Bald Bum ? Dear Dr HHO. Anyone have any clues?

[Enfys]

Hmmmmmm? This happened within the space of a few hours, not sore to the touch, or rubbed raw, no visible crawly visitors (as Tia says, this is unlikely in -10C anyway). The skin is really dry, flaky and I can flick clumps of hair off with my nail, a little like the way mud fever scabs come off, but without the scabbiness or sores. Does anyone have any ideas? Would very bright sun or strong wind (we get a lot of both) perhaps cause this? She isn't frantically rubbing either, just sort of scratching to pass the time as it were. Up until 3 days ago she was out 24/7.

Ideally in a warmer situation I'd wash it but if I did that here she'd get a frozen backside within seconds (even in the barn) The Vet won't be here until tomorrow (for something else) so in the mean time I thought I'd pick your brains. Ideas? Opinions? Experiences?

 

[lucysnapshot]

sweat scald? my mare got sticky patches on bum then hair came off like this

 

[Louby]

Just a guess but could it be like rain scald (with the loose hairs looking scabby,) if shes been out 24/7 and had her bum to the wind and rain? and now because shes come inside, its dried out? Its an area that would be exposed to the weather if windy even if she had a rug on.

 

[lexiedhb]

I'd agree, looks alot like rain scald....

 

[Tia]

LOL!! I just replied to your PM asking if you had any photos

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Looking at the pictures, my guess would be that it's either sunburn or wind-burn. Can you get her a blanket with a long tail guard?

 

[10past6]

This is really strange, i was just asking my friend about the same thing this morning as my horse has this problem just above his hocks, hes been living in 24/7 though so cant have picked it up from out side

Like yours it happened in a few hours, though not as much has come off .

 

[Enfys]

Thankyou all.
Rainscald can be ruled out as we've had no rain for a month. Huge learning curve for me as things I would have suspected in the UK just don't come into the equation here and whereas before I would slap some cream/ointment/wash or other on I can't because I don't know whether it will freeze solid or not.
My lovely Vet says that it's Windburn and common here at this time of year, not to worry. Time to go and sew extensions on to her tail flap!

 

[fairhill]

Is windburn similar to sunburn then? You learn something new everyday.
Has the vet suggested a cream to put on it? Aloe vera might be quite soothing if you've got a plant.

 

[Enfys]

Hi, yes it seems that windburn is kind of similar, she has it around her eyes and muzzle too (white face, blue eyes, pink skin) I believe that the sort of sunburn you get here at this time of year is not so much the heat but the reflection of the sun off the snow, those of you who ski would know about this I daresay. I wear sunglasses a lot of the time when I'm outside as it is SO bright.
I can't use any waterbased creams as they freeze instantly (it's -11C out there right now) and if anything is washed, like her eyes, I have to completely dry it with paper towels.

Funny that you should mention the aloe vera plants, before everything was covered in snow I found several of them so shall be looking into how to using them myself later.

The cream I have for the horse is like that VERY thick, white sunblock lip chap stuff. I didn't have time to grill the Vet on its' contents as he had to rush off to a foaling

 

[emmajanerushton]

could it be like brusing of some sort, my gelding and my other mare were attacked and bitten badly by a gelding in the field, was sore but no open woulds, and i though oh it will be ok, a few days later when grooming, all the skin and fur had dies and when grooming it all came away to reveal freshnew skin underneath with new hair just growing ? i would lather it in cornucresine it will grow back soon.