Pollen allergy
in horses

Pollen allergy in horses

Spring means for a lot of horses the start of the grazing season. Your horse spends more time outside but not every horse likes it. During spring, everything starts to grow and grow which means that pollen flies through the air like flies. Just like cats, dogs, and humans, some horses react oversensitive to pollen. How arises a pollen allergy in horses and what are the symptoms? How can you help? Read everything about it in this blog!

What is pollen?

Pollen pollinates flowers and plants to ensure that new plants start to grow. Pollen is there in two kinds: light and dusty pollen and heavy sticky pollen. Light pollen is easily taken by the wind and in most cases, most pollen doesn’t even reach other plants. A lot of pollen is lost, and this is why plants produce extra pollen to increase the chance of pollination. Horses with pollen allergies suffer from light and dusty pollen. Heavy pollen isn’t carried by the wind, but is taken by insects that pollinate other plants.

Pollen season

Grasses, trees, herbs and flowers produce in different periods pollen. Some trees like the alder, hazel, bloom and birch produce pollen early in the year. Most pollen are spread by the wind in May. Herb scan even produce pollen in Summer and Fall. The pollen season is almost during the whole year. Pollen can move best in dry and calm weather through the air.

How does a pollen allergy develop?

During pollen season there float much light pollen through the air. Your horse comes into contact with the pollen through the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose. The body will react to the pollen. This allergy is also known as hay fever and is a developed allergic reaction in the respiratory tract after breathing pollen. The body sees the pollen as a foreign substance and starts to react. When there is too much histamine in the body, after the reaction of the immune system there will be symptoms like itching, and the swelling of the mucous membrane.

How do you recognize pollen allergy in horses?

The symptoms of pollen allergy are a lot like having a cold, but could differ per horse. A pollen allergy in horses can be recognized by the following symptoms:

• Head shaking
• Runny nose with clear nasal discharge
• Coughing or sneezing
• Shortness of breath
• Itchin of the nose

How do you help your horse with pollen allergy?

A pollen allergy in horses is therefore caused by an allergic reaction to pollen. It is very important for horses that are sensitive to pollen that the immune system is in optimal condition. In addition to a well-functioning immune system, you can use the tips below to provide extra support for your horse with a pollen allergy.

• Fly mask and/or nose net. This helps your horse to come into less contact with the flying pollen. In addition, it also offers protection against flies and sunlight.
• Support your horse from the inside out with a supplement to reduce the chance of a pollen allergy or relieve the symptoms. HorseFlex has various supplements to tackle jitters in horses in a natural way.
• Let your horse come into contact with pollen as little as possible. In the night and early morning there are relatively less pollen.
• Always consult a vet in case of severe symptoms