Fungal infections of the skin come in several varieties. Ringworm infections are not associated with worms. The infected areas are commonly around the girth area, but can appear anywhere on the body. Ringworm appears to be an irregularly shaped area of partial or complete hair loss with crusts. Treatment includes povidone iodine baths and crust removal.
Treatment takes at least two to three weeks for resolution.
Other treatment options include medications such as Fulvacin, which can be administered in the feed, and a wide variety of shampoos, topical creams, and ointments containing anti-fungal drugs. It is important to disinfect tack regularly and not share tack between infected and non-infected horses. An unusual fungal skin disease of the foot, phycomycosis, involves fungi of the Hyphomyces species. This disease occurs primarily in Florida, and it involves severe infection of the foot and associated pastern. This disease can cause loss of portions of the hoof, bone, and soft tissues, leading to permanent lameness if not aggressively treated.