Hyperkeratosis in horses

The Natural Way specialises in itching and skin complaints and the natural treatment of sweet itch, mud ever and CPL.

Does your horse suffer from stiff flakes on its legs? This may be a case of hyperkeratosis. We mainly see this in horses with a lot of hair, such as Friesians, Tinkers, Shires and other cold-blooded breeds.

Paard met chronische hyperkeratose © The Natural Way

What is hyperkeratosis in horses?

Hyperkeratosis is a skin condition characterised by the excessive production of the protein keratin, which is necessary for healthy skin, hair and hooves, resulting in an abundance of skin flakes. The skin can become thick, stiff and painful to the touch and discolour to grey, pink or red. This may be accompanied by hair loss.

Healthy skin constantly renews itself, and during this process, old skin cells are shed and replaced by new ones. We see skin flakes, which are often waste products that are excreted through the skin.

However, in hyperkeratosis, this natural process gets out of control. The keratinocytes needed to produce keratin are shed too slowly, causing them to accumulate and making the skin feel rough, flaky and dry.

Mites?

Some horses experience little to no discomfort from hyperkeratosis, but it can also cause itching, causing horses to stamp and rub. This can be confused with a mite infection, which causes similar symptoms, but the two can also occur together.

When the skin dries out, it can crack and split, which is very painful and makes your horse less willing to move. This skin is also very vulnerable to injury and secondary infections. If the skin is swollen, red and warm, be sure to contact your vet, as antibiotics may be necessary.

Hyperkeratosis mainly occurs on the back of the knee on the front legs (‘mallanders’) and the front of the hock on the hind legs (‘sallanders’). Although it mainly affects horses with socks and the typical “wallpaper”, it can also occur on the mane and tail.

Rasp?

Hyperkeratosis is often confused with rasp, but these are two different skin conditions. Although the symptoms are similar, they can occur together. Rasp is characterised by crusts and flakes, from the pastern to higher up on the leg, caused by bacteria, fungi, mites, etc. The cause lies elsewhere, which is why the treatment differs.

What causes hyperkeratosis?

There are several causes, including genetic predisposition, which causes excessive keratin production as a protective mechanism. Horses with a lot of feathering are particularly susceptible to this: Friesians, Tinkers, Shires and other cold-blooded breeds.

These horses are also more susceptible to mite infections, which can be either a cause or a consequence of hyperkeratosis. Mites feed on skin flakes, so you want to remove these as much as possible and treat them naturally.

Chronic Progressive Lymphedema (CPL) and hyperkeratosis also go hand in hand, as hyperkeratosis is also a symptom of this chronic skin condition.

In addition, a balanced diet tailored to your horse's needs is extremely important, as symptoms worsen with incorrect nutrition. You can read all about this in our e-book PRIMAL FOOD.

Natural treatment for hyperkeratosis

Good hygiene is important to prevent it from getting worse. Hyperkeratosis can be treated naturally with our CPL oil. Among other things, this ensures that the stiff skin becomes supple and hydrated again and that flakes can be easily combed out.

Our Nature Shampoo also has a beneficial effect on hyperkeratosis and other itching and skin-related complaints.

Hyperkeratosis treated naturally with CPL oil © The Natural Way

‘I've been using CPL oil for two weeks now and you can really see a difference. The crusts are finally coming off after two years. It's great that there's a product that works. Thank you.’ ~ Katinka V.d.B.

 

NEED HELP?

Laura Cleirens from The Natural Way specialises in the natural treatment of itching and skin complaints in horses. At just 10 years old, she decided to help horses suffering from sweet itch.

Discover our other products for sweet itch, mud fever, CPL, our Nature Shampoo and Zoem Spray, and Ebooks PRIMAL FOOD and HORSE HERBS. 

https://thenaturalway.be or info@thenaturalway.be or @thenaturalway.lauracleirens