During the summer months, it’s wonderful when your horse can spend plenty of time outdoors. However, it’s not so pleasant when your horse is exposed to the sun for too long and gets sunburned. Horses can also suffer from sun exposure and develop skin irritation. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at sunburn in horses and what you can do to prevent and treat it.

Forms of Sunburn

Too much sun can cause sunburn in horses, but it can also lead to other problems. 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-haired skin are more vulnerable. We often see horses with a sunburned nose. This can be effectively treated with a soothing 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. Also, some 

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

Symptoms of Sunburn 

Sunburn in horses can vary in severity:

• Mild burn: redness, thickening of the skin, warm and tender to the touch.
• Severe burns: blisters that ooze fluid; after a few days, the skin may die, resulting in open wounds or scabs. The actual damage often doesn’t become visible until a few days later.

In severe cases, blood tests to check liver enzymes and liver function may be necessary.

Preventing sunburn

Prevention is always better than cure. To prevent sunburn:

• Keep your horse in the shade during peak hours: Make sure your horse is in the shade or keep your horse inside during the hours of strongest sunlight, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
• Use of UV-protective materials: such as fly veils, blankets, and leg covers. Many fly or eczema blankets nowadays have a UV-protective layer.
• Sunscreen: Apply a waterproof sunscreen with a high SPF to your horse regularly. There are special sunscreens for horses, but human sunscreens can also be used, provided they are safe for animals.

Treating sunburn

If your pet has a severe sunburn, it’s a good idea to consult your veterinarian for a treatment plan. Do not cover open wounds with a blanket, as this can lead to overheating, infections, and poor healing. 

Mild sunburn can be treated with skincare products that soothe and moisturize the skin. Use preventive measures such as sunscreen and UV-protective blankets and face masks to prevent it from getting worse.

Doderm Hydro Repair Gel

Our Doderm Hydro Repair Gel is ideal for treating minor sunburn. It contains antibodies from bovine colostrum, which boost the skin’s resistance and help restore balance to the skin’s microbiome.

The gel contains natural plant oils that are easily broken down and absorbed by the skin’s enzymes. This helps the skin regenerate itself and better protect against external influences. In addition, the gel contains plant extracts and vitamins that support the skin’s self-regeneration, while ceramides help keep skin cells together. This keeps the skin hydrated and protects against bacteria. You can read all about our natural ingredients on our ingredients page.

Want to know more about exactly how 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 you have any questions after reading this blog, please feel free to contact us. We’d be happy to advise you!