Shari Frederick
Warts on horses muzzel
Help for warts on a horse
Everything you ever wanted to know about these unattractive blemishes
HHH: What causes warts?The papillomavirus (carried by insects) causes warts when keratin (hard protein in the top layer of the skin) grows too rapidly. Warts are contagious, and are often brought on by stress. HHH: Are warts life threatening?Warts are benign (noncancerous) and unsightly, yet do not pose a real health threat. Seek medical advice if the wart or surrounding skin is:
- painful
- red
- swollen
- bleeding
- oozing pus
Warts can become dangerous when a horse has CID (an immune deficiency); the warts could cover extensive areas due to the immune system’s inability to combat the disease. HHH: What complications might occur with warts?Complications can occur when an open sore on a wart allows a secondary infection to enter the open wound. Watch that the warts are not damaged or opened when contacting tack, fencing, gates, barn doors, etc. Warts can become raw and aggravated, especially during hot summer months where summer sores can arise on a wart. Maggots or larvae can imbed in the warts as well. HHH: Where are the most common areas for warts to break out on my horse?The face, mouth, lips, or nose regions in younger horses are most common for warts to gather. More than 200 types of warts can infect skin in animals. Warts like to live and grow on moist surfaces.HHH: Are some horses more susceptible to warts?All equines can get warts, but young horses are most susceptible due to a low immune system, less hair and thinner skin. Fortunately, once a horse has warts, it is less susceptible because it builds an immunity to future infections. Steps should be taken to prevent warts from spreading from one horse to another, as close enough proximity can spread the viral cells. HHH: What does a wart look like?Warts may be single, or clustered. The virus may begin as a single cell, then mature and replicate, triggering a more complex cellular system which is often referred to as cauliflower in appearance. Some warts may swell and burst, causing rapid viral spread.HHH: My horse was exposed to warts. How long until I see a breakout?Not every horse who comes in contact with the virus develops warts. After exposure to the virus, it can take as long as two to six months to develop into a wart.HHH: How long does it take to get rid of a wart?Warts can disappear on their own, but it may take up to nine months, whereas with some supports it may take as little as 2-6 weeks if addressed simultaneously both internally and topically.HHH: Can warts be prevented?A horse with warts requires isolation from other horses or shared equipment to avoid the spread of naturally exfoliated viral cells. Clean hygiene, regular worming, good consistent nutrition, and active physical condition protect your horse via a STRONG immune system which keeps the virus at bay. Never use the same brushes, halters, bridles, or any equipment on both infected and non-infected horses. Warts spread rapidly through breaks in the skin, open wounds, or direct physical contact. Your horse can scratch a leg with a wart-covered nose and spread the virus to other places on their own body.
HHH: Any homeopathic supports for warts?Homeopathic thuja can be an effective support. Stressed young horses require a lower dose due to reduced immunity. Gwenyth Santagate of Penzance Horses suggests the following for newly rescued 2-year-olds: “200c dose of Thuja and drop 2 or 3 pellets of 6c potency Thuja in the drinking water each day (fresh water) for 3 days. You should see a response in 3-5 days. If not, you can repeat. Keep in mind that the changes you first see will usually be mental/emotional changes ... more alert, brighter, 'zippier' or whatever.” Dorothy McCreadie, Homeopathic Practitioner (Powys, Mid Wales) further clarifies, “Warts that respond to thuja are often large, moist and bleed easily. Stress-related warts you could try Staphysagria 200c. Warts that respond to staphysagria are often sensitive to touch. The animal may well be irritable.”HHH: How about topical supports for warts? - Colloidal Silver Zinc Oxide in a moisture barrier dimethicone invisible spray bonds to warts, embedding into the skin and protecting it until that skin layer is shed; can be reapplied to new skin. No rubbing in, can apply once daily if preferred. -
HHH: What causes warts?The papillomavirus (carried by insects) causes warts when keratin (hard protein in the top layer of the skin) grows too rapidly. Warts are contagious, and are often brought on by stress. HHH: Are warts life threatening?Warts are benign (noncancerous) and unsightly, yet do not pose a real health threat. Seek medical advice if the wart or surrounding skin is:
- painful
- red
- swollen
- bleeding
- oozing pus
