Page 819 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

implemented. The condition and fit of each horse’s tack should be regularly checked so the

skin does not become chafed.
VetBooks.ir VACCINATION

Vaccination against ringworm is available in the Netherlands but not yet in the UK.

Prognosis

The prognosis is good and most horses recover in 1–3 months. Re-infection is possible, but
the signs are usually milder. Occasionally a horse is hypersensitive to the infection and has a

more serious skin reaction. Debilitated animals or those with weak immune systems may be
more severely infected and take longer to recover.

The cost of ringworm

An outbreak of ringworm can be very disruptive and costly in terms of lost days of work.
Competition schedules, training programmes and planned activities are interrupted. Affected

racehorses are not permitted onto a racecourse with active lesions.

MUD FEVER/PASTERN DERMATITIS

This is a common condition that affects horses, particularly if living or working in wet,

muddy conditions. The skin over the pasterns and heels becomes inflamed or infected,
resulting in scabby or exudative lesions, which can be very painful and cause lameness.

(Figure 18.3). Sometimes the infection extends to the skin further up the legs; white limbs are
particularly susceptible (Figure 18.4). It occurs mainly in the winter months.