So my AQHA yearling has grown several warts on his nose. Google information basically says they will go away on their own within 6-9 months. I’m curious what actually causes these things? I remember, growing up, our ponies had them quite often and old timers called them dew warts. Anyone else dealing with these this year? I did read that they are from the papill (?) strain and that they are contagious. (Too late now)
They are caused by a virus. It’s ok, they just run their course, then the horse has natural immunity for the rest of their life. So the only transmission will be to other young horses who have not yet seen the virus. They don’t take that long to recover in my experience. Warts are just a right of passage for young horses. They can get a bit sore if it is a bad case, but more of an inconvenience than a huge deal.
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Imagine my surprise when my much older horse developed them! People at the barn were super surprised and said it was interesting that miss mare got them. They had a young horse that had popped up with them but it was awhile before I moved in. Everyone just called them baby warts and said they would be gone shortly.
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My favorite saying I’ve heard regarding them is:
“Well, you can go ahead and treat them, and they’ll be gone in about 6 months. Or, you can do nothing with them, and they’ll be gone in about six months.”
One of the colts I bought last summer developed them - I opted to do literally nothing, and they went away on their own right on schedule. They did not transfer to any of my other horses. They were unsightly, and he had a couple get big on the end of his muzzle that ended up getting a little irritated, but ultimately he’s no worse for the wear.
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Y’all should go speak to the mini horse people. They act like this is the second coming of a biblical plague and you’re a monster for not quarantining every animal in a 30 mile radius.
It happens to most young horses-- they get the warts-- they go away. It’s life. My yearling had them. He’s in a pretty prominent hunter breeding program. The response was to shrug and go on with life.
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IME they go away in 2-3 months.
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Not sure if it actually helps or not but we always pull a few off and feed them to the horse. One of those old wives tales that makes you feel like you are doing something other than wait.
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Years ago my colt had warts. My old timer trainer indicated they’d go away with mineral oil on them. So, I slathered them in mineral oil a few times a week and they went away in no time. Cheap and effective. Of course, it sounds like they would have gone away without it, too.
My OTTB got them at age 3!! Like all over his muzzle not just a few, but thankfully they went away quite quickly.
I can’t with that
Equine papilloma virus.
If you want to speed up the resolution, you can try crushing one or two with a pair of hemostats. That often stimulates more of an immune response.
Don’t grab the normal skin–it will pinch.
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My 20 yo got warts this year. They didn’t spread to other horses. I bought wart remover and they were gone in a few weeks.
I was told many years ago to go ahead and tear a couple off- and poof! They disappeared!
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