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Do you know how to treat a muzzle with a sunburn? Summer is here and with that lots of sun. If you are the happy owner of a horse with a pink muzzle, then you may already have experienced sunburns of some kind. This is often best compared to a delicate baby bump, and it should almost be cared for just as gently. Although the pink muzzle may be smeared in sunscreen every single day over the summer, it is often difficult for the horse to completely avoid a little sunburn occasionally. It is important to be able to spot a pink muzzle that has received a little too much sun – and how to care for a muzzle once the damage has occurred.
You can recognize a sunburn on the horse's muzzle if you start noticing the first sign of white pigments, after which it turns red. If the sunburn is bad, the skin will start to get sores and maybe swell up.
You may also like to read: Heat regulation: How to best help your horse in the summer
If you have a horse that has either been sunburned or is at predominant risk of becoming so, there are five things that you should always have nearby. Here is a list of what you need in a first aid kit for the sun-tinted, pink muzzle. If you always keep this in the stable, you are ready to help the horse if the sun has been a little too harsh, or if you fear it is going to happen.
A sunscreen for horses should preferably be fragrance-free, water-resistant and of a high factor (preferably 50). Especially sunscreen for children is good because it often meets these requirements. Because the sunscreen is usually not so greasy, it is not suitable for healing the crusts that can easily come if your horse has already been scalded. On the other hand, it must be used preventively, and you can never really use too much. Remember to appky several times a day if your horse is very exposed.
Zinc promotes the healing process in the skin. It can be put to good use if the horse is unfortunately enough to receive wounds from a scald. However, the ointment is also good for protecting against the sun, because it is very thick and can cover the skin completely. In terms of protection, however, it will never be as effective as regular sunscreen.
The well-known Helosan ointment is oily and is therefore, like the zinc ointment, good for softening crusts from wounds. Remember, however, that it does not protect against the sun. It can be good to use under a muzzle net, as it does not rub off making the fabric greasy in the same way as the zinc ointment.
A muzzle net can not only protect against annoying insects and the sun. Provided it has UV protection. It can also help avoid contact with poisonous plants. However, it can be a good idea to sew or glue the muzzle net to the halter. Many horses are really good at ripping the velcro to pieces. Alternatively, you can sew on a durable cloth or the shade from a cap on the halter.
The most important thing on a warm and sunny day is that horses can find shade to hide under. If this is not possible, then you should bring them into the stable during the hours of noon till 3pm. This is the time where the sun´s rays are really strong.
Certain plants and some types of medicine for horses can promote what is called photosensitivity. It is a chemical reaction in which the skin becomes even more sensitive to sunlight. Therefore, the reaction may resemble a sunburn. This means that even quite ordinary daylight can actually cause damage to the horse's muzzle. If the horse has been in contact with a poisonous plant, or if it has been given a certain type of medicine, you may have to use the first aid kit. Even if the sun was nowhere to be found in the sky.
