Dermatology

Skin conditions of the horse range from insect bite hypersensitivity (sweet itch), atopic dermatitis, infectious diseases such as ringworm or pyoderma to neoplasia such as sarcoids and melanomas.

Investigations include dermatological examination, hair and skin sampling and biopsies, blood testing for concurrent disease and allergy testing using intradermal skin testing.

Intradermal skin testing involves assessment of the horses skins responses to around 40 different allergens which are injected just under the skin. The reaction to each allergen is recorded at intervals over a 24-hour period. This can then be used to create an allergen profile for each horse. Some allergens can be avoided but for many this simply isn’t possible and so a personalised vaccine is created to tolerise against the allergens.

Treatment protocols for sarcoids and melanomas can be created and implemented often alongside the surgical team.