AlfaA and itching... (and aquestion re micronised linseed)

[MegaBeast]

been searching for more info on micronised linseed and came across a thread about people whose horses 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

 

[blackcob]

My horse is allergic to alfalfa and presents similar symptons to the ones you describe. I first noticed it two weeks after introducing the new feed (Alfabeet) in the form of white flaky dandruff on her neck and shoulders - I attributed it to a rug rubbing, even though she'd been wearing the same rugs for years, and carried on feeding the Alfabeet without realising. It wasn't until the same areas came up in a couple of mud fever-like scabs that I realised something was up, cut out the new feed and her skin went back to normal in about another two weeks.

The dandruff/scabs were quite localised, worst on her neck under her mane, none at all on her backside. She was quite itchy also.

Hope that helps you somewhat.

 

[mrdarcy]

Could well be the alfalfa - it's quite a common reaction.

For the linseed I feed a coffee mug full morning and evening.