Horse has lots of dry skin on back of his legs?!

[Jay89]

This afternoon we clipped the feathers off my cob, he has got lots of scurf/dry almost crusty skin. I dont think it overally bothers him and its not scabby or bleeding. I was thinking of giving his legs a good wash and maybe smothering in udder cream or vaseline just to soften it all. How would you treat this?

 

[Dottyfordylan]

Neem and coal tar shampoo is great for dry skin, my cob used to get a build up behind his knees. I used a curry comb to work it in well

 

[Lego]

Google mallenders

My current and previous cob have this. Mallenders occurs on the front legs, and sallenders on the back legs. As far as I remember it's basically a type of eczema, and occurs where the area of skin produces too much keratin.

My lad's gets much worse if he has anything with soy or alfalfa - apparently the high nitrogen content is the culprit. When I had him on alfalfa chaff, the crusty bits split and he had to have a couple of weeks of steroid cream before it cleared up.

Now kept under control with diet (no alfalfa/soy & extra linseed for skin condition). He very rarely has the bits in his feathers any more - just the skin looks a bit thick in patches when you part the hair on the back of the knee.

If I put anything on, I use either E45, or the green udder cream (with tea tree) if it's looking a bit dry, but generally try to leave alone. Whenever he has a leg wash, or if I have to hose a lot in the winter, I put a dab of udder cream on backs of knees, and heels, then spray legs every couple of days with pig oil and seems to keep mud and skin at bay

Watch out for sudocrem etc - good if the skin has cracked, but otherwise it can dry the skin out a bit.

 

[scrat]

I use a metal dog flea comb to gently comb out the dead skin from long feathers. Only remove the loose stuff as the area can become very sore. I use pig oil or baby oil to keep the skin soft or sudocream if it does become sore.

 

[heebiejeebies]

Google mallenders

My current and previous cob have this. Mallenders occurs on the front legs, and sallenders on the back legs. As far as I remember it's basically a type of eczema, and occurs where the area of skin produces too much keratin.

My lad's gets much worse if he has anything with soy or alfalfa - apparently the high nitrogen content is the culprit. When I had him on alfalfa chaff, the crusty bits split and he had to have a couple of weeks of steroid cream before it cleared up.

Now kept under control with diet (no alfalfa/soy & extra linseed for skin condition). He very rarely has the bits in his feathers any more - just the skin looks a bit thick in patches when you part the hair on the back of the knee.

If I put anything on, I use either E45, or the green udder cream (with tea tree) if it's looking a bit dry, but generally try to leave alone. Whenever he has a leg wash, or if I have to hose a lot in the winter, I put a dab of udder cream on backs of knees, and heels, then spray legs every couple of days with pig oil and seems to keep mud and skin at bay

Watch out for sudocrem etc - good if the skin has cracked, but otherwise it can dry the skin out a bit.

Sorry to hijack! Just wondering if this only occurs behind joints? My mare has suddenly got terribly itchy lower back legs, she is using her chestnuts to really dig into her opposite inside leg. It's really dandruff looking, not crusty, and A LOT of it, the hair is easily pulled right off too.... does this sound like mallenders and sallenders?

 

[Jay89]

After googling mallenders I am 99.9% sure this is what he has.....thanks!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

My traddie cob gets this.

I wash his legs with either Tea Tree or Head and Shoulders shampoo (cheap & cheerful), then bung on some Sudocrem, or Tea Tree lotion. Seems to work. And/or, as he gets sweet itch and I've got the stuff anyway, Killitch stops midges and flys getting too near the area if its sore.

Just sounding a warning re. Pig Oil. If using it, be careful and patch test first, and NEVER use it with Sulphur mixed in without patch testing for 48 hrs first. My boy's legs went very pink and sore when I (foolishly) took advice given on here and used it on him.

 

[horsesatemymoney]

Mine has it at the top of his back legs, on the inside- it's very flaky- is it a similar thing?

 

[Tnavas]

Wash thoroughly with Nizoral which will deal with the scurfy skin, then apply a good skin conditioner - bees wax and avocado oil I've found to be the best - often sold as a shoe leather conditioner. Works well for people who suffer from excaema too.