do you think this is sweet itch or something else?

_daisy_

_daisy_

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what do you think to this?

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Don't think that is sweet itch.

Could it be rain scald?

Try Camrosa ointment on it - it will make his bottom a bit greasy and sticky but it really works. I use it for sweet itch.
 
i was wondering an infection as some stage? its all over her quarters.

ive got some Camrosa ointment so will look into using that - do you know if they do a shampoo?
 
Dont look like sweet itch to me. Looks more like some fungal infection/virus. Try washing it in some medicated shampoo and see how it goes.
 
she had her first bath with Dermoline on Sunday when i got her. Since then ive not seen her rub/scratch apart from the odd occassion which i would say is no more than my other horses do when they are in a stable
 
cheers, ill keep an eye on it and give her regular baths to keep on to pof her.
theres loads of scabby bits on her skin just above the start of the hair which are going to take a bit to come out and with her being sensitive about being touched im not going to pull them off unless they are softend
 
Is she rugged? I had a similar problem with my old boy where he was too hot and sweating under his rug. This was in the days before breathable rugs though so it may not be so common these days. It's called Canadian pox apparently.
 
I would say it could easily be sweet itch but if the horse doesn't usually suffer then maybe not. I would expect the mane and tail to be affected if it were sweet itch too. It does look exactly like my sweet itch horses butt but his tail and mane are rubbed too.
Did you discover this while clipping. I would say your horse has been itching. Maybe it has been too hot. It doesn't look like an infection to me.
 
well the vet came out this morning and checked her over before i clipped her and he thinks it is sweet itch.
he recommended me malaseb and cavalesse to use on her next year before the sweet itch season kicks in, but looking at it tonight i would say its more raing scaldy than sweet itch - they arent sore and raw, just grey and scabby.

ill definitely keep you all updated on how she progresses
 
Moths! No seriously it does look more like a rain scald / dermatitis sort of infection. But it looks clean and dry! Did you say in an earlier post that your vet has taken some skin scrapings? Would be interested to know what the diagnosis is.
 
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no not rugged, however she has had a fly rug at times over the summer when shes been living out
ill go have a look at that pox for info

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Sorry daisy got to ask you say not rugged? Was that before you clipped her?
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Sorry edited to say I think it looks more like old rainscald
 
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well the vet came out this morning and checked her over before i clipped her and he thinks it is sweet itch.
he recommended me malaseb and cavalesse to use on her next year before the sweet itch season kicks in, but looking at it tonight i would say its more raing scaldy than sweet itch - they arent sore and raw, just grey and scabby.

ill definitely keep you all updated on how she progresses

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I agree with you. To help, make sure she is getting a balanced diet which includes good oil, also a supplement like Brewers Yeast might help as it's very good for skin and feet condition; it includes B12 too. I get mine from my feed merchant, it's made by Westgate so easy to source and a reasonable price too. All the potions in the world won't make it better unless she is right inside; all good health comes from within which is why it's so important.
 
she has only started like this since she moved to the yard across the road to me which was approx 18months ago. The previous yards to that she didnt have anything like this.
there is a swamp type puddle in the corner where shes come from and this could have started it but no guarantee?

she has rubbed her mane and tail at some point over the summer, but it has since grown back like bog brushes but ive clipped both off again so i clean them thoroughly .
ive revelaed the extent of the skin problem after clipping but i knew it was there as i could feel it.
 
yes she hasnt really been rugged at all over the summer however shes had odd periods wherer shes had a fly rug on.
ive clipped her today and shes had a thermatex on and will have rugs on when turned out but not to make her over hot
 
cheers Pat. she hasnt really been on any feed but since i took her on ive been feeding her some D&H alfalfa with benevit Advance, clitheroes garlic in and i got some soya oil today to put in aswell.
ill definitely look into brewers yeast and see if my local feed merchant can get some for me.
i totally agree with you that it starts from the inside.
 
Just to add that I have heard of a few horses reacting to alfalfa and it causing itching. May be worth a thought.
I would say if she's managed all summer without a fly rug most of the time that its unlikely to be sweet itch although some do get it mildly.
To me it just doesn't look like rainscald as that usually effects larger areas. That to me looks like she been scratching.
 
thanks for this MrM, shes only just gone on the alfalfa so ill keep an eye on any reactions to it.
ETS - rainscald affects larger areas? is all of her quarters not a large enough area for it to be this?
 
Agree on that it doesn't look so much like sweet itch. Can you post the original pictures again for those who haven't seen them, the mane and tail rubbing on those did look more like sweet itch .
 
Oh yes - I just meant larger as in bigger bald patches rather than little dots like in your piccie. To me it looks like your horse has been scratching on a branch or fence like my sweet itch horse does, creating small areas of hairloss/scabs/raised skin. In the rainscald I've seen its more like very small scabs but in a large area which when removed leaves big bald areas. If that makes any sense whatsoever.lol
 
Monty had something very similar last year. I had a bit of an issue since my vets were rubbish and first said rain scald then mites.

It was actually neither. The horses had lice and Monty developed a secondary bacterial infection. The hair came off in clumps and was sticky underneath. We hibiscrubbed the patches and treated him with heavy duty lice spray and it cleared up quickly.
 
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