Mites or Lice

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Bigmax

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My kids share is suffering from some sort of skin irritation. Initial thoughts were mites or Lice but the yard owner has had a look and confirmed that there is no visible evidence of either. My personal conclusion is some sort of dermatological condition (almost like eczema or dermatitis). He has extremely flakey and itchy back legs from his hocks right up to the groin area. I'm inclined to try a "home" remedy of an emollient wash followed by a hydrocortisone cream. Before calling out the vet.

Any advice and suggestions welcome
 
My thoughts are…you can’t see mites just evidence of them, usually hair loss and itchiness and would usually affect from coronet band up. If it’s just hock to groin I’d look at his droppings, are they loose? Does he wear a rug is he suffering from some sort of scald or is wet mud caught up between his legs and has he got a mud fever reaction? Perhaps wash with a very gentle wash, dry well and get a good look at his skin…maybe use a barrier cream if the skin looks irritated.
 
It can be very difficult to see lice with the naked eye, so I wouldn't rely on the YO's judgement tbh. A novice owner would be well advised to involve the vet, rather than mess about trying this and that with no resolution.

However my cob has had a similar sounding skin problem and vet prescribed cream didn't solve the problem, nor did a variety of OTC creams/lotions. Her problems were caused by people feeding her over the field walls and made worse by us feeding linseed, so I would check the diet for the cause.
 
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Another who struggled after feeding linseed. I actually got a call at work from my then YO who had found my old boy covered in blood after scratching himself raw. Piriton also helped.
 
Bigmax said:
My kids share is suffering from some sort of skin irritation. Initial thoughts were mites or Lice but the yard owner has had a look and confirmed that there is no visible evidence of either. My personal conclusion is some sort of dermatological condition (almost like eczema or dermatitis). He has extremely flakey and itchy back legs from his hocks right up to the groin area. I'm inclined to try a "home" remedy of an emollient wash followed by a hydrocortisone cream. Before calling out the vet.

Any advice and suggestions welcome
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You could do worse than buy this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, read the ‘vet clinic’ piece on “ Feathered Foes” for a ball park understanding - then act as most appropriate.
Good luck, skin issues can be horrid if you don’t quickly get on top things.
 
Mites are not visible with the naked eye. Lice or evidence of lice are. If the horse is itching or trying to itch himself on objects it would be cheaper to get the vet involved now before you are dealing with open and broken skin, plus if he is heavy coated no amount of washing will reach the skin effectively.
 
Gamebird said:
Please don't apply a steroid cream (Hydrocortisone) until you know what it is, or have a reasonable list of differential diagnoses from a vet. They can make several conditions worse (eg. infections, parasites) and are not without contraindications and side-effects.
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This. Plus if it’s not actually your horse, which I’m assuming from the ‘share’ comment, make sure you have the owners permission before treating with anything.
 
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