As winter gives way to spring and summer, trees become greener and flowers bloom colorful and bright. Some people find themselves sneezing or coughing, develop congested nasal passages, and fight through watery eyes as a result of the abundant pollen or other environmental allergens. And like their human counterparts, horses can suffer from allergies too.

“Allergies are extremely common in horses,” said Katherine Williamson, DVM, a veterinarian with Purina Animal Nutrition. “It’s largely linked to management and their environment,”

Williamson discussed allergy testing and diagnosis at the 2017 Annual Mid-Atlantic Nutrition Conference, held April 6 in Hunt Valley, Maryland.

Types of Allergies

Allergies have several potential causes and are categorized into one or more of four general