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appeared. Some changes that may be important are: changes inthe feed or supplements, was the horse put in a different pastureor stall, was there a change in bedding material, was there achange in medications, any changes in insect repellent, was thehorse worked harder than normal, etc. There is a chance that ifany changes were made, it could be why the horse developedhives. However, as was mentioned earlier, there are a variety ofreasons a horse can develop hives, and it is very difficult, timeconsuming and often unrewarding when trying to figure outwhat caused them. It is also possible for horses to develop hivesin only one season, like summer, due to the insects and particulartypes of plants in pasture that are available. Treatment options will vary based on the severity of the hives,the horse%u2019s reaction to them, and if they are a single occurrence orhappen more frequently. If this is the first time your horse has developed hives and they are not severe, the veterinarian will morethan likely give an intravenous (IV) dose of glucocorticoid steroids,like dexamethasone, to decrease the inflammation. Sometimes, thiswill have to be followed up with dexamethasone powder for thenext couple days until the hives are completely gone. If the hivesare recurring, then a more long-term treatment plan may be required. An antihistamine, such as hydroxyzine, may be prescribedfor the next one to two months along with a different glucocorticoid(oral prednisolone) to treat hives and try to help prevent a futureepisode. Antihistamines do not work as well as glucocorticoids totreat initial symptoms which is why they are used as a preventative.If your horse continues to develop hives, it may be helpful to keepa journal of feed, pasture turnout, supplements, medications, insectrepellents and anything else done to care for your horse in an attempt to narrow down if there is a common item happening beforeyour horse has an episode of hives. This, however, is time consuming and may or may not help you and your veterinarian figure outwhat is causing the chronic issues.The prognosis for horses with hives is generally favorable.Usually, their general health is not affected, and they are able tolive a long, healthy life. If the hives start to recur with moreseverity and it starts to affect the horse%u2019s ability to breathe, longterm treatment will be necessary, and horses will usually do finewith this, too. On rare occasions, the prognosis becomes less favorable if hives cannot be medically controlled and can becomelife-threatening if they are severe enough. This condition can befrustrating to treat if it is a chronic issue and you and your veterinarian are unable to determine what the cause of the hives is.In summary, hives, or urticaria, are wheals that your horse develops when it comes in contact with something that causes ahypersensitivity or allergic reaction or it may be from a nonimmunologic cause. While most cases of hives are not life-threatening, some horses will develop severe inflammation near theirairway making it very difficult to breathe. Since, this can occur,it is important to call your veterinarian right away when you seeyour horse has hives. Based on the severity and the frequencyof the occurrence of hives, you and your veterinarian will comeup with a specific treatment plan. Finding out exactly whatcauses your horse to have hives is usually unrewarding andhives are usually treated symptomatically. o22 Arizona Horse Connection March, 2026%u001a %u001a%u001a %u001a %u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a %u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u0006 %u0005%u0005%u0005 %u0004%u0003%u0012%u0018%u0013%u0011%u0010%u000f%u000e%u0011%u0010%u000c%u000bfffflffifl%u001a %u001a%u001a %u001a %u001a%u001a %u0019%u0018%u0018 ffi%u0017 ffi%u0016%u0015%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a %u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u0005 %u0001%u0003%u000b%u000f%u000b%u000f%u0009%u0010%u0008%u0007%u0009%u000e%u001a %u001a%u001a %u001a %u001a%u001a %u0015 fl%u0015ffi%u0014%u0016%u0013%u0012ff %u0019%u0012%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a %u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a%u001a