Flaky skin HELP!!

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teabagtoyota

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Have a yearling colt who has a beautifully shiny coat BUT has the most amazing flaky skin, huge big flakes come upto the surface when you either stroke or brush him
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Hes fed prep mix, suregrow and Alfa A oil but not sure what to add to his diet for this condition as everything I have seen on the market says for coat etc BUT his coat is lovely and soft and super shiny just flaky!!! Ive not long bought him and transported him up from England, he was kept out, no rug and not fed so my vet thinks his coat has gone like this due to me changeing his whole routine?? He is now rugged up and comes in everynight and fed twice a day, anyone any ideas?? As far as I know he has never had a bath so not due to not being rinsed properly and its much too cold to bathe him just now albeit I do have a hot shower for the horses, just don't want to bathe him at this time of year brrrrr
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He's not very itchy which I thought he would have been due to the amount of flaky skin and its all over him by the way from behind his ears to the top of his legs!!!
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hm...........

Id say regular grooming, not sure about adding much more to feed as you don't want too much fats and oils in the diet.
If you did bathe him, it sounds really stupid (maybe) but use head and shoulders basic antidandruff shampoo!!!!! then followed by a good hibiscrub session too! but obv only when you are happy to bath!

 
Thanks for that, he does get groomed everynight and I worry if he will have any skin left one day he loses so much flakes!!! Was thinking of using Head and Shoulders as I use it on my shire X who has the most greasy and dandruffy mane ever even though he is hogged! It works a treat especially the one for greasy hair! He would be a prime candidate for an advert should it work, he looks like he has been snowed on on the black patches (he's black & white!)
 
Are they like little grey scabs on the skin and feel lumpy if you run your hand over it.

If so it could be rain scold which is caused by a bacterial skin infection the reason it has most probably flared up since you have been rugging him is because its loves warm moist conditions especially under rugs etc. My foal had it when I got her. It is easily treated let me know before I go into more detail if it sounds like rain scold.

Hope this helps
 
Well blow me I think you could be right
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Cure please??? And why didn't my vet pick up on it?? Have only ever seen one horse with rain scald and it was almost bald so never passed my thoughts it could be that!!!! God I could hug ya!!! More info PLEASE!!
 
rain scald is a bacteria prblem.

To sort it, you have to pick off the scabs, or at least try to groom most of the flakes off.
Then use a medicated antibacterial shampoo (Coatex or Malaseb are the best ones)
It is a similar bacterial infection to mud fever, so treat accordingly.

Best way to get a definitive diagnosis is for your vet to take a scellotape test, a scab sample, and a skin scrape from an effected area.

If its not rain scald, and the vet doesnt identify any other bacterial/fungi etc then id opt for Head nad Shoulders..... it is great!
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I used Coatex shampoo (recommended by vet) and worked on patches so she would not get cold as it was mid January.

If it was windy I would leave her rug off to let the air get to her. This condition thrives in damp and moist conditions.

The fur does come away with the scabs but you need to get them off its a bit scary as the skin underneath is very pink and a bit weepy and you get bald bits. My mares coat grew back in the spring have pics too! Do not be tempted to put on any creams like Sudocream or barrier creams as they stop the air getting to the skin to dry it up.

If you can feed a supplement to boost the immune system then all well and good I just carried on feeding as normal. In hindsight I might have done different. My mare is still very sensitive to insect bites and during the summer wears a boett rug but has a lovely coat now.
 
Just another thought... my boy used to always be a bit flaky (not as bad as yours) and it got worse in winter. He can also be very sharp/ spooky so I picked up on something about feed intolerances causing both of these symptoms. I cut barley out of his feed (changed to the Allen & Page ones) so he isn't as spooky and his skin is better too!
 
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