Health Considerations
The Appaloosa is generally a sound and healthy breed. However, there are some conditions prevalent to the Appaloosa that must be taken into consideration.
Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (CSNB)
Congenital stationary night blindness is a condition that results in a horse having little to no night vision. CSNB is thought to be caused by the LP gene, a gene responsible for certain coat patterns in Appaloosas. Night blindness is present at birth and does not get worse with age. In low lighting horses may seem confused and be reluctant to move. Some horses with this condition may be comfortable staying outside at night in the company of other horses, however most would benefit from being stabled at night so they don't have to cover large amounts of potentially uneven ground. Congenital stationary night blindness can be diagnosed by having a veterinarian perform an electroretinogram (ERG) vision test.
Equine Recurrent Uveitis
Equine recurrent uveitis is an immune inflammatory response of the uveal tract in the eye. Appaloosas are more prone to this than other horse breeds. Clinical signs include swollen, watery eyes and and easily visible red blood vessels on the sides of the eyes and eye lids. Horses may also squint frequently. Equine recurrent uveitis can cause damage to the retina if it goes untreated and multiple recurring cases can lead to diminished vision and blindness.
Sunburn
Many Appaloosas, especially those with large amounts of pink skin under white fur suffer from sunburns. The most susceptible area is the muzzle area as it is generally sparsely haired in comparison to the rest of the body. Sunburns can be extremely painful and recurring sunburns can result in scabbed and cracked skin. Sunscreen should be applied regularly and if possible, shade should be provided if the horse is to be outside during the hours of the day when the sun is the highest.