AlfaA and itching... (and a question re micronised linseed)

[MegaBeast]

Also in stable yard but figured I might get more replies in here; been searching for more info on micronised linseed and came across a thread about people whose horses had had skin reactions to alfa a.

My mare has had raised lumps "spots" under the skin on her backside, could feel them not really see them, then last weekend they went scabby and the hair came off so she's now got a smattering of bald patches all over her rump. Asked my vet to have a look and although he says I'm treating it appropriately (Malaseb shampoo) he's at a loss as to what's causing it and the post I came across made me wonder if it may be AlfaA?

She's been on AlfaA since October, since then she has gained a large, itchy (now bald) patch behind her saddle on one side which we (vet+I) assumed was caused by a seam in the saddle cloth rubbing and allowing bacteria to colonise the area; that has now healed up but she's gained her scabby backside!

If you've experienced a reaciton to AlfaA how long did it take for it to manifest? Was it an all over reaction? What did it look like? This looks like rainscald but obviously can't be as she's rugged.

Thanks for any info... also, if you feed micronised linseed how much do you feed as that's what I was originally searching for! Thank you

 

[cundlegreen]

I've been feeding all sorts on Alfa A for years, and never had any trouble.More likely to be a heating food problem, ie barley, maize or soya perhaps?

 

[MegaBeast]

The rest of her feed is basically allen and page calm and condition. I don't really think it likely but it was just seeing the other thread that started the thought process. I've never known another horse have an issue with AlfaA and wouldn't say she's particularly sensitive so the skin is a mystery, especially as she gets TopSpec balancer and oil so her skin should be excellent!!!

I'd imagine if a skin reaction were caused by feed then it would be unlikely to be localised?

 

[MistletoeMegan]

For the linseed, anything from a mug full to a pint glass full depending on the usual condition/workload/type bits.

Feed a mug a day for a week or so and go from there

Re: AlfaA, alfalfa can cause skin irritation to some horses so if you've ruled out other possibilities then I'd be inclined to take her off it and swap to a grass or grass/straw chaff and see if that clears it up.

 

[MegaBeast]

Thanks MM.

Anyone experienced a reaction to AA?

 

[Minxie]

My mare is on loan to my friend. For all the years I'd had her she was on Greengold Alph Alpha and she didn't have any skin bumps etc although she has times of being super itchy. When she went on loan my friend wasn't able to get Greengold and put her onto a chaff instead and feels the itchiness has definitely improved and hasn't put her back on Alpha A since.

I have her son who i keep on Greengold and he doesn't get itchy so i'd think it is down to specific individual horses.

 

[kezimac]

depends with linseed - if horse is 500kg - and its for coat and general wellbeing 200gms - if weight gain or itchiness 500gm a day - weigh it on kitchen scales into a suitable sized measuring container

 

[alliebaxter]

re its not rainscald
it may be if shes getting hot & sweaty under rug then cooling off this may cause rainscald. happened to my friends horse

 

[helen75]

Hey

I took Mr K off Alfa-A In January as he was relutantly eating it and - he has never been a big fan but I kept him on it for fibre + conditioning.

I had heard about Alfa-A and skin problems but had not considereed it a problem with Mr K - until I took it out of his diet. 2 things I noticed 1) his skin wasn't scurfy anymore and 2) his legs stopped filling overnight in the stable.

I'm carrying on with the A&P C&C but add 25% (breakfast) and 50% (evening meal) ride & relax to his grub. Its 25% fibre and non heating (good for my TB!) so I figured it was a way of adding fibre to his diet without having to resort to Alfalfa based chaffs or molasses covered chaffs. Works for me!

All he gets now is....
AM: 1/2 stubbs scoop of C&C, plus 1/4 scoop R&R
PM: 1/2 stubbs scoop of C&C, plus 1/2 scoop R&R

(I've never fed him so little in all the time i've owned him! )

I'd really try and give the Alfa A a miss. Its worth as try.

Regarding the linseed, highly recommended by peeps on the Ex racers forum. They buy a big 25kg sack and feed 1 coffee mug a day. Great for condition apparently.

Here's the link to where they get it:

http://www.charnwood-milling.co.uk/horse_specs/micronized%20whole%20linseed.htm

GOOD LUCK!!!!

 

[MegaBeast]

Thanks for the link hon, bought a small bag off ebay to see if she'd eat it and amazingly she does so will be buying a big bag - it looks excellent value! Was thinking of adding the A&P Power and Performance to her feeds anyway for a bit more oomph now that she'll be eventing again soon and upping the work load so maybe I'll try just that with the C&C and cut out the AA. I had been giving a couple of extra scoops of AA overnight but I'll stop that and maybe try readigras instead - she has a limit to the amount of haylage that she'll eat but she'll eat extra stuff hence the additional AA!

The AlfaA might well be the cause - was only thinking yesterday that she had a similar skin thing (behind the saddle) last Winter and had been on AlfaA for a month or so before she went off it, didn't make the connection then but looking back. Then went on it again in the Autumn and her skin flared up so may not just be coincidence.