Hair falling out of legs in clumps

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chestnuttyy

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Hoping someone can shed some light on what this might be. My horse (chestnut TB) has suffered from photosenstive vasculitis in the past as well as mud fever - so when it comes to anything wrong with his skin I get a bit paranoid.

A few weeks ago I noticed he had lots of little bumps on his hind leg, on a white sock, then when I went to part the hair to have a look it came out in clumps (pics below). This has now happened on 3 of his legs, and on one of his hind legs it has now spread from the white hair to the chestnut hair further up his leg.

Ideas please.

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Leg after the hair came out:

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not sure what the name is but i have had horses with white legs that seem to have a greasy build up under the coat, if you groom it or rub it its come away and the skin is pinkish, maybe its due to poor circulation but it has always just cleared up and the coat re-grows
 
I've seen this before on a horse that had recovered from severe mud fever. She had bald legs for a while but the new hair soon grew back with no ill effect. I would just keep brushing the legs with a nice soft brush to help to stimulate the skin and circulation and all should be fine. No need for worry.
 
Jools2345 said:
not sure what the name is but i have had horses with white legs that seem to have a greasy build up under the coat, if you groom it or rub it its come away and the skin is pinkish, maybe its due to poor circulation but it has always just cleared up and the coat re-grows
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It doesn't seem like a greasy buil up as the skin is dry if anything. I'm concerned as to how it's spreading from white socks to chestnut hair - this is something no previous skin condition has done
 
H quite often moults like that on his legs - takes half the skin with him.... He is prone to mud fever though. It's been a very funny year so far, too - they've all held onto their coats because of the bad weather and now it's warming up they're moulting at warp speed so it is coming off in handfuls.
 
I think it does look like mites. Slightly lumpy skin and hair rubbing off to reveal baldish skin is a classic sign. Having said that I think a few shampoos with hibiscrub would sort it.
 
The same thing has happened with my boy the last couple of years when he changes coat, I have never been able to find out what it is, but I shampoo a couple of times to keep clean and the new coat always grows through eventually.
 
Dreckly said:
The same thing has happened with my boy the last couple of years when he changes coat, I have never been able to find out what it is, but I shampoo a couple of times to keep clean and the new coat always grows through eventually.
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Ditto me exact same - just use hibbiscrub or teatree shampoo
 
My new horse has legs that look the same. Had a course of antibiotics few week ago as leg swelled and didn't go down so some infection there. Now that sorted just wash the legs few times a week and remove the hair that falls out and hoping will come back with nice hair. Reassuring to find others have had same problems.
Hers are both back legs one white and one chestnut
 
My chestnut TB has the same. He's not had it before but a previous horse with a white leg used to get it at this time of year when losing his coat. I think it's best to just brush it gently but otherwise leave it alone otherwise it will become red and sore (and bald)! I've also left his brushing boots off until it clears up.
 
:) thanks. I washed it with muddy buddy scrub as that's antibacterial and anti fungal without stripping everything like hibiscrub. It looks to be doing ok and he's definitely not itchy. Spoke to the vet and she said highly unlikely to be mites, plus he's not itchy :)
 
siennamum said:
I think it does look like mites. Slightly lumpy skin and hair rubbing off to reveal baldish skin is a classic sign. Having said that I think a few shampoos with hibiscrub would sort it.
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I agree. I had exactly what you had after mites this winter, huge very flat scabs that would almost slide off in quantity bringing the hair with them leaving denuded pink skin underneath.

Mine barely itched with mites but he definitely had them. Dectomax jabs got rid of them nicely!
 
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