Mange is caused by very small mites on the skin of horses. The insects may either live on the surface or a short way underneath the surface of the skin. Not all mites are the same. The kind of mite on the horse’s skin is related to the affects. The mites that cause the condition are known as:

• Chorioptic mites affect the feet, legs and knees of horses. Mange however is most often observed below knee level. There is some evidence that these mites are more common in large draft horses.

• Psoroptic mites affect the skin near the hairy regions such as the tail and mane. This can obviously lead to hair loss which is why horses with these mites are probably the most unsightly of all. Horses in the U.S. however are believed to be exempt from this type of mange because it has already been eradicated in the country.

• Demodectic mites primarily affect the head region. Mange of this type is considered rare and resistant to treatment.

• Sarcoptic mites are responsible for the most contagious version of mange. The mites can affect nearly every part of the horse’s body and can even promote the occurrence of a secondary infection.

Symptoms of Mange

The most obvious symptom of the condition is intense itchiness. The skin on the affected areas will become red and will form scabs, cracks, crusts and oozing sections. Hair loss may also follow especially if the mites congregate near the head region.

Because of the irritation caused by these mites, horses will attempt to get rid of them. They may bite their skin or kick themselves near the affected region. This can complicate the condition. The skin may be injured further by the horse’s actions, leaving planet of openings for invading bacteria.

Treatment of Mange

Isolation is always part of mange treatment. This is because the mites can easily transfer from one horse to another. Aside from isolating the horse itself, all other tools and equipment that have been in contact with an mangy horse should be kept away from other horses. This includes grooming kits and tools.

There are a number of different products available that claim to be able to treat mange. If you are unfamiliar with any of the available products, consult a veterinarian first. Treatment often comes in the form of topical chemical applications that have to be administered in regular intervals. Skin that comes loose because of mange may have to be manually taken off.

Prevention of Mange

Like other pests, it isn’t always possible to completely eliminate mites. Regular grooming however and prompt isolation are top keys to preventing the spread of the condition to other horses. Ask your vet too about horse shampoos and grooming products that may discourage mite infestations.

What Happens With Founder

In the most severe of cases, irreversible damage to the laminae can occur and the link of the coffin bone to the hoof wall collapses. The entire weight of the horse puts pressure down on the coffin bone, and without the link to the hoof wall, the bone swivels down and can actually be shoved right through the sole to the floor.

Risk Factors And Causes

Various occurrences can result in horse founder. Grazing on lush pasture, obtaining too much grain, consuming lawn grass clippings or drinking excessive amounts of water when overheated can all result in founder. Other instigators of founder include a mare retaining the afterbirth, tough or fast work on a solid surface or lingering too long on a solid surface, and stressful conditions such as colic.

Symptoms

Three stages of founder in horses are recognizable. These stages comprise of developmental, acute and chronic. Developmental laminitis describes the time between the start of the elements that lead to delamination, and the initial display of clinical lameness. While owners are unable to recognize potential founder during this phase, an observant vet who is experienced in dealing with specific breeds and associated health problems will conduct proper therapies.

Acute laminitis may be described as the time between the clinical start of lameness and the stabilization of laminar degeneration or breakdown. It may be as soon as 8 to 12 hours’ length of time if the horse is susceptible to black walnut shavings, or 30 to 40 hours in the incidence of carbohydrate overload. Indications of initial sickness will exist along with lameness, particularly in the front feet. In rare cases, all 4 feet will suffer, where the horse may shift its weight to its hind legs, with the front legs lengthened. The horse may also avoid standing or traveling and prefer to walk with quick foot placement.

Finally, chronic founder in horses takes place when dislocation of the distal phalanx has occurred but no active laminar necrosis exists. Horses with this problem are most probably going to experience repeated episodes of this acute condition. Other indications include abnormal development of the hoof and diverging rings around the hoof wall.

Treatment

Acute horse founder  is always an emergency calling for assistance from a specialist to reduce irreversible damage. First aid precautions include contacting the vet, walking the horse on soft ground to alleviate discomfort through enhanced blood circulation, the administration of appropriate medication (i.e.: NSAIDs) to relieve pain and if the vet is still not available, trimming and applying the appropriate shoes (i.e.: reversed shoes, egg bar shoes, heart bar shoes), and soaking the feet. Soaking the feet in water is often suggested. Antiseptics may be applied to the water, but major treatment of founder requires the assistance and/or recommendation of a vet.

Large Strongyles

There are three species of this large version of the parasite, Strongylus equinus, Strongylus vulgaris and Strongylus endentatus. Of these three, S. vulgaris is the most deadly. Once inside, this parasite enters intestinal walls and the arteries that transport blood to the intestines and neighboring organs. The parasite will cause blood clots or embolisms, thereby disrupting efficient blood supply. After a few months, the larvae migrate further into the large intestine and become adult worms. Aside from laying eggs, these worms also begin sucking blood which may lead to anemia.

The other two species of strongyles may be less damaging but they can be lethal too. The larvae of these species tend to migrate to the liver where they can cause damage. Like S. vulgaris the two other species return to the large intestine where they become adults and lay eggs.

Small Strongyles

The small versions of these parasites differ from the large ones in that they do not move beyond the intestinal walls. They will instead migrate to the walls where they encyst themselves. They may stay in this state for as long as three years. Once they are rooted in the intestinal walls, they can cause anemia, nutrient deficiency, bleeding and colic. Larvae that emerge from the walls may also cause diarrhea and inflammation.

How Horses are Infected

Both large and small strongyles share a similar life cycle. Eggs that are laid by adults accompany fecal matter as they exit the horse’s system. Once the eggs are out, they may hatch under good weather conditions. The larvae then undergo three molting stages, the last one being their infectious state. Although they can stay in a molted state for about ninety days, they must be ingested by a host to enable efficient infection.

Obviously, horses are typically infected when they eat grass that carries strongyles. The parasites in grass can be very hardy. They can remain buried in soil to protect themselves from unfavorable weather conditions and then climb up the blades of grass where they are in a position to infect a foraging horse.

Prevention and Treatment

Horse owners may attempt to prevent strongyles infections by ensuring clean stables and foraging grounds. Even the cleanest surroundings however, do not always ensure 100% protection against infections. The best preventive measure and treatment solution for strongyles is regular deworming. In other words, you should have a schedule for horse deworming even if you are not sure that your horse is infected. This is especially since it may take some time for the parasites to be detected in fecal matter. Without a regular deworming schedule, strongyles may progress to severe stages at which point deworming will be ineffective.