Ringworm in horses is a contagious fungal infection causing circular, hairless patches on the skin, often accompanied by itching and inflammation.

Ringworm in Horses

Seek veterinary advice before applying any treatment.

Ringworm is a highly contagious fungal infection, which can not only quickly pass from horse to horse but also to humans. The responsible fungi, the dermatophytes, use keratin as a nutrient source, which is why they thrive on a horse’s skin.
The condition is usually self limiting and resolves in six to eight weeks but should be treated because it looks unsightly and is a source of infection for other horses.

Symptoms

  • Crusted Skin
  • Reddened Skin
  • Itching Skin
  • Skin Lesions
  • Fur Loss

Common in

  • Autumn and Winter
  • Rain
  • Floods
  • Heat and Humidity
  • New Horse/s at Stable
  • Frequent Travelling
  • Moved Stables
  • Wet Environment
  • Young Horses

Treatment

To treat ringworm, use anti-fungal shampoo, spray, or ointment on the affected areas.
Since ringworm can infect grooming equipment, tack, stables, and trailers, it is recommended to thoroughly clean everything in and around the stable to stop the spread.

Prevention

Avoid sharing your horse’s tack, brushes and buckets with other horses and disinfect it after use. New horses that join a stable should be isolated before joining the other horses.

How Happie can help you manage your horse's health

Digital health management offers numerous benefits in modern equine healthcare.

With the Happie Horse App, you can track symptom patterns and body values, such as Temperature, Pulse and Respiration. Allowing you to notice abnormal changes in body and behaviour early on, leading to more successful treatments.

The Happie symptom checker allows you to add all of your horse's abnormal symptoms in order to present potential causes and diseases.

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