Although it’s the end of Florida’s rainy season, the rain has not stopped!
Horse owners need to be aware of a persistent disease threat to horses called pythiosis. Pythiosis is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by the pathogen Pythium insidiosum, which can lead to painful and debilitating skin lesions. Standing water, swamps, marshes, and other bodies of water that do not freeze serve as breeding grounds for Pythium insidiosum, making it easy to spread in our state.
The most common place for a lesion to occur is on the lower limb, but horses can develop lesions in other places on the body where there is a cut in the skin (including the face, abdomen, and even the oral cavity). Any area on the horse that is exposed to Pythium insidiosum can develop pythiosis.
The key to recognizing a wound that may be infected with Pythium versus other common wounds commonly seen in Florida is the behavior of the wound. A pythiosis wound will often explode in size overnight. It does not respond to the common treatments. You may notice large white chunks of debris coming from the wound called “kunkers.” Horses may also be very itchy.
Take Action
Florida’s marshy environment, in addition to its natural disasters like hurricanes and floods, leads to standing water, which makes it a prime area for horses to get pythiosis.
Florida horse owners are encouraged to remove standing water from pastures, move horses to a different location, or fence off ponds or other bodies of standing water to prevent horses from becoming infected with Pythium insidiosum.
If you suspect your horse has pythiosis, seek immediate veterinary care. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in preventing the spread of the disease and minimizing its debilitating effects. If left untreated, the disease can invade deeper, critical structures making treatment not possible.
By being aware of the risks associated with pythiosis and taking the necessary precautions, horse owners can help protect their horses from this persistent disease threat.
The UF Large Animal Hospital frequently treat horses with cutaneous pythiosis. Contact us at (352) 392-2229. No referral needed!
