Daily washing with soaps and detergents removes these protective features. And why wash a horse when they go right out and roll in the dirt? Soaps should be limited and cleaning done with only water and a scrubber. I personally have not used soap on my body and hair for years and no one has complained of any body odor and my skin is very healthy. There is a lot of research on this in humans but again, none in horses.
There are a lot of topics with images here because the skin and hair are visible. I’ll give brief explanations for each but I have found 2 things that seem to help a poor hair coat and skin. The first is to feed protein filled with all the essential amino acids. I have seen improved hair coats in as little as two weeks with the addition of all the amino acids. The second is eliminating all grain, grain byproducts and sugar treats from the diet. More on this under nutrition. You may find that daily baths with soap are no longer needed to keep the horse shining. Saving money AND time is a treat for most horse owners.
Sleep In Horses
Weather And Horses
Molds And Mycotoxins
Acorns In Horses
Base Modifiers – The Silver Gene
SummaryArticleVideosRelated Material The silver gene (Z) is a dilution of the black base coat with or without the Agouti gene (bay). It has no effect on the red base coat. Horses with one or both Z genes will have a dilution to their coat color and therefore it is an...
Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP)
SummaryArticleVideosRelated Material Welcome to this topic page. Right now I have not written an article and summary but be sure to check for images in the gallery. As time moves on I am adding summaries and articles, videos and podcasts so eventually there will be...
Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM)
SummaryArticleVideosRelated Material Welcome to this topic page. Right now I have not written an article and summary but be sure to check for images in the gallery. As time moves on I am adding summaries and articles, videos and podcasts so eventually there will be...
Sinus Infections
[x_alert type=“info” close=”false” heading=”Overview”]The epiglottis is a tissue that separates the esophagus from the trachea and it’s primary purpose is to keep food and other solid material from entering the lungs.[/x_alert]
Pharyngitis
[x_alert type=“info” close=”false” heading=”Overview”]The epiglottis is a tissue that separates the esophagus from the trachea and it’s primary purpose is to keep food and other solid material from entering the lungs.[/x_alert]
*An Introduction To The Horse Urinary System
Blood circulates throughout the body delivering all the materials needed to stay alive but it also acts as a system to recycle materials, return gasses and eliminate waste. In this sense it acts like the post office, the package delivery service, the messenger service...
Unknown Neoplastic Lesions
Equine Sarcoid is a benign tumor of the skin of the horse that is very common, usually limiting itself to above the knee and forward of the girth.
Fibrotic Myopathy
SummaryArticleVideosRelated Material Welcome to this topic page. Right now I have not written an article and summary but be sure to check for images in the gallery. As time moves on I am adding summaries and articles, videos and podcasts so eventually there will be...
*An Introduction To Locomotion And Soundness In Horses
An introduction to locomotion and soundness in horses Use the browser back button or menu to return to the index of topics. Back to all...
Caudal Heel Pain Videos
These are videos about caudal heel pain which includes navicular disease, sole bruising, long toe-low heel conformation and others. Return to caudal heel pain Navicular disease (caudal heel pain) – Part 1 Navicular disease (caudal heel pain) – Part 2...
Hematology In Horses
Hematology in horses. This is a new topic. Use the browser back button or menu to return to the index of...
*An Introduction To Horse Neoplastic Diseases
Neoplastic diseases in horses Use the browser back button or menu to return to the index of topics. Back to all...
*An Introduction To The Horse Immune System And Diseases
Immune diseases in horses Use the browser back button or menu to return to the index of topics. Back to all...
*An Introduction To Horse Genetic Diseases
Genetic diseases of horses Use the browser back button or menu to return to the index of topics. Back to all...
The Curly Hair Coat
The breed Bashkir Curly has a hair that maintains a curl throughout the year. The curl can range from no curl to minimal to full curl but it is unique to this breed.
Anhidrosis (Non-sweating horses)
No one has determined why some horses in the same environment stop sweating while others do sweat but we know that every horse is different with different responses to triggers. And no one (to my knowledge) has determined the mechanism behind anhydrosis.
Accidentally we have found a cure that seems to work in every horse we try it with and we need your help to give us more examples of this treatment’s success.
Vesicular Stomatitis
SummaryArticleVideosRelated Material Welcome to this topic page. Right now I have not written an article and summary but be sure to check for images in the gallery. As time moves on I am adding summaries and articles, videos and podcasts so eventually there will be...
