Do you know what's wrong with my horse?

Perfect_Pirouette

Perfect_Pirouette

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Okay, so the past week or so he's started to develop bald patches on his face??

There are little white flies CONSTANTLY on him. He has now got a little abrasion/bald patch on his neck too.

Yesterday morning before work I scrubbed his face, put some anti septic gel on it, fly spray AND put a fly mask on him.

Last night, got him in and although his face seemed to be relatively free from flies he ha a little cut/lump on the side of his nose. I cleaned it up along with the rest of his face again last night.

This morning I went to turn him out and even in the stable, there seemed to be loads of these little white flies on him. :mad: :mad:

AGAIN, I wiped, anti septic and fly sprayed his face and put a fly mask on.

I'm not sure whether it's those little flies laying eggs on him or annoying him nd so he's itchnig his face or whether he's allergic to something/ has lice etc??

Here's a couple of pics from yesterday morning from my blackberry. You can see the little flies.

It only seems to be his face and not his body. Do I get the vet? Scrub him with a fungal shampoo, what??

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Well I'm not sure. They're definitely flies and not lice on him but perhaps he could have lice too???

I just have no idea. If lice how do you treat (sorry I know numpty Q but never had anything with lice) do I get the vet?
 
Oh and he also has a bald patch underneath his forelock but he's had that ever since I've had him really and that's been 9 weeks now. Have cleaned that too but can't find anything there?
 
Hi

if its lice u can treat it with powder i think its about £15 for a huge tub its like talc powder u shake it on. my mare has scabs and a bald patch under her forelock due to sweet itch but it doesnt sound like urs has sweet itch. good look whatever it is keep us updated

AJ x
 
I would check for lice.

If it is lice either spray with diluted Deosect or use Switch or Flypor (same thing but Flypor is for cows).

Repeat the treatment after 14 days.
 
How do you see lice?

What colour are they? How big? Would lice just affect his face?

Can get the treatment from vets or where do I get it?
Thanks
 
Could also be the fly spray- we changed brand once (fly gel) and our boy rubbed nearly all the hair off his face- took a week to get him better, no amount of washing or tea tree spray seemed to help, just time- haven't used it on him since and he's fine! My other horse is fine with it though, and it is a well-known brand.
 
Could be anything. Get a vet out if you've had no luck removing quickly as if it's contagious the rest of the yard won't thank you delaying in this... may cost a little extra than buying lice powder etc directly but not worth spreading whatever it is if you are unsure.

Just bald patches I wouldn't worry too much, but not when there are visible creatures there too.

Pan
 
I'm not on a yard, I'm on my own hence this post as there's no one really around to ask advice. Well, there's a riding school across the road but don't fancy bringing him there to ask advice.

Just texted owner (I full loan horse) and she siad he loses hair on his face every year in the summer and they've never known why.

So not sure whether to worry or not?

Will try cooper strength fly spray. If he gets more lumps/abrasions etc then will be getting the vet I think.
 
SummerxStarsx said:
How do you see lice?

What colour are they? How big? Would lice just affect his face?

Can get the treatment from vets or where do I get it?
Thanks
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Lice are light coloured and could be mistaken for small flies from a distance. There will also be eggs in the coat. They will likely be on the neck and might be easier to find under the mane.

I would get a lice comb, run it through the coat and put the scrapings on damp kitchen roll. You should then be able to see any lice or eggs. if in doubt take the kitchen roll to the vets and ask them to have a look for you.
 
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