Warts can become dangerous when a horse has CID (an immune deficiency); the warts could cover extensive areas due to the immune system’s inability to combat the disease. HHH: What complications might occur with warts?Complications can occur when an open sore on a wart allows a secondary infection to enter the open wound. Watch that the warts are not damaged or opened when contacting tack, fencing, gates, barn doors, etc. Warts can become raw and aggravated, especially during hot summer months where summer sores can arise on a wart. Maggots or larvae can imbed in the warts as well. HHH: Where are the most common areas for warts to break out on my horse?The face, mouth, lips, or nose regions in younger horses are most common for warts to gather. More than 200 types of warts can infect skin in animals. Warts like to live and grow on moist surfaces.HHH: Are some horses more susceptible to warts?All equines can get warts, but young horses are most susceptible due to a low immune system, less hair and thinner skin. Fortunately, once a horse has warts, it is less susceptible because it builds an immunity to future infections. Steps should be taken to prevent warts from spreading from one horse to another, as close enough proximity can spread the viral cells. HHH: What does a wart look like?Warts may be single, or clustered. The virus may begin as a single cell, then mature and replicate, triggering a more complex cellular system which is often referred to as cauliflower in appearance. Some warts may swell and burst, causing rapid viral spread.HHH: My horse was exposed to warts. How long until I see a breakout?Not every horse who comes in contact with the virus develops warts. After exposure to the virus, it can take as long as two to six months to develop into a wart.HHH: How long does it take to get rid of a wart?Warts can disappear on their own, but it may take up to nine months, whereas with some supports it may take as little as 2-6 weeks if addressed simultaneously both internally and topically.HHH: Can warts be prevented?A horse with warts requires isolation from other horses or shared equipment to avoid the spread of naturally exfoliated viral cells. Clean hygiene, regular worming, good consistent nutrition, and active physical condition protect your horse via a STRONG immune system which keeps the virus at bay. Never use the same brushes, halters, bridles, or any equipment on both infected and non-infected horses. Warts spread rapidly through breaks in the skin, open wounds, or direct physical contact. Your horse can scratch a leg with a wart-covered nose and spread the virus to other places on their own body.
HHH: Any homeopathic supports for warts?Homeopathic thuja can be an effective support. Stressed young horses require a lower dose due to reduced immunity. Gwenyth Santagate of Penzance Horses suggests the following for newly rescued 2-year-olds: “200c dose of Thuja and drop 2 or 3 pellets of 6c potency Thuja in the drinking water each day (fresh water) for 3 days. You should see a response in 3-5 days. If not, you can repeat. Keep in mind that the changes you first see will usually be mental/emotional changes ... more alert, brighter, 'zippier' or whatever.” Dorothy McCreadie, Homeopathic Practitioner (Powys, Mid Wales) further clarifies, “Warts that respond to thuja are often large, moist and bleed easily. Stress-related warts you could try Staphysagria 200c. Warts that respond to staphysagria are often sensitive to touch. The animal may well be irritable.”HHH: How about topical supports for warts? - Colloidal Silver Zinc Oxide in a moisture barrier dimethicone invisible spray bonds to warts, embedding into the skin and protecting it until that skin layer is shed; can be reapplied to new skin. No rubbing in, can apply once daily if preferred. - Clove or oregano pure essential oils may be applied directly to warts. - Plant extract essential oil of white cedar tree, tea tree and lavender, given 3 times a day (1 drop per wart or several warts) for 2-6 weeks. - Vitamin E and Aloe Vera have both been used on warts topically to soothe and moisturize, but really cannot address the immune nor stress aspects (root of the cause).HHH: Why don't most over-the-counter chemical solutions cure warts?Most products are unable to remove all of the virus-infected cells, or cannot penetrate deep enough. Any product’s job is to kill the tissue the wart virus lives in and thus kill the virus. Unfortunately, the wart usually survives to re-grow another day. Humans use a 5% imiquimod cream (medication prescribed by a doctor) that stimulates the immune system.
HHH: Can surgically removing warts help?It is said that surgery can expedite the immune response, but a healthy immune can clear up warts on its own so adding additional stress to the horse’s immune is not necessarily a better option, nor is it proven a more rapid support. Surgically removed large human warts under local anesthesia have a recurrence rate of about 21%; with cryotherapy, the recurrence rate is 73%. Never attempt to treat or remove a wart yourself by burning, cutting, tearing or picking.
