Photosensitivity Help

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darahbren2010

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I have a gelding that we believe is photosensitive (The 1st vet said sunburn and 2nd said photosensitivity) It started shortly after I purchased him in Nov. of 2012. By the time the end of December had come along he had lost the majority of the hair on the left side of his face. He was being boarded at the time where he was out at pasture 24/7. After he burned like that we put him in a stall all winter and turned out only at night. The hair did not start to partially grow back until fall of 2013, but he was still missing most of the hair. He went almost all winter without hair on that side of his face. Until the beginning of 2014. He did sprout some hair (I think it looked like more because it was so thick), but once the warm weather hit and he shed his winter coat he was still missing a mass amount of hair. We have been struggling for almost the last 2 years to get it under control. I have taken him off of alfalfa. No weeds in the pasture. He is stalled during the day and turned out at night and does wear sunscreen when he is out. I just don't know what to do anymore. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
I was involved with a horse that had this type of problem a couple of years age. If you search old threads there is a massive amount of very useful and constructive advice available but I believe that sunflower oil is part of the treatment. The mare has gone from being unable to go out in daylight (the skin was peeling off her legs) to this year looking fantastic and back out eventing. She has changed yards so soil type may be a contributory factor as well. Good luck don't give up hope it is 'curable'.
 
Also keep an eye on the Clover levels in his grazing as being a legume it will also cause the same problem

And - if it isn't actually photosensitisation - wash his face several times with Nizoral shampoo - buy from a chemist and use in the same way you would use to wash your own hair. Wipe tack and headcollars with the mix too. Sometimes they get a mild fungal infection that just makes them lose hair on the face.
 
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