Dramatic tail loss

Perissa

Perissa

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 February 2003
Messages
1,976
Location
Hampshire
Visit site
Has anyone got any idea what may have caused a whole tail to fall out over 4 days?

My friend has just phoned me with this question.

The mare is 19, lives out with another two mares (7 and 14). She's in lovely condition, no sweet itch or allergies. Same field and same feed etc. No rugged but plenty of natural shelter as well as a very large field shelter.

She is regularly wormed.

She had a flu jab 2 weeks ago.

She has a small sarcoid under her dock which has never bothered her or changed at all in the 4 years my friend has owned her.

Over the last 4 days her entire tail has fallen out, her dock is almost bald. There are no signs of rubbing or pinworms.

Any idea's what may have caused this?

I've suggested she gets some M.T.G. but other than that am at a loss.....
 
Perissa, is your friend's horse also pretty like yours? I know it sounds awful but I think I recall someone cutting the tails off some show horses... suspicion being that it was a rival who wanted to scupper chances of the snipped horse winning against theirs.

Can you/your friend check around the field for anything covered in hair where horse may have rubbed/caught self? Or friend see it actually falling out? TBH I'd be tempted to call vet as I'd panic!
 
Some sort of reaction the the flu jab is all we can come up with but why only limited to the tail?

She does have cows but they are well away, as are the sheep.

She's not rubbing at all and apparently is acting completely as normal.

She called the vet today but she's on holiday (the vet) today so she's going to wait until tomorrow.

I thought I'd ask here in case someone knew of something similar.

Apparently there isn't even enough tail left to attach a false tail so I've suggested that she gets her a fly rug. Something like the amigo which has a generous tail flap.
 
We had a mare who spontaneously lost her tail hairs.

Some of the mares had come in with sections of the hair cut out - we presumed by passing public. One particularly sensitive mare then shed all her tail hairs.

It grew back and was none the worse, but we never really knew the reason.
 
Tickles said:
Perissa, is your friend's horse also pretty like yours? I know it sounds awful but I think I recall someone cutting the tails off some show horses... suspicion being that it was a rival who wanted to scupper chances of the snipped horse winning against theirs.

Can you/your friend check around the field for anything covered in hair where horse may have rubbed/caught self? Or friend see it actually falling out? TBH I'd be tempted to call vet as I'd panic!
Click to expand...

I'm sorry I missed your post. Thank you for your lovely comment about my boy. Although an arab she is a completely different type to mine and would be considered plain by some as she is considered old fashioned. She isn't a show horse, more of a pasture pet. She was dumped at a livery yard and my friend bought her very cheaply for a few hundred pounds to clear the livery debt. She has taught her young friend how to ride, is kind, patient and an absolute dear so why she was dumped is just criminal.

Anyway, I digress, her tail can be found in wisps around the field. If you touch it it comes off from the roots into your hand. As she swishes it you can see it fall out. It isn't breaking it is literally coming out by the root.

I thought maybe some sort of auto immune response but why only the tail? Unless of course this is just the start.

The vet is going to be called today (how dare she take a days leave yesturday!!)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top