Demodectic mange is unusual in horses and is seen mainly in immuno-compromised individuals. Sarcoptic mange has been altogether eradicated in horses in the United States. Identifying mange in horses requires examination of skin scrapings under a microscope. The use of ivermectin is recommended in treating mange mites, along with topical application of potent chemicals that should be obtained through your veterinarian. Some of these problems are of an infectious nature, while others are more innocuous.
Fungi thrive in dark, damp barns, particularly in autumn and winter months.
Once the fungus gets established on the horse's skin, a long winter hair coat helps maintain the infection. Yet, the time of year should not absolutely define the presence or absence of this as a skin disease. The incubation period for fungal infections takes anywhere from one to six weeks. An infection might start with a hive-like lesion that then becomes circumscribed in an oval shape. The lesions look scaly and crusty, are accompanied by hair loss, and are commonly seen around the girth and saddle areas, the hindquarters, and along the chest, neck, and face.