Poll Evil

This disease is life-threatening and should be treated by a veterinarian swiftly.

Poll evil is a condition that starts out as an inflammation of the bursa in the neck and progresses to a large abscess at the poll, on the top of the back of your horse’s head. The poll is the nape of the neck and it is a large nerve center in the horse so this inflammation or abscess in the poll can be a serious concern for any horse owner.

This condition can be caused by infection or an injury such as a blow to the head or neck. This can become life threatening if the infection spreads into the ligament and bones, which is incredibly hard to treat with success. In fact, many horses with poll evil require months or even years of treatment.

Symptoms

Treatment

Poll evil is difficult to treat because of the deep-seated nature of the infection. If the bacterial infection of the bursa and nuchal ligament has spread, and purulent discharge is present, antibiotic therapy will be necessary along with hot packs and, possibly, surgery to remove infected and devitalized tissue.

Prevention

Prompt attention to any injuries to the withers area will help prevent infections that cause fistulous withers. Horses should not be pastured in areas where infected cattle have been for at least three months after the cattle have been removed.

If an abrasive, heavy, or ill-fitting halter is causing injury to the poll area, it should be discarded and a better halter used to eliminate the possibility of chafing and discomfort.