Poor Coat Condition in Horses

Published on
Last updated on
3 min read

Key takeaways


Poor coat condition is characterized by a dry, coarse texture to the haircoat that lacks luster and shine. Healthy horses can experience changes in coat condition seasonally, but a prolonged poor hair coat can be a symptom of an underlying health issue.

  • Improper nutrition, poor grooming, infections, sun exposure, and hormonal conditions can lead to poor coat condition
  • Diagnosis is based on physical examination, fecal analysis, hormone level testing, nutritional analysis, and bloodwork
  • Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include changes to the diet, improved grooming, antibiotics, antifungals, and antiparasitic medications
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A closer look: Poor Coat Condition in Horses


The coat of healthy horses alternates between a sleek, shiny summer coat and a longer, more rough or coarse winter coat, depending on the time of year. A poor coat may have a dull, rough or coarse appearance, even during the summer season. Poor coat condition can be a symptom of some underlying conditions that, if left untreated, can be serious.

If the coat condition changes suddenly without explanation, or if the change is accompanied by other symptoms such as weight changes, lethargy, abdominal pain, a cresty neck, or excessive thirst, veterinary attention is required.

Possible causes


Risk factors


The severity of poor coat condition depends on the underlying cause. Different causes result in different issues with the coat.

For example, bacterial infections, such as rain rot, often result in matting or clumping of parts of the coat. Some infections may cause patchy hair loss, such as ringworm.

Poor nutrition or intestinal parasitic infections result in a dull, coarse coat.

Sun exposure causes the color of the coat to fade, particularly in dark colored horses.

Excessive bathing results in a dull coat and dry skin. In contrast, lack of proper grooming may result in flaky dandruff accumulating on the skin.

Hormonal issues such as Cushing’s disease lead to excessive hair growth with coarser hair.

Testing and diagnosis


Diagnosis of a poor coat requires thorough workup to identify the underlying cause.

Diagnostics may include:

  • Physical examination
  • Bloodwork
  • Fecal analysis
  • Hormone level testing
  • Nutritional analysis
  • Biopsy of the skin

Treatment depends on the underlying cause, including:

  • Antifungals
  • Antibiotics
  • Antiparasitics (dewormers)
  • Changes to the diet
  • Changes to the grooming routine

Similar symptoms


Healthy horses shed their coats during the spring and fall in response to changing seasonal temperatures. Normal seasonal shedding can sometimes be mistaken for poor coat condition, particularly in the spring when horses have incompletely shed giving them an unusual appearance.

Associated symptoms


References


Your Horse's Coat Tells Tales
Flossie Sellers - Writing for EquiMed
What Your Horse’s Coat Says About His Health
Sarah E. Coleman - Writing for Horse Illustrated
Dull or Poor Haircoat
No Author - Writing for Horse Side Vet Guide

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