Any ideas?

[Roasted Chestnuts]

So Faran’s tail has gone scaly and scabby and large patches of hair has fallen out. I noticed it today when I decided that his tail was looking greasy and a bit thin and I was going to wash it.

I don’t brush the tail unless I’m putting mane and tail conditioner in so as I don’t break it, I’ve run out and haven’t been able to drive to go get any so his tail hasn’t been brushed out in a few weeks.

He’d been getting cared for by my dad, he’s a horsey dad having ridden/trained racers so knows horses but he had to make an emergency fly out to his oldest brother in oz the other week as his brother has had a massive stroke and it’s not looking great. So my mums been helping but she’s nervous of Faran so will feed, poo pick and basic checks like water etc and muck out but won’t really handle him. I’ve had a very crushed foot so I wasn’t really in the position to do much myself. So no hate as I honestly won’t engage or hear it, so helpful suggestions please

So anyway his tail is looking like this




He’s clearly been rubbing it he’s never had a scruffy tail before however he does like a bit and dock scratch but has never had this or anything like it.

I washed it with triscrub and warm water in a bucket. I held it up and let the tail soak in it for a few minutes then massaged the scabbiest bits then dunked it again and repeated this a few times. Got a lot of the scaliness off



Then I washed it in some of the special psoriasis shampoo I use for my own head (I have sensitive scalp so no harsh shampoos were used) a couple of times then rinsed it well and it looks like this



Now he’s wanting you to scratch it for him. I know he will scratch it in the stable so I’m going to put a polo bandage on it to make sure he doesn’t scratch it worse.

Anyone any ideas? I’m going to keep it clean and see what happens, if it doesn’t start to clear up by midweek then I’m going to call the vet for a skin scrape. I’ve come across a lot in my horsey experience but this is a first for me that’s not sweet itch or mud rash and it looks like a cross between the two to me personally.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Ouch, that looks sore. Any sign of skin irritation anywhere else?

Could he have developed an allergy to the mane and tail conditioner?

I'd send pics to your vet and ask for advice in the first instance.

 

[Carrottom]

I think I would ask the vet for some steroid cream for that. It looks so sore I would want something that works fast.

 

[tda]

I wonder if he's been bitten a while ago and rubbed it. Sliver spray works pretty well

 

[Fjord]

Oh poor boy, that does looks sore.

 

[Red-1]

I think this looks so sore and out of the ordinary, I would let the vet decide on a course of treatment. I would send photos in the morning and see if they would like to visit or could otherwise advise.

In the mean time, I would put a rug with tail flap on. I would beware of bandaging such sore skin, for fear of damaging it more. I would beware of shop bought ointments too.

I think the vet will give ointment, but it may be prescription only, which would require a visit.

In the olden days I would have used that green cellulose cream, but it was banned by the EU! I think it was steroid based.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Please don't bandage as this issue can in fact be caused by a bandage- my boy had similar once and vet said it's basically a fungal lr bacterial infection that can be caused by hot , sweaty environment. Such as a tail bandage but I guess just very hot weather and sweating might do it.
I washed it with warm Malaseb daily for quite a few days and vet gave me some cream they make which contains antibiotic and steroid.
This looks inflamed and very sore so I agree with others in that it needs some veterinary input.

 

[PurBee]

Pink skin is more prone to photosensitivity, it can ooze and scab causing that orange flaky scabbing you see. If he’s been eating ryegrass, hay/haylage or grass, i’d eliminate it, as that contains photosensitising compounds.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I think this looks so sore and out of the ordinary, I would let the vet decide on a course of treatment. I would send photos in the morning and see if they would like to visit or could otherwise advise.

In the mean time, I would put a rug with tail flap on. I would beware of bandaging such sore skin, for fear of damaging it more. I would beware of shop bought ointments too.

I think the vet will give ointment, but it may be prescription only, which would require a visit.

In the olden days I would have used that green cellulose cream, but it was banned by the EU! I think it was steroid based.

You know I remember that cream I think dermobion I think it was called was it not you can still get it in Aus and NZ I think

I haven’t put a tail bandage on, I’ve put a soft fleece non elasticated bandage on and no potions/creams etc, he went into the stable and instantly started rubbing so quite glad I did now. I e seen the damage a tail bandage can do I knew of someone whose horse lost the skin on its legs from too tight elasticated bandages being left on. I left it to dry fully before popping the fleece bandage on. It didn’t look as angry once it was dry and looked much less scaly than the first pics. I’ll take more pics tomorrow and see how it’s looking.

