Ep. 76: Equine Allergies, Hives & Itchy Skin: What Horse Owners Need to Know

Scoop & Scale: An Equine Podcast (Mostly) About Nutrition

Scoop & Scale: An Equine Podcast (Mostly) About Nutrition
Ep. 76: Equine Allergies, Hives & Itchy Skin: What Horse Owners Need to Know
May 25, 2026 Season 4 Episode 76
Dr. Clair Thunes and Jill Jackson

Seasonal itching, hives, and respiratory issues: equine allergies can be frustrating, confusing, and difficult to manage. In this episode we’re joined by special guest Dr. Rosanna Marsella. Dr. Marsella is a board-certified veterinary dermatologist and professor at the University of Florida. She has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed articles, written several books and contributed to numerous others. She has also served as president of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology and co-editor of Veterinary Dermatology.

Together, we unpack the most common causes of allergies in horses, how they present clinically, and what horse owners need to know about diagnosis and treatment especially regarding widely misunderstood topics like food allergies and blood testing.

In this episode, we cover:

  • The most common types of equine allergies (insects, environment, and more) and how they show up clinically
  • When to call your veterinarian and what to expect during diagnosis and treatment
  • Why blood allergy testing is often unreliable (especially for feed-related allergies)
  • Practical management strategies, from fly control to environmental changes and nutrition support
  • And so much more

Equine allergies are often misunderstood, and this conversation helps separate common myths from what the science actually shows.  

To learn more about Dr. Marsella https://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/profile/marsella-rosanna/ 

Consensus Statement  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/vde.13168  

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com   

Thanks for riding along with us! 

Episode Artwork Ep. 76: Equine Allergies, Hives & Itchy Skin: What Horse Owners Need to Know 1:17:04 Episode Artwork Ep. 75: Ration Balancers Explained: The Key to Filling Nutrient Gaps in Your Horse’s Diet 55:06 Episode Artwork Ep. 74: Foal Nutrition: Feeding for Healthy Growth from Birth to Adolescence 56:03 Episode Artwork Ep. 73: Broodmare Nutrition: Why Your Foal’s Health Starts Before Birth 46:33 Episode Artwork Ep. 72: Vitamin E for Horses: Identifying Deficiency and Effective Supplementation 1:04:47 Episode Artwork Ep. 71: Equine Asthma: Commonly Missed Signs, Causes and Treatments 1:40:14 Episode Artwork Ep. 70: Stronger Horse Hooves: How Nutrition Improves Hoof Health and Quality 38:17 Episode Artwork Ep. 69: Managing Overweight Horses Through Diet, Forage, and Exercise 1:03:53 Episode Artwork Ep. 68: Alfalfa for Horses: Common Myths Explained 36:39 Episode Artwork Ep. 67: Herbal Supplements for Horses: Do They Work? 1:08:26 Episode Artwork Ep. 66: Joint Supplements for Horses: What Actually Works (and What Doesn’t) 1:00:40 Episode Artwork Ep. 65: Stop Wasting Hay and Money: Research-Based Ways to Reduce Hay Waste 59:13 Episode Artwork Ep. 64: Feeding Fat Supplements to Horses: Different Types and What to Know 1:10:00 Episode Artwork Ep. 63: Our Favorite Things 2025 - Gifts for Horse Lovers 1:39:02 Episode Artwork Ep. 62: Rooted in Science: Feeding Beet Pulp to Horses 55:35 Episode Artwork Ep. 61: Winter Horse Blanketing: Should You Do It? What the Science Says 1:15:56 Episode Artwork Ep. 60: Chew on This: Equine Teeth, Dentistry & Nutrition (Part 2) 46:40 Episode Artwork Ep. 59: Chew on This: Equine Teeth, Dentistry & Nutrition (Part 1) 1:07:12 Episode Artwork Ep. 58: Poisonous Plants and Horses: How to Spot and Manage Risks 1:26:18 Episode Artwork Ep. 57: Not All Equine Nutritionists Are Created Equal: How to Find Qualified Advice 1:00:13 Episode Artwork Ep. 56: Horse Feed Tags Demystified: How to Read and Compare Feeds 1:19:12 Episode Artwork Ep. 55: What to Feed When Hay Isn’t an Option: Hay Pellets & Cubes Explained 50:30 Episode Artwork Ep. 54: Understanding Pasture Grass Sugar Levels — The Long and the Short of It with the Equine, PhD 1:13:10 Episode Artwork Ep. 53: The Forage Based Diet Trend: What You’re Probably Already Doing Right 37:08 Episode Artwork Ep. 52: Summer Heat and Your Horse Part 2: Nutrition and Management 1:00:37