feathers- strange lumps of grease!

[JessPickle]

Yesterday brought pickle down for a good old brush, now he has had nearly 5 weeks off and has just been in a field and brought down regurlarly and brushed.

When going through his feathers there were little lumps of what looks like grease

. They only came out though with hair as if they were attached. Also above these little greasy bits was a black layer that looked a bit like tar! This only appeared on his back feathers. and overall he looks fine.

Any ideas? or is it worth having the vet look at them when they come to do a blood test on pickle this week?

 

[Theresa_F]

Very common on heavy horses - my old clydie gets is without regular attention, and as I recall yours is half of that excellent breed.

Wash off the legs with hot water and something like grannies soap flakes from tescos to get rid of it. You can use hibi scrub, but the soapflakes are very mild, cheap and do the job perfectly.

If he has any scabs, then he probably has mites - these can be cured up with an application of frontline - just spray on and rub well into the skin and hair (unless lots of sores no need to clip the legs) and then repeat in 10 days. Mix 1 tablespoon of sudo cream, 1 teaspoon of sulphur (if you have it) and 5 drops of tea tree oil up and apply to any scabs and rub in gently, repeat daily and after a week wash off with a little water and hibi scrub, gently rub the scabs. Repeat process - normally gone by the second week.

Excellent cheap cure for grease and mites is pig oil and sulphur - just mix to look like a thick milkshake and paint on the feather and rub well in and forget.

I do this on mine very other week in the winter - also keeps feather white and in good condition and in the summer I wet the legs and rub in a handful or two of sulphur to keep grease and mites away.

Personally unless he has major scabs and cuts, I would do the above and not bother the vet, but you will need to get the frontline from your vet or ask them for a prescription so you can order it online.

 

[JessPickle]

ah did wash them off with warm water, took a while did it with hibiscrub. Just wanted to check its not something that should be looked at.

Thank you really appreciate it

 

[Theresa_F]

Would not sorry if no scabs or he is not itching and stamping - if that starts then probably mites and if you do as I put above, you should easily get rid of the little critters and then keep them away.

Our clydie and cob have very full feathers - Chancer does not seem to get grease, but Cairo does just below his front chesnuts and his is creamy coloured. He also gets the black bits you describe on the back in the winter - but never has any other signs of grease, ie crust or stamping.

P&S does work wonders - the old boys at the heavy horse shows really do know what they are talking about when they say to use it.

 

[JessPickle]

see pickle didnt have any scabs etc just this greasy, stuff on only his back two feathers, he hasnt got that much feather though

thanks for the advise, hopefully the grease should stay away now

xxx

 

[Cahill]

where do you buy sulpher from?asked in chemist and lady looked at me like i was from another planet.

 

[Theresa_F]

I get mine from heavy horse supplies - even with postage they are the cheapest around for oil and sulphur. I have seen it for sale on the web in gardening area but it was not expensive than I pay.

Website is http://www.heavyhorsesupplies.co.uk/