Allergies & Intolerances
How do I know if my horse has an allergy and what are the symptoms? ↓
Allergies occur when the immune system reacts excessively against a certain protein or protein-like molecule (allergen). Excess histamines are produced by the body and result in symptoms, including swelling of the lips and mouth, but diarrhoea and/or hives are more common. Symptoms alone, however, are not necessarily indicative of an allergy to a food component
Something he ate?What is the difference between intolerance and an allergy? ↓
Allergies occur when the immune system reacts excessively against a certain protein or protein-like molecule (allergen) resulting in symptoms like diarrhoea, hives or swollen lips or mouth. Hyper-sensitive reactions to substances which do not involve the immune system are known as intolerances and give rise to a variety of symptoms which may not initially be attributable to a feed-related issue.
Symptoms of a feed intolerance can include, “jumpy” behaviour, hives, dry itchy skin, loose droppings or a tendency to colic, all of which can also be the result of environmental or management issues.
Something he ate?What should I do if I think my horse has an allergy to his feed? Can you test for them? ↓
Allergies can be hard to diagnose and, in severe cases, a vet may carry out blood and skin tests with varying degrees of success. For potential feed intolerances, an elimination diet may be the only way to pinpoint the offending ingredient. Your vet or feed company nutritionists can help you plan the process and discuss feeds or feed ingredients which you can add separately to aid in the identification of the culprit.
Something he ate?Can an allergy or intolerance cause excitable behaviour? ↓
Any horse which is uncomfortable in its gut, for example, is likely to be crabby, unsettled and prone to colic so eliminating all which could be causing this can help settle the situation. Ensuring the horse has a fully balanced diet and ad lib forage will help support well-being and gut health but, if problems persist, further diagnosis may be necessary.
Something he ate?My horse is allergic to or intolerant of a certain feed ingredient. How do I identify which feeds are safe to feed? ↓
The filter system on our product homepage allows you to search for products according to a range of criteria and will help identify those most suitable for your horse.
