A dewlap is the loose, pendulous fold of skin that hangs from an animal’s throat or the underside of the neck. The term refers to the anatomical structure itself — the excess skin and associated connective tissue — rather than to a pathological condition. In horses, a true dewlap is not a typical feature of normal conformation; the term is more commonly applied to cattle, dogs, and reptiles, where the structure is a consistent anatomical feature of certain breeds or species.
In horses, loose skin or folds beneath the throatlatch region can appear in very old animals, in those that have lost significant weight, or in some heavy draft breeds with naturally coarser skin. These are not dewlaps in the anatomical sense but are sometimes described informally using the term. A genuine dewlap involves redundant skin as a breed-standard feature, as seen in Zebu cattle and several dog breeds where the structure is genetically fixed.
Understanding the term is relevant when reading veterinary or comparative anatomy references that describe cervical (neck) structures across species. When the term appears in equine health contexts, it typically describes a infected skin-fold discharge-producing or inflamed skin fold rather than a true anatomical dewlap. Any persistent fold of the underlying dermal layer tissue that shows signs of irritation, discharge, or thickening in the neck or throatlatch region warrants veterinary assessment, as skin folds trap moisture and can become sites of infection.
Further Reading
The dewlap as an anatomical feature across species is described in the dewlap article on Wikipedia. Physical examination and anatomy in routine equine care are covered in the Merck Veterinary Manual section on Routine Care and Breeding of Horses.