This article has been edited and approved by
Karen Coumbe MRCVS , H&H’s veterinary advisor since 1991.
Lice in horses: Types | Signs | Risk factors | Transmission | Treatment
A lice infestation is one of the most common causes of itchiness in horses, properly called pruritus. Lice are most common in cool damp climates in late winter and early spring. In short, if your horse or pony is itching, always rule out lice and indeed other parasites, such as mites , before thinking of other causes of itchiness, such as sweet itch .
Horse owners tend to be more concerned about internal parasites, namely worms ; yet external parasites, like lice and mites can be a major nuisance as well as having an impact on equine health. Horses that are crawling with lice must be uncomfortable and may fail to thrive. A severe infestation can cause anaemia due to the raw skin sores that are caused and because some varieties of lice are blood sucking.
{"content":"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"}
You may also be interested in…
A horse showing classic signs of sweet itch on the dock and around the top of the tail area.
Credit: Steve Bardens
Sweet itch can prove traumatic for some horses as they seek to bring their constant itching to an end, but
Lustrous lower leg hair can harbour unwelcome visitors which can prove challenging to treat
Contrary to myth, laminitis occurs all year-round and not just in the spring. It is an emergency that needs prompt
Credit: Professor Derek Knottenbelt
Sarcoids are the most common skin tumour in horses and ponies and are locally destructive, so find out the best
A horse with ringworm lesions.
Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
Ringworm is not a critical disease, but it is so contagious that any skin rash should be taken seriously to
MA VetMB CertEP CertVA MRCVS
Our equine veterinary expert has more than 30 years experience in practice. She is an FEI vet and has attended the past three Olympic and two World Equestrian Games in her role. She has a particular interest in anaesthesia, pre-purchase examinations, ophthalmology and dermatology amongst other clinical concerns. She has been Horse & Hound’s official veterinary advisor since 1991. Karen is part of the Bell Equine team.
