An allergic reaction is one in which an
individual reacts to normal substance in the environment. These substances are
called allergens and include pollens, molds, animal hair, insects, foods and
many more. Allergens cause reactions through skin contact, inhalation or
ingestion. Allergic individuals possess IgE antibodies to the specific
allergens. These antibodies cause biochemical changes in the body which
produce signs and symptoms of allergy.
This depends on the cause of the horse's allergy
problems. If it has an allergy to pollens, you might expect to see all or more
of the symptoms in the spring or summer. If, however, the horse has a problem
with molds or food related allergies, you are more likely to see year-round
symptoms.
The
most common manifestations of horse allergies are through a group of symptoms
collectively known as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Symptoms
include persistent coughing, often accompanied by audible wheezing and/or a
watery nasal discharge. As the disease progresses, flaring of the nostrils may
become more evident. Work performance can be impaired to varying degrees. It
is also not uncommon for allergic horses to show signs of skin irritation.
After a thorough examination, your veterinarian will decide if allergy testing
is indicated for your horse. Having ruled out other possible maladies, a small
amount of blood may be drawn and sent to Spectrum Labs for diagnostic
evaluation. There, your horse's serum will be tested for sensitivity to
inhalants such as trees, grasses, weeds and shrubs, molds, oat, wheat, barley
and corn pollens, barn dust, as well as for a host of food types used as
ingredients in commercial horse food preparations.
The
best form of treatment for allergies is avoidance of the offending allergen/s.
In most cases, however this is not possible. Steroid and other drugs are often
used for short-term relief of symptoms, but prolonged use of these drugs can
have serious side effects. Hyposensitization is another alternative. In this
case, treatment sets are formulated for your horse based on its allergy test
results. The treatment is comprised of the same allergens to which the horse
tested sensitive. This stimulated the immune system to produce antibodies that
bind to the allergens, thus blocking the start of an allergic reaction. The
treatment (injections) are given in increasing concentrations. This builds the
tolerance of the animal to the offending allergens so that it can live more
comfortably in its environment ... without the worry of side effects and often
impaired performance.
Some
allergies dissipate with time and treatment. In other cases animals may
require continued "allergy shots" to maintain tolerance to the allergens in
question. With adherence to the treatment schedule. one can expect an
excellent chance of elimination of or reduced dependence on steroid drugs.
Improvement in most cases is seen after 3-5 months of treatment, at which
stage injections are given monthly. However, maintaining the horse's response
will depend on you, the owner, to adhere to the injection schedule set up by
your veterinarian.
Since horses cannot be hyposensitized to foods, elimination is the only form
of treatment in the case of food allergies. Should your horse test positive to
foods, your veterinarian will recommend the proper diet based on the blood
test and your horses medical history.