Tetanus
SummaryArticleVideosRelated Material Welcome to this topic page. Right now I have not written an article and summary but be sure to check for images in the gallery. As time moves on I am adding summaries and articles, videos and podcasts so eventually there will be...
Aging By Teeth – View Open Mouth
These images include all the ages from 2 years to 30+ years showing just the view from the opened mouth onto the occlusal surface of the incisors. This helps to compare and to observe the changes over time on one individual view.
Aging By Teeth – View Straight On
These images include all the ages from 2 years to 30+ years showing just the view from straight on the closed incisors. This helps to compare and to observe the changes over time on one individual view.
Aging By Teeth – View Right Side
These images include all the ages from 2 years to 30+ years showing just the right side. This helps to compare and to observe the changes over time on one individual view.
Aging By Teeth – View Left Side
These images include all the ages from 2 years to 30+ years showing just the left side. This helps to compare and to observe the changes over time on one individual view.
Aging By Teeth – 02 – 5 years (Young Horses)
Young horses range in age from birth to 5 years. These images are by year 2 through 5. Each show the left side, the right side, the straight on and the open mouth / occlusal surface of the lower incisors. Comparison can be made for individual variations within each age group.
Aging By Teeth – 06 – 12 years (Young Adult Horses)
Young adult horses range in age from 6 to 12 years. These images are by year 6 through 12. Each show the left side, the right side, the straight on and the open mouth / occlusal surface of the lower incisors. Comparison can be made for individual variations within each age group.
Aging By Teeth – 13 – 18 years (Adult Horses)
Young adult horses range in age from 13 to 18 years. These images are by year 13 through 18. Each show the left side, the right side, the straight on and the open mouth / occlusal surface of the lower incisors. Comparison can be made for individual variations within each age group.
Aging By Teeth – 19 – 24 years (Early Senior Horses)
Young adult horses range in age from 19 to 24 years. These images are by year 19 through 24. Each show the left side, the right side, the straight on and the open mouth / occlusal surface of the lower incisors. Comparison can be made for individual variations within each age group.
Aging By Teeth – 25 – 30 plus years (Senior Horses)
Young adult horses range in age from 25 years and older. These images are by year 25 through 30+. Each show the left side, the right side, the straight on and the open mouth / occlusal surface of the lower incisors. Comparison can be made for individual variations within each age group.
Dental Care
Horse’s teeth erupt throughout their lives with constant wear occurring from teeth grinding against opposing teeth and continual stropping by the tongue. This wear is uneven and creates razor sharp edges that cause discomfort as those edges ulcerate the cheek and their tongue. So if eruption and wear is continuous throughout the life of the horse and the result is pain within the mouth, AND the removal of the sharp points (floating) is easily done, WHY DO SO MANY HORSE OWNERS AVOID THIS IMPORTANT ASPECT OF HORSEMANSHIP?
Asses, Mules And Zebras
Topic There is no topic material. Related Material There is no related material for this topic. Back To Horse Care Topics Back To Body Features Of...
Guttural Pouches
SummaryArticleVideosRelated Material Welcome to this topic page. Right now I have not written an article and summary but be sure to check for images in the gallery. As time moves on I am adding summaries and articles, videos and podcasts so eventually there will be...
Mustaches
SummaryArticleVideosRelated Material Some horses have a natural mustache as seen here. I have seen a bunch in my years with horses but I have never heard any meaning attached to their presence other than most people think they are “cute.” Related material...
Wobblers In Horses (Cervical Vertebral Malformation)
Wobblers In Horses (Cervical Stenotic Myelopathy)
Shivers
Shivers In Horses
Venereal Diseases
An excerpt is coming soon.
Estrous Manipulation
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Embryo Transfer
An excerpt is coming soon.
Breeding Injuries
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Artificial Insemination
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Inducing Birth In Mares
An excerpt is coming soon.
Signs Of Impending Birth In Mares
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Rectal Vaginal Fistula In Mares
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Ruptured Uterine Artery In Mares
An excerpt is coming soon.
Retained Placenta In The Mare
An excerpt is coming soon.
Umbilical Hernia
An excerpt is coming soon.
Persistant Frenulum
An excerpt is coming soon.
Patent Urachus
An excerpt is coming soon.
Genetic Diseases Of Foals (congenital)
An excerpt is coming soon.
Septicemia
An excerpt is coming soon.
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