few questions-advice needed!!

[pixiebee]

my pony has been quite sluggish this last week, with a snotty nose after any excercise. noticed today his glands are up a little on his neck-his breathing is ok and seems fine withing himself-but have stabled him away from others.as it may be contagious?? ive put a rug on him to keep him warm, is that right? also how is it best treated-do i keep him in until he gets better? what about excercsie??? second question-he is currently molting, but have now noticed patches of balding on his face,neck,girth area and a couple of other areas of thinning. i cannot see anything like lice and he isnt itchy? we have had a new pony arrive on the yard 3 weeks ago but she didnt appear to have any cold etc but did have a few tiny patches of bald on her face. any advice please and is there anything i can add to his feed to boost his immune system?

 

[moneypit1]

My horse has had what I thought was a sunburnt nose (honest even with this weather!) but it turns out it is something inthe field that is irritating it as he grazes. He has also come in with a few small bald patches and I think it is as a result of insect bites or something similar. If you are really worried perhaps a quick call to your vets might be an idea.

 

[the watcher]

can't advise on the bald patches if you have eliminated lice - unless it could be ringworm.
Aloe vera is said to support the immune system, just add juice to the food

 

[sarahgill]

I would just give your vet a call tell them exactly what you've just said and see what they say, i had a panic one night thinking all mine had strangles, brought them in and all their necks and cheek glands where swollen and some had snotty noses, didn't know what to think (apart from the vets fee and prospect of quarentine!) but each had had swollen gland before and had gone away but for all of them to have it at once i was worried, rang the vet and asked for his advice - not for him to come out and look- and he said it will be the spring grass making their saliva glands swell, if the snottiness gets worse or the glands aint gone down in the morning then give me another call - he was right anyway and it dint cost anything to have some reliable sound advise