ABSTRACT
The skin is recognised as the body’s largest organ, and among its more important tasks are protection of the horse against the environment, thermoregulation, sensory perception, secretory function, pigmentation and acting as an indicator of the horse’s general health. The clinical appraisal of the horse involves looking at the general health and body condition and visually assessing the obvious sites of the skin problem, which may be localised or generalised. The skin lesions should be carefully evaluated. Various diagnostic skin tests are available for use and contact should be made with a pathology laboratory to enable discussion of the clinical features of a case and to receive advice on the most appropriate samples to collect. All horses with pruritic skin disease or evidence of a papular or crusting dermatitis should be carefully checked for the presence of ectoparasites. The response of skin to a variety of conditions can give similar histopathology.
