Scabby patches...

[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

 

[jcberry]

Rainscald? Although isnt that normally on bum and back?
Sweetitch? Too late on in the year perhaps?
OK no use but some silly suggestions

 

[patchandloopy]

saddle not fit?? Or is he just really scurfy-i know my horse only ahd one abth this year due to the bad summer we had. try aloe vera juice (human) and as close to 100% aloe vera gel, it really is good!

 

[scotia2k7]

We have a mare on our yard who's had a similar outbreak. She was away for three days to someone else six weeks ago. Initially the diagnosis from the vets varied from Brucellosis, to my own stab at fistulous withers brought on by stress. The vet advised hibscrub - but my own thought is "if you dont know, dont put anything on it you wouldnt put in your own eye".

It turns out its a viral thing (initially brought under control with anti-inflams so its not bacterial) - Id suggest a vet scrape - get him to check the white cells (T-count/antibodies) if its higher than normal he's fighting infection (just a rough thumb guide - Im no vet!!!)

Im not sure about the haemorrhoid cream - its an astringent to cool over happy small blood vessels, rather than fight/calm any infection. You could try Sudacrem - its a nappy rash cream - seems to work on some things. Overall, Id get your vet to do a scrape, its the wrong time of year for sweet itch, and rainscald would have shown itself over our wet & warm summer.

Good luck, Scotia

 

[lhotse]

My horse has had this problem this year, think it was to do with the very mild weather + winter coat. I washed it with hibiscrub to no effect, so I got some iodine from the chemists and this has cleared it up within a week and the hair is growing back. Iodine is a great antiseptic and will kill of all the bugs that cause things like rainscold/ringworm etc.