Foal Coat HELP HELP HELP

[poppy1969]

I bought a palomino colt foal a few weeks ago, he had been weaned 3 weeks when i got him.

He had a good coat not that hairy,he is now on 3 feeds a day in preparation for foal shows and has a medium weight foal rug.

In the last week his hair in falling out in handfuls to the extent he has large areas that are bald on his neck and other areas are coming in golden palomino as if he is way to get summer coat

I have had foals in past but never experienced this


help help help

 

[AmyMay]

Does he have lice?

 

[kerilli]

i'd get the vet to do a skin swab, see what nasties might be cooking on there.

 

[poppy1969]

No definately doesnt have lice and was also wormed with 5 day panacur after arriving

 

[Waterborn]

My yearling was losing his coat, worm count negative, no lice. Vet gave him a vitamin injection and his coat has started to return. Not sure if that was the answer but it certainly did the trick!

 

[Echo Bravo]

Could be you are over feeding, over rugging and the weather very warm. Mine still has his foal coat 6 months and was starry when I bought him, wormed and deloused, he did loose hair on his face, but thats grown back, but he's only on 2 feeds a day + horsehage but doing well.

 

[Echo Bravo]

Medium rug in this weather, he could be over heating.

 

[Waterborn]

Could be you are over feeding, over rugging and the weather very warm. Mine still has his foal coat 6 months and was starry when I bought him, wormed and deloused, he did loose hair on his face, but thats grown back, but he's only on 2 feeds a day + horsehage but doing well.

Have to be honest, that was my first thought. It wasn't the case with my yearling who didn't have a rug on at the time and is fed once a day + haylage ad lib.

 

[poppy1969]

It has not been that warm here as we are in the NORTH, kind of thinking could it be because of his change in regime,

 

[AmyMay]

I think aside from a vet check then you should review your management. ME rug and 3 feeds a day seems a little ott and you could simply be overdoing him.

 

[Echo Bravo]

Could be you are overloading his system, take the rug off and cut down on his feed. I know the weather up North has been wet, but he's not made out of paper, what's his breeding?

 

[Foxhunter49]

Foals have plenty of insulation and I would say that he is to warm.

If you are showing him then I assume he is coming in at nights and as I have seen several foals with nerve damage from being rugged would suggest that you allow him to be natural.

 

[Echo Bravo]

Do they have foal shows in winter?? Gobsmacked.

 

[poppy1969]

foal shows are only ever held in winter,

 

[Echo Bravo]

Still gobsmacked

 

[scarymare]

I think aside from a vet check then you should review your management. ME rug and 3 feeds a day seems a little ott and you could simply be overdoing him.

I agree with this - I'm very far north and its been mild as anything - even when windy and wet. My 3 month old TB foal isnt rugged, only fed cos her mother is and is really quite well covered.

 

[Dolcé]

I would think too warm too and my foal would have been cooking this last few weeks had I put her rug on, but, unless his rug is a full neck, it wouldn't explain bald patches on his neck. Is he rubbing? Is his coat scurfy?