Are Appaloosa horses with large areas of unpigmented skin around the eyes genetically prone to eye diseases (eg. uveitis, cataracts and skin cancer?
Generally speaking, the risk of damage to the eye and the skin around it is somewhat related to the amount of pink skin. Appaloosas do indeed have a genetically determined tendency to have lower than normal amounts of pigmentation in the skin. Horses with that are homozygous for LP are more likely to show extreme lack of pigmentation. However, extreme mottling of skin is also something that is modified by other genes, and appears to be inherited in family lines. Skin with reduced pigmentation is at higher risk of solar burns. Sunburned skin is subject to infection and at more risk for development of skin cancers such as squamous cell carcinoma. Fly masks and sunblocks can be used to prevent sunburn.
