Scabs

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lulushere

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Hi
I have recently bought a (coloured) mare, whose back, quarters and shoulders are covered in scabs, some of which are quite large. She lives out and is rugged. We have removed a couple of the smaller ones, and hair comes off with them and the skin is pink, flakey and sore looking underneath The scabs don't seem to worry her, and she's not rubbing so presumably they aren't itchy.
Her prevous owner has told me that she did rub her mane and tail during the summer, but the vet didn't think it was sweet itch.
Anyone else have this problem, or can offer advice please?
 
Thanks for all your advice. I thought of rain scald, but as she's been rugged ruled it out. I only removed a couple of scabs because I was checking for 'little visitors', but ruled that out too!
She may well have got a bit warm under the rug, this weather is s unpredictable and it's not practical to keep changing weights so I've gone for a mw.
I'll ty to find a supplement that works from inside, and hope for the best
Thanks again
 
I have the same problem with my 3yr old chestnut mare, she has little bumps like an allergy during summer and scabs in winter vet said its not bothering her but its not nice, im trying micronised linseed at the moment will keep with it until it runs out then may switch to linseed oil, theres nothing under the scabs but its yucky! I swich rugs every few days too and also couldnt find any lice etc
 
My yearling has something similar to this and we dont now what's causing it either. He isnt itchy or bothered by it at all. He is only wearing a lightweight summer rug to keep the rain off him but he does have a very think winter coat. I have had the vet out twice and he has been treated for lice and other beasties and has had a week of antibiotics. None of these have helped. At the moment the vet has said to give it 3 wees or so and see what happens!
 
Sounds very much like rainscauld.
The weeping of the sores can make whole patches of the coat stick together and "clump".
As SM says, rugs are often the cause of it.
 
Mine got rainscald quite a few years ago from a tiny amount of mud which went un-noticed on the skin as he grew his coat through for the winter - I think then when they get too warm and wet the bacteria just get underway and has a field day through the coat. We've had such mild conditions so far this winter it's ideal conditions I'd say. What you describe is the paint-brush scabs you get with rainscald, they're quite glue-y at the root too. Vet told me to gently soften the scabs to help loosen them, I was recommended Malaseb shampoo. You don't want to take the scabs off unless they are ready to come off and to ensure you dry the skin properly afterwards. Vet left me steriod cream but I chose not to use that and dabbed on aloe vera gel as soothing and healing. He was stabled for a day or two (unrugged) to properly let his coat dry out and itchiness to ease as scabs would pull on the hair and then he went out with a very lightweight rug. This autumn/winter I'm avoiding putting a turnout rug on mine on very mild days (we've had 12 degrees here this week on occasion) as I think if they do get warm and sweaty under a rug it doesn't help.
 
Its not uncommon for this to happen with rugged but unclipped horses. The coat being warm and moist becomes a breeding ground for bacteria to flourish under the rug.
 
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