In the summer months, it is nice if your horse can spend a lot of time outdoors. However, it is less pleasant if your horse is exposed to the sun for too long and gets sunburned. Horses can also suffer from the sun and irritated skin. In this article, we will take a closer look at sunburn in horses and show you what you can do to prevent and care for it.

forms of sunburn

Too much sun can cause sunburn and other problems in horses. There are three types of sunburn in horses:

• Direct sunburn : caused by too much sunlight, similar to humans. Horses with a white nose or thin hair are more susceptible. We often see horses with a burnt nose. This can be easily treated with a nourishing cream such as Doderm Hydro RepairGel .

Sunburn caused by toxic phototoxic substances : Certain chemicals in the skin make it more sensitive to UV light. These substances are found in plants such as St. John's wort, hogweed, buckwheat, alfalfa and red clover. Some

• Medications, ointments and creams can have this effect. Consult your veterinarian if you use these on your horse.
• Sunburn due to liver problems: Caused by poisonous plants such as ragwort that cause liver problems. Severe damage impairs the liver's ability to process waste products. Make sure the pasture is free of ragwort.

symptoms of sunburn

Sunburn in horses varies in severity:

• Mild burning: redness, thickening of the skin, warm and tender to the touch.
• Severe burns: Blisters that discharge fluid and after a few days the skin may die, leaving open sores or scabs. The actual damage often only becomes apparent after a few days.In serious cases, blood clotting tests for liver values ​​and liver function may be necessary.

prevention of sunburn

Prevention is always better than cure. To prevent sunburn:

• Cover your horse during peak hours: Make sure your horse is in the shade or keep him inside during the strongest hours of sunshine between 10am and 4pm.
• Use of UV-resistant fabrics: such as nose nets, blankets and gaiters. Many fly or eczema blankets nowadays have a UV-resistant layer.
• Sunscreen: Apply a waterproof sunscreen with a high protection factor to your horse regularly. There are special sunscreens for horses, but creams for humans can also be used as long as they are safe for animals.

sunburn care

In case of severe sunburn, it is advisable to consult the veterinarian to establish a treatment plan. Do not cover open wounds with a blanket as this can lead to scalding, infection and poor healing.

Minor sunburns can be treated with skin care products that soothe and moisturize the skin. Use preventative measures such as sunscreen and UV-resistant blankets and nose nets to prevent them from getting worse.

Doderm Hydro RepairGel

Our Doderm Hydro RepairGel is ideal for treating minor skin burns. It contains antibodies from bovine colostrum (first milk) that increase skin resilience and balance the skin microbiome.

The gel contains natural plant oils that are easily broken down and absorbed by the skin enzymes. This allows the skin to regenerate itself and protect itself better against external influences. In addition, the gel contains plant extracts and vitamins that support the skin's self-regeneration, and ceramides ensure that the skin cells stay together. This keeps the skin hydrated and protected against bacteria. You can find out all about our natural ingredients on our ingredients page .

Want to know more about how exactly Doderm Hydro RepairGel works? Read all about it on our “ How it works ” page!

We hope that reading this blog has helped you learn more about sunburn in horses. If this blog leaves you with any questions, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to help!