Bald patches on face

[Ali27]

Moved ponies to a new 5 acre field last Saturday and then noticed on Monday morning that my ginger mare had a bald patch on her cheek. By yesterday evening, the patch was larger and there were also bald patches by her ear. It’s only on one side of her face and on the part which hasn’t been clipped. I clipped the hair off around the patches last night. I’ve been washing with warm salt water and then putting some antiseptic cream on. There is no weeping though, the skin just looks red. Moved them back to their old field last night. Several people have suggested that maybe it’s an allergic reaction to something that she has been in contact with. She is super sensitive and has had hives all over the body in the past. No bald patches anywhere else and the other two ponies are fine. Anyone come across anything like this before?

 

[Leo Walker]

its usually lice so I'd treat for that first

 

[Ali27]

My old mare had lice when I first got her and itched like mad! This mare isn’t itching at all! She came in last night for a couple of hours and I didn’t see her itch once. It’s definitely a possibility! Strange that it coincided with moving fields.

 

[AmyMay]

Rain rot?

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Go and thoroughly check for any plants that could have caused it, or even trees oozing sap.
Have you got hogweed in new paddock? Have seen similar reaction from this and other plants

 

[lamlyn2012]

I was thinking hogweed too, not neccesarily giant hogwood, common hogweed can also cause issues.
The fact that it is only on the unclipped part of the face, however, makes me think rainscald. Has he had prolonged exposure to rain or even wet grass, especially if long grass. Rainscald likes warmth and moisture.
Mine gets rainscald, the only ointment I ever use (after making mistakes and making things worse) is flamazine.

 

[lamlyn2012]

Hogweed is normally a photosynthesis thing and needs sunlight.

 

[Ali27]

There is common hogweed in all my fields but she’s never had an issue before! They are out 24/7 and new 5 acre field hasn’t been grazed for several years so grass is fairly long. However she didn’t have issues in December when she went out in other 5 acre field with grass too. I will look round field on Saturday in daylight to see if I can spot anything! It’s mainly blackthorn/ Hawthorne hedge though!

 

[Equi]

I would treat for lice as a precaution, but it could be many things from itchy due to being hot/moulting to something more serious like something stuck in the tooth/ear canal. It looks like some of its been clipped off, was that you or is that just how it was found?

 

[Bob notacob]

I would treat for lice as a precaution, but it could be many things from itchy due to being hot/moulting to something more serious like something stuck in the tooth/ear canal. It looks like some of its been clipped off, was that you or is that just how it was found?

Hogweed hogwash , not at this time of year . Swab with tincture of Iodine ,kills a multitude of nastys.

 

[Surbie]

We have one like that at the RDA. Currently has horrible patches on her face. Vet has diagnosed it as an allergy and we are using flamazine, which is working.

It's been weird weather for months and things are growing that perhaps should still be dormant.

 

[Ali27]

Thanks for all the replies! Called vet tonight as pony had been rubbing it and eye was slightly swollen and gunky! He said contact dermatitis! She is now on bute for inflammation, eye drops, oral antibiotics and steroid cream. Hopefully it heals quickly!