quick query

_daisy_

_daisy_

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over the last few days ive noticed a number of bald patches appearing on Ebis face and top of her neck. The areas arent sore, no redness, just black skin with no fur whatsoever.
Now were not talking little 5p size patches more like 3inches sqaure approx. Shes got 2 under her forelock (1 each side - 1 side smaller than the other) 2 pretty much identical patches at either side at the top of her neck below her ear line, 1 below her left ear, 1 huge on between her check and her mouth and a few small ones (approx 10p size) dotted around her face - specifically above her left eye.
did try to take photos on mobile but was on my own and she kept fidgeting so they are blurred.
any ideas what it could be?
my thoughts could be that she got her head stuck somewhere and ripped the fur off to start with but decided against this as the amount of patches is increasing by the day. Did find some fur on the floor but in the middle of the field nowhere near anything.
None of the other horses have any so im lost as to what is happeneing with her?

anyone had a horse that suffers with alopecia?
 
Is she rubbing it on something?

My horse had a patch above his eye for a while, and I eventually caught him rubbing it on a bit of fence whilst sticking his head under it to reach a tiny bit of grass!
 
My old boy used to do this on his face, he used to shed his hair and then grow his summer coat. Only on his face, he'd end up with big bald bits on the front of his head. His summer coat would kick in an grow and he'd look fine in summer. He just spent about 3 weeks looking very odd, this happened every year, vet was very puzzled.
 
talked to vet and she thought ringworm but when I told her that its only confimed to her head area she then thought maybe not. When she goes for her next set of xrays theyre going to test for ringworm - some kind of Woods lamp she called it
 
cant find anywhere that shes rubbing it. Had originally thought that she might have got her head stuck in the hay ring feeder that ive got in the field but no fur anywhere near that or anything that would indicate shes rubbing on it. also - she cant atm as it has a full bale of haylage in so no where available to rub that would cause that damage.
 
oh that sounds very hopeful for her then. Cant ever remember in all the years ive had her that shes ever done this but things change - she had a foal last year (who is still on her) so maybe hormones and all that maybe affecting her
 
Have you changed any feed. Or added any supplements. I once fed my old gelding a garlic supplement and the same thing happened to him. Although he ate it. Stopped and it grew back. Just a thought.
 
no not that I can think of. She just has haylage in the field all the time. Pasture Mix, happy hoof, speedi beet, mobifor joint supplemetn and Formula4Feet - well unless it could be anything to do with stopping feeding her bute, but that was at the weekend and it started before then.
 
Well I would have said ringworm - what's the problem with it only being round her head? That's where my horse had it, and a patch on her neck. It's very contagious, so unless your x-rays are imminent I'd be surprised at the vet leaving it.

Just guessing tho' - ignore me and I'll go away
smile.gif
 
Is the skin raised at all, ringworm tends to raise the skin a bit. Ringworm is the same fungal bacteria as athletes foot so if it is this and you are unlucky enough to get it you can treat it with stuff called lamisol.
 
well i was wondering ringworm but the skin isnt scabby or anything else that resembles ringworm. Cant see how she wouldve got it. Surely though if it was ringworm wouldnt the other 2 in the field have got it?

ill try and take some photos in the morning (if shell stand still) then i can show you what it looks like.
 
ive never had ringworm so wouldnt have a clue if i caught it.
there are cows nearby but they arent in a field - theyre in a barn. My horses havent been anywhere near them and certainly havent touched them.

Is it airborn?
 
well I left a message for my vet to call me back about a few things but hes off sick atm, so another vet called me back late on tonight. I didnt want to go through most stuff with her as she doesnt know the full story so just asked about my gals mud fever then as an after thought asked about Ebi's face.
She didnt mention blood test - god help them getting near her, that will be fun! just mentioned that it is a possibility but theyd check with this Woods lamp. She mentioned it could be alopecia but not that common.
 
It sounds very much like lice to me. Have you checked under the mane for dandruff? If the dandruff moves, its lice. The rubbing and size of patches you mention is typical. I have just managed to get rid of lice on a rescued mountain mare which has taken forever to do. Hope this helps.
 
It sounds a bit like my horse! This happens to her sometimes up to 3 times a year.
But she does go scabby before the hair drops out. It never spreads beyond her face and never bleeds, although it can be a bit weepy in places. It only happens when she is turned out in a particular field. Ive never discovered what causes it but I treat it with immaverol just in case it is a skin fungus type thingy. I have a feeling she is allergic to something, possibly insect bites or a plant. It also only happens when turned out but is definitely not ringworm or lice.
She doesnt appear to rub either.I dont worry about it now!!!Oh shes going bald again, get the immaverol out!!

So could be something similar. I would speak to vet and treat as poss skin fungal infection just to be safe.

Is horse a chestnut?Apparently, so Im told, they can be thin skinned and a bit prone to this sort of thing. Dont really know how true that is but it is true with mine.
Hope this helps.
 
yes had a good check and there is nothing at all on her skin/under her mane. willhave another good look tonight and see if she behaves and stands still so I can take some photos of them
 
My horse gets very strange patches on her face, my vet thought it could be sarcoids. They kind of come and go,mostly on her cheeks. I just make sure her face is thoroughly groomed every day and make sure to wash it if she sweats working. That keeps it at bay!
 
my friends horse has folicolitis (dont know how to spell it) It had bald patches just patches not full hair loss. They treated it with antibiotics and it was gone within a week tho it took a bit longer for the hair to grow back! This was in summer tho so didnt look as bad as it was with having less fur in summer months! Id get the vet to look at it! TBH if it was ringworm the other horses would have it as it it very contageous! Unless they stay very apart in the field i.e no contact! Doubt it tho!
 
well she has a lot of contact with both of the horses in the field - 1 is her best mate and the other is her foal that she is still feeding. Neither or them have any patches on them.
hoping my vet is back in tomorrow so I can arrange to take her up for some investigations
 
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