Itchy patches on pony (also in vetinary)

[Grey_Arab]

Recently I've noticed that my boy has been getting large scabby type lumps on either side of his withers, although they are a lot worse on the right side. If I itch them (even just run my hand over them) he tilts his head to one side and sort of bunches up his top lip (I take it this means that he is finding them incredbily itchy). Some of them have come off and when they do they take chuncks of coat out as well.
I haven't noticed them anywhere else on his body although he is very keen to itch his bottom as well. I've tried (at the recommendation of the YO) putting hemeroid (sp) cream on it as it's supposed to stop the itching but it hasn't worked

So any ideas what it could be that's making him do this?? I did try and take a pic, but it didn't come out very well.
Thanks in advance

 

[Donkeymad]

Is his saddle or rug rubing him?
You could try some E45 cream, but don't let it drag on.

 

[Shilasdair]

I wouldn't think it's a simple rug rub as these aren't normally so itchy. There are a couple of things it could be though - firstly it could be ringworm, especially if he's going out in any field where cows have been grazed...or there have been cases of ringworm at your yard before. Ringworm shows itself by the hair coming out in raised roughly circular patches. You can get treatment from your vet for ringworm...but must be very careful to wear gloves when handling him...and not touch your face etc, as it is very easily passed to humans. He should also be isolated until it is cured.
Or it could be rainscald caused by a bacterium called, I think, dermatophilus congolensis. If rainscald, his hair will be coming out with little tufts of skin on the bottom, which have a yellow weepy fluid, and a distinctive smell. Rainscald can be helped by removing the scabs, then washing with Hibiscrub, and keeping the skin dry.
There are other skin infections - you can get your vet to do a skin scraping and identify the cause.
S

 

[Grey_Arab]

He hasn't been turned out for nearly 2 weeks as we have no grazing on site in the winter, and he has never been in a feild where cows have been. The scabs don't smell and aren't weepy when one comes off, so the mystery continues.
Thanks anyway!

 

[loobiloo]

I agree with Shilasdair - get some skin scrapings done. It could be a mite infection. Most mite species can live in the stable for a bit so he could keep being reinfected.