Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Integumentary Disorders Including Cutaneous Neoplasia in Older Horses.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice
- Year:
- 2016
- Authors:
- Knottenbelt, Derek C
- Affiliation:
- University of Glasgow · United Kingdom
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Older horses and donkeys can experience specific skin problems, but there aren't many that only affect them. One of the most common issues is hypertrichosis, which is excessive hair growth linked to a condition in the pituitary gland. Older horses with weakened immune systems may face more severe skin infections or parasite problems. Skin tumors are also more common and can be more serious in older horses, even though some of these tumors start developing when the horse is younger. Overall, while older horses can have skin issues, many of these conditions can be more serious than in younger animals.
Abstract
Few skin diseases specifically or exclusively affect older horses and donkeys. Hypertrichosis (hirsutism) associated with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction is probably the most recognized and best understood exception and is the most common age-related skin condition in equids. Many other conditions are known to be more serious in older horses. Horses affected with immune-compromising conditions can be more severely affected by infectious diseases of the skin or heavy and pathologically significant parasitism. Neoplasia of the skin is probably more prevalent and worse in older horses, although many of the more serious skin tumors develop initially at a younger age.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27329491/