Article from Queensland Horse Council Inc
http://www.qldhorsecouncil.com

Warts are caused by the papillomavirus, and they
usually appear as blemishes on the face, mouth, or
nose regions in younger horses. They appear as
either single warts, or as clusters of warts that have
a “cauliflower” appearance.

While unsightly, they usually pose no threat to the
horse’s overall health and are considered merely a
cosmetic blemish. In most cases, the warts will
disappear on their own in a matter of time.

But it is important to remember that warts are a viral,
contagious disease and that proper steps should be
taken in order to prevent them from spreading from
one horse to another, especially if the horse is kept
near other horses.

Younger horses are more susceptible to warts
because they have less-efficient immune systems
than older horses.

The good news is that once a horse has been infected,
it builds up an immunity and is less susceptible to
future infections.  Provided the horse is in good physical
condition, has a good nutrition program, is wormed
regularly, and is under good management, the warts
should disappear within six to nine months.

Short-term, the warts will not reappear because of the
immunity the horse has developed for the virus.

If a horse becomes affected with warts, it is best to
keep it away from other horses as much as possible.

Also, as a general management practice
do not use the same equipment such as brushes,
halters, bridles, etc., on both infected and noninfected
horses. While there might be no way to
really isolate the infected horse, good hygiene
practices will help keep the warts from spreading.

Complications that can arise as a result of warts
are secondary, but they do sometimes occur. Some
of the most common secondary problems arise
because the warts are banged or scraped on barn
doors, fences, halters, bridles, etc. When this
happens, it creates an open sore on the wart that
could allow a secondary infection to enter the open
wound.

During hot months, “summer sores” can
become superimposed on the warts if the wart has
been rubbed raw. There also is the possibility that
maggots or larvae might invade damaged warts.

The only time warts become dangerous is when a
horse has an immune deficiency such as CID,
which compromises the immune system. In these
cases, the warts could become much more
extensive and cover wider areas of the body
because the animal’s immune system will not
contribute to self-curing.

Ultimately, warts are a fairly trivial disease,
provided the horse is given good nutrition and care.

In most circumstances, the infection is self-limiting
and there should be no complications. Since warts
are caused by a highly contagious virus, if the
horse is stabled with other animals, then commonsense
hygiene should be utilized because warts
appear more often in this type of situation.
End of Article

I have been reading a lot about warts on horses nose.  They appear on most young horses that haven’t developed a good immune system.  Most people advise you to leave them alone and they will go away in 6 to 9 months, but our Vet came out today and looked at the warts on our 6 month old filly.  She squeezed and busted all of the warts and said by squeezing them, it would make the horse’s immune system develop an immunity against the warts faster.  Be sure and wear plastic gloves, the warts are caused by a contagious virus.

Tags: warts on horses nose