Sudden outbreak of warts in an older horse

[Marigold4]

My broodmare has suddenly developed warts on her muzzle. There are about 20 of them, grey and raised bumps. I thought perhaps she'd been stung by something but they show no sign of going down. Looking online, it seems this usually occurs in young horses not older ones? My mare is 14. I've now fenced off a part of the field for her so that she doesn't pass it on to her yearling filly and my gelding. Is it unusual for an older horse to have an outbreak of warts like this? Could it be something else? Should I get the vet out?

 

[Bonnie Allie]

My older horses had this last summer. Vet thought maybe a virus that had caught, lowered immune system and wasn’t that concerned. He said they would clear up themselves within 6 weeks - and if they didn’t to get him back.

The practice did sell me some magic powder that supposedly was for building immune systems. Bit sceptical, felt like a margin bulking exercise - but bought it, fed it and horses warts all disappeared in about 4 weeks.

 

[Marigold4]

Thanks for replying. Happy to hear they might be gone in 6 weeks. We are about a month in, so hopefully will be over it soon. Did any other horse catch the warts from your horse? Did the vet have anything to say about how contagious the warts were?

 

[Bonnie Allie]

Yes the warts moved from one horse to three of the horses out of five (5) in the herd all kept together. Pretty munch a week apart. Each horse took about 6 weeks to get rid of them.

On one horse there were fewer warts but they were very large. Other horses, warts were tiny but higher in volume. It was late summer at the time, horses were all on grass 24x7, strip grazed so were most likely spreading the warts due to limited area for grazing each day.

 

[Marigold4]

Well, fingers crossed. Mare has had warts for a few weeks now and the others no warts yet.

 

[Goldenstar]

She is probably immune suppressed for some reason.

 

[Marigold4]

She is probably immune suppressed for some reason.

Puzzling! She hasn't been ill, is regularly wormed, looks in tip-top health with shiny coat and a good body weight. Not stressed - out at grass in a small herd.