I’d have rather left him out as there’s nothing to scratch on with the field being electric rope all the way round but he’s in as he’s doing too well on the grass despite being in a small paddock.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Pink skin is more prone to photosensitivity, it can ooze and scab causing that orange flaky scabbing you see. If he’s been eating ryegrass, hay/haylage or grass, i’d eliminate it, as that contains photosensitising compounds.

He’s been getting the same grazing he’s had since this time last year, field is a mixture of grasses but haven’t had this issue, nothing has changed in his diet and he’s being restricted grass wise as he’s doing too well whilst out of work. He’s back in work this week though but that won’t really change anything that hasn’t remained a constant for 12months

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Ouch, that looks sore. Any sign of skin irritation anywhere else?

Could he have developed an allergy to the mane and tail conditioner?

I'd send pics to your vet and ask for advice in the first instance.

Nothing anywhere else I went over his with a fine tooth comb after I found this.

I thought about allergy to something so I may stop using that conditioner and not buy anymore. It was the Lincoln one. Won’t be spraying anything on him other than fly spray until I see how this goes. Just in case so I can say to the vet what he’s had.

 

[Carrottom]

If you are turning out during the day it would be a good idea to put Filtabac cream on to protect the sore pink areas from the sun.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

If you are turning out during the day it would be a good idea to put Filtabac cream on to protect the sore pink areas from the sun.

I’ve got a 0g turnout with a good tail flap I’m going to put on him, he doesn’t do suncreams well, he’s taken a reaction to two I’ve tried so I don’t use them on him but it’s a good idea

 

[shortstuff99]

Could possibly be mites, the skin on heavy feather legs can look like this with a mite problem.

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

This looks just like mallanders and sallanders often caused by mites, use sparsa spray(doesn’t sting them really helps) to sore part of the wound then use baby oil on the scabs don’t pink them just keep oiling them for a few days once the cut is healed use head and shoulders shampoo and hair mask leave them both on ten mins to work and try not to feed to much sugar biotin etc I use l94 and b51 to help internally hope it goes soon for you x

 

[Flowerofthefen]

This looks just like mallanders and sallanders often caused by mites, use sparsa spray(doesn’t sting them really helps) to sore part of the wound then use baby oil on the scabs don’t pink them just keep oiling them for a few days once the cut is healed use head and shoulders shampoo and hair mask leave them both on ten mins to work and try not to feed to much sugar biotin etc I use l94 and b51 to help internally hope it goes soon for you x

I wouldn't use baby oil on the scabs if turned out. Baby oil and sun can cause bilsters

 

[Goldenstar]

I would probably start with a wash with malaseb , I think the most likely case is fungal .
if the malaseb doesn’t radically improve it quickly I would get vet to look and probably a scrape done .

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

I wouldn't use baby oil on the scabs if turned out. Baby oil and sun can cause bilsters

Yes deffo no baby oil if sunny it really is the best thing to soften the scabs though

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I would probably start with a wash with malaseb , I think the most likely case is fungal .
if the malaseb doesn’t radically improve it quickly I would get vet to look and probably a scrape done .

Can you buy Maleseb without prescription

 

[Goldenstar]

I am not sure TBH.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I am not sure TBH.

I’ll have a nosey as it did cross my mind but I’ve not used it before

 

[Goldenstar]

You need a prescription .
Try head and shoulders it is good anti fungal if it improves that’s a strong clue it’s got a fungal element to it

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Mine have been bitten alive by horse flies and then biting and rubbing them and caused a right mess in some places, so he possibly could have been itchy then rubbed it I've been using biteback cream or silver spray.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I’m heading up to the yard now. I’ll take some pics and post them before I pop him in the small turnout patch whilst I muck out to let him stretch his legs before I take him for a wander

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

So took off the soft fleece bandage and this greeted me looks a bit better but still scaly he’s a bit tender on it but he’s still lets me touch it. Popped him out with his rug on for a bit whilst I do chores then I’ll go for a wander.

Nothing on his legs or nose or blaze or tummy flash so not sure it’s photosensitivity as when Kia ended up with lymphosistic vasculitis from a photosensitive reaction it was every white hair or skin on his body that started to peel off

 

[Upthecreek]

Once you’ve got it under control this stuff is really good at preventing further rubbing and dandruff.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I forgot to attach the pics

 

[ihatework]

I’d imagine he has had an inflammatory reaction to something and got himself into a bit of an itch cycle. I’d malesab and if still itchy I’d imagine some steroid cream will do trick