Scabby muzzle

M

Marchtime

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 December 2007
Messages
1,412
Visit site
I need to pick your brains... The grey pony in my siggie has odd scabs on her muzzle. First noticed them about three weeks ago but assumed they were from her sticking her nose where she shouldn't - she has a habit of getting thorns in her nose from blackberrying. She lives out 24/7 and is retired but I've been keeping an eye on them. She came in today with significantly more than before, maybe as many as eight or ten little ones. They are circular and look almost as if someone has stabbed cigarettes out on her. If you pick the scabs off they look almost like rain scald - a tiny bit weepy and the scabs are slightly yellow but they aren't sore and she doesn't mind. The older ones have healed but new ones are forming. They don't seem to be anywhere apart from her muzzle and around her lips and nostrils.
Ideas? I'll try get some pictures to post but I've never seen anything like it. Pony she shares field with might have one or two but his aren't obvious and we can't decide if his are the same or not.
 
I think I might have answered my own post with google... it looks like it could be rain scald... what do you think and if so how to treat?
 
That's true but doesn't look like normal sunburn that our TB gets. She's black skinned on her muzzle so shouldn't be prone to sunburn and seems to isolated in that it's individual circles rather than the whole area...
 
Could it be wind burn as one of the horses on the yard where I keep mine is suffering with the wind drying his muzzle and lips out. Lots of scabs on the pore chap at the moment. She thinks that it is happening when he is grazing on the dew wet grass in the morning and then the wind over drying the pore chap out. The owner is using sudocream and thinking that she might have to stable him in the day and out at night.
 
Thanks erinite that could be the case as she's in quite an exposed field. Will try get hold of some sudocream and see if that helps. She won't tolerate being stabled so she'll have to cope!
 
I doubt if it will be rain scald. I immediately thought sunburn but you have discounted that. If 2 horses in the same field have developed similar lesions, it's worth looking at whether the pasture has a heavy burden of buttercups. Horses can develop lesions on the muzzle from the mildly toxic effect of too many buttercups. From your description, the lesions sound similar to the clusters of muzzle warts that youngsters sometimes get as their immune systems are developing. But as your ned is a veteran, I doubt if it would be that. As she's a grey veteran and if all else has been ruled out, you might be looking at sarcoids. Be very careful what you put on the lesions until you are certain what they are. Any oily cream would exacerbate sunburn. And any cream that says things like "helps skin regrowth" should be avoided in case they are sarcoids. If you're in any doubt whatsoever, I'd get the vet out for a close look. Better to be safe than sorry x
 
Thanks Box of Frogs. I didn't think it could be rain scald but it looks so similar and I can't think what else. No buttercups in the pasture - in fact it's lovely and pony has been grazed there for about two months now. Will have another look tonight. It's true about the sarcoids however they look too much like normal scabs and when the scab comes off they heal with no mark left. To begin with I thought she was rubbing her nose on something but there isn't much to rub on as field is electric fence. Will see if vet is out for anyone anytime soon and get him to look.
 
If you get an answer from a vet can you let me know as my mare has the same.
wink.gif
She also gets them on her legs. My thoughts are insect bites tbh. I am not worried as she has always had the reaction but would be interested if the vet had other ideas. ETA If I have to have the vet out before you do then I will ask him and let you know!
 
wash it in tea tree shampoo then apply aloe vera jelly to it so it will sooth it i would say rain scald or sun burn so if it is sunny apply sun block!
 
have you any st johns wort in the field?,not the garden variety which is larger,it`s quite small in the field.
 
Could be ticks. They cause raised bumps which tend to develop a serous yellow crust. Some horses seem to react more to them than others
 
Thanks dozzie, will let you know. Sure my big boy will have the vet soon, he usually manages it on a bi-monthly basis! Could be insect bites as she normally does have huge reactions on her body. Have checked her legs and couldn't see anything but she is as hairy as a polar bear so who knows what is hiding under there!
Cahill - not sure about the St Johns wort. Will google to find pics and then go explore the field!
GreedyGuts good thought but wouldn't have thought there'd be quite so many and also haven't seen any ticks on her but will bare in mind.
 
If you've got St Johns Wort in your field you could be in trouble! It's almost as toxic as ragwort. If you're in any doubt whatsoever (eg yellowing of the whites of the eyes, weight loss, appetite loss, photosensitivity) I'd suggest getting a blood test for liver function asap. Hopefully it's just one of those things that will disappear as quickly as it appeared x
 
No other signs at all of St Johns Wort. YO is also very good at managing grazing so can't imagine we'd have any. The fields are perfectly maintained, so can cross that one off the list. Thanks.
 
This sounds like ticks to me. Our horses have them too. Their noses and lower legs get little weepy scabs, and on their bodies the ticks actually latch on (like on a dog) and cause a swelling which only goes down when you remove the tick. For the legs and muzzle I pick the scabs off and then wash with mild hibiscrub and they heal up OK
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top