Elderely horse reacting to protein?

[pastel]

Not sure if anyone has ideas on this one;
had a new arrival here on Monday , bless her she is 42, her owners said she had been scratching alot so investigated, she has bald patches on her hind cannons, little bits on her flanks and other places on her body, she was sooooooooo itchy.........we checked her all over for lice but nothing, no eggs, no live ones either very surprising for a horse with bald patches and so itchy. We gave her a warm bath which she loved and dried her by towels and thatching with 3 rugs, she was much better afterwards.
Now over the past few days she has developed areas on her coat where it breaks out and oozes.
I asked the owners what diet she was on, (she doesn't have many molars left) they were feeding her soaked calf mix, my thought are that would have been very high in protein, maybe her digestive system cannot digest proteins so well anymore and she is suffering an allergic reaction, any thoughts? we are feeding her our soaked mix with high fibre cubes and sugar beet but thinking to cut down on on the mix as a trial.

 

[redheadkelj]

Is there any chance she has cushings? That is exactly how my boy started but as it wasn't classic symptoms of cushings, it wasn't picked up for over a year (and after every other possible test imaginable).

 

[smiffyimp]

I cant comment on the itching im afraid, my old boy gets it but thats due to fly bites. If you need a feed recommending which is great for the toothless try Allen and Page Veteran Vitality. Ive used it on my old boy (33) for a year now and swear ill never change. It is super and needs soaking so really easy to eat

 

[Ibblebibble]

my old tb reacted to veteran mixes, which are normally high in protein, she would come out in lumps and some of them would erupt and ooze, i took her off veteran and just put her on high fibre nuts and chaff with a veteran supplement.
I wouldn't advise feeding calf mix, the mineral content will be all wrong

 

[Oberon]

As well as the other suggestions - there is also the liver to consider.

She's a lucky old gal to have landed up with you

 

[Cuffey]

The calf mix will be too high in protein too low in fibre and minerals will not be correct

You are doing the right thing providing soaked fibre feeds
Grass nuts are good but not too high a percentage of diet
Soaked beet pulp with soaked Hi Fibre cubes

The first sign of Cushings with one pony I had was skin abscesses, but anything could be happening that is a good age.
Think quality of life not quantity--well done for your care.

 

[pastel]

yes , those were my thought on the calf mix! will carry on experimenting with my feed regime and see if it works, bless her!