HHH: What nutritional supports might assist in cases of warts (or prevention of)?Include natural immune enhancers like red clover, kelp, hawthorne berry, garlic, fenugreek, echinacea, pycnogenol and other C's such as rose hips etc., along with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and omega 3 fatty acids in the form of chia seeds or flaxseed meal or oil. Proper nutrition includes green leafy options, high protein, and no processed sugars. (Humans would seek the same and also steer away from immune robbing caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, while getting a minimum of 8 hours sleep!) Make sure your horse has access to plenty of clean water to purify the body which helps flush toxins out of the body.HHH: Is a wart the same as a mole? Don’t confuse warts with moles. Moles are usually dark and can grow really large while warts are usually smaller, skin-colored and rough to the touch.
Warts will drop off on their own eventually, via spontaneous remission, although there are viable natural supports to expedite their elimination. Don’t risk young ones (especially) spreading warts; separate them, minimize stress and wait it out. Low immune is at the root of most issues with your horse so, as a rule, build the immune on a regular basis. Poor digestion is also a form of stress on your horse. Always select clean, nutritionally viable feed/hay, combined with a good immune booster. In the end, your horse may never experience warts to begin with!Shari Frederick, BS, NMD, a nutritional educator and licensed aesthetician, assists horseowners in making healthier, more natural choices in horse care. She is an independent author, international lecturer and self-styled naturalist. At her Happy Horse Haven Rescue in Texas, detoxification and liver/kidney/immune supports are the FIRST steps in rehab for nearly every arriving horse. Visit Shari’s websites, sharifrederick.org, horseshaveheart.org
may be applied directly to warts. - Plant extract essential oil of white cedar tree, tea tree and lavender, given 3 times a day (1 drop per wart or several warts) for 2-6 weeks. - Vitamin E and Aloe Vera have both been used on warts topically to soothe and moisturize, but really cannot address the immune nor stress aspects (root of the cause).HHH: Why don't most over-the-counter chemical solutions cure warts?Most products are unable to remove all of the virus-infected cells, or cannot penetrate deep enough. Any product’s job is to kill the tissue the wart virus lives in and thus kill the virus. Unfortunately, the wart usually survives to re-grow another day. Humans use a 5% imiquimod cream (medication prescribed by a doctor) that stimulates the immune system.
HHH: Can surgically removing warts help?It is said that surgery can expedite the immune response, but a healthy immune can clear up warts on its own so adding additional stress to the horse’s immune is not necessarily a better option, nor is it proven a more rapid support. Surgically removed large human warts under local anesthesia have a recurrence rate of about 21%; with cryotherapy, the recurrence rate is 73%. Never attempt to treat or remove a wart yourself by burning, cutting, tearing or picking.
HHH: What nutritional supports might assist in cases of warts (or prevention of)?Include natural immune enhancers like red clover, kelp, hawthorne berry, garlic, fenugreek, echinacea, pycnogenol and other C's such as rose hips etc., along with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and omega 3 fatty acids in the form of chia seeds or flaxseed meal or oil. Proper nutrition includes green leafy options, high protein, and no processed sugars. (Humans would seek the same and also steer away from immune robbing caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, while getting a minimum of 8 hours sleep!) Make sure your horse has access to plenty of clean water to purify the body which helps flush toxins out of the body.HHH: Is a wart the same as a mole? Don’t confuse warts with moles. Moles are usually dark and can grow really large while warts are usually smaller, skin-colored and rough to the touch.
Warts will drop off on their own eventually, via spontaneous remission, although there are viable natural supports to expedite their elimination. Don’t risk young ones (especially) spreading warts; separate them, minimize stress and wait it out. Low immune is at the root of most issues with your horse so, as a rule, build the immune on a regular basis. Poor digestion is also a form of stress on your horse. Always select clean, nutritionally viable feed/hay, combined with a good immune booster. In the end, your horse may never experience warts to begin with!Shari Frederick, BS, NMD, a nutritional educator and licensed aesthetician, assists horseowners in making healthier, more natural choices in horse care. She is an independent author, international lecturer and self-styled naturalist. At her Happy Horse Haven Rescue in Texas, detoxification and liver/kidney/immune supports are the FIRST steps in rehab for nearly every arriving horse. Visit Shari’s websites, sharifrederick.org, horseshaveheart.org