Can lice cause hair loss?

[loulou2]

Hi

My new pony arrived 10 days ago and had a couple of bald patches on her face. She had lots of hair and had sweated massively during travel as they’d travelled her rugged ? so after drying her out over a few days we clipped her to discover she had lice. I’ve powdered her with Diatomaceous Earth and she had a steroid injection from the vet 5 days ago to try and calm her manic itching and I’m waiting on some switch arriving in the delayed post.

She does have some bald patches on her face which were more apparent now she’s been clipped - could these be caused by the lice or something else? She was itching her face on her stable door when she came and although her manic itching seems to have calmed down following the steroid injection she is still itchy and I did catch her itching her face on her leg this morning.

Thanks

 

[TheMule]

Yes- treat it with something that is effective at killing lice asap

 

[loulou2]

Yes- treat it with something that is effective at killing lice asap

Thank you - I was just worrying incase it’s something else.
I ordered Switch on Monday for priority delivery following vets advice and it’s just not suitable to bath her with it being so cold - hoping it arrives today but seems the courier systems are delayed ?

 

[EnduroRider]

I'd say most likely to be the lice but potentially could be ringworm too.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

It is most likely that she has rubbed the hair out because she has been very itchy because of the lice. I would certainly check ger fir tiger problems that could be caused by neglect though

 

[Barton Bounty]

I'd say most likely to be the lice but potentially could be ringworm too.

I agree looks ringworm shaped

 

[loulou2]

I agree looks ringworm shaped

can ringworm present just as bald spots without any redness? I haven’t got any experience of it in horses

 

[Barton Bounty]

can ringworm present just as bald spots without any redness? I haven’t got any experience of it in horses

Yes, many years ago that was the only indication on my big Hanoverian . Just the baldness.
If I were you , I would clip away all these areas, or even better fully clip. Treat with a medicated shampoo.
sometimes the infection needs powders but sometimes that is enough to stop it.

 

[loulou2]

Yes, many years ago that was the only indication on my big Hanoverian . Just the baldness.
If I were you , I would clip away all these areas, or even better fully clip. Treat with a medicated shampoo.
sometimes the infection needs powders but sometimes that is enough to stop it.

Thanks - I wasn’t sure if it would present with reddening as she hasn’t got any.
she was really against us clipping her face so we did what we could without stressing her out.
She’s been living out at her last home for 2 years so clipping and bathing is all new to her.
I did order some ivamerol just incase but still waiting on that. She’s just stuck in her stable as we don’t have any isolated turnout ?

 

[Barton Bounty]

Thanks - I wasn’t sure if it would present with reddening as she hasn’t got any.
she was really against us clipping her face so we did what we could without stressing her out.
She’s been living out at her last home for 2 years so clipping and bathing is all new to her.
I did order some ivamerol just incase but still waiting on that. She’s just stuck in her stable as we don’t have any isolated turnout ?

Takes 10/14 days to work but it wont be long. Can you see any lice? Usually you can see movement in the fur?

 

[loulou2]

I'd say most likely to be the lice but potentially could be ringworm too.

I haven’t seen any ringworm in horses to compare it to - and Google just throws up a bit of everything ?

 

[Barton Bounty]

My horse only got in on the bum area! All these bald patches appeared, I binned the rugs and treated it. But I was surprised no redness with it ?

 

[loulou2]

Takes 10/14 days to work but it wont be long. Can you see any lice? Usually you can see movement in the fur?

Yes I saw them crawling and burrowing in her hair under her mane ? caught a few of them too!

 

[Barton Bounty]

Powder should work but either bin the rugs or thoroughly clean them x

 

[Dexter]

This is classic symptoms of lice, so treat for that first before worrying its something else.

 

[maya2008]

Agree classic lice symptoms. We found the powder useless in winter coats and had to use shampoo (Dermoline insect) instead last year.

 

[loulou2]

This is classic symptoms of lice, so treat for that first before worrying its something else.

Thanks - I’ve just been stressing myself as someone else mentioned possible ringworm but my only experience was seeing it on humans so I have no idea and I wouldn’t want to risk turning her out into herd and infecting them but also don’t want to keep her in forever just incase ?

 

[loulou2]

Agree classic lice symptoms. We found the powder useless in winter coats and had to use shampoo (Dermoline insect) instead last year.

Yeah she was so hairy but let us clip her body just not her legs or full face. she did so well for never being clipped before.

The powder was the only thing that arrived quickly thanks to Amazon so I’m hoping it’s given her some relief in the interim.
Vet recommended Switch and I’ve just had an update to say it should be here in the next hour after waiting all week so I can pop it on tonight ??

I’ve re-spoken to vet this afternoon about skin scrapes but she said not to bother as will take time (also delayed by post) can give false result if exact hair isn’t taken and can just treat as such for now just incase. She said to treat with the Switch and although it could possibly be ringworm she thinks if it was it would be towards the end of it so to treat with imaverol incase it is and re-assess her skin over next week. hopefully she isn’t stabled for too much longer. ??