Skin infection?

C

Chestnut-mare-lover

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My 35 year old grey pony came in wednesday with scabs all over his shoulder, back and flanks with a couple red sore patches. Vet advised to wash with hibiscrub. Next morning it was so much worse, his whole back and flanks were ozzing a yellow serum and skin looks sore underneath. Vet came out and gave antibiotics and steriod injection. Never seen anything like it and not sure what caused it? We did move yards 5 days ago but surely if something was irritating hos skin it would be the exposed areas not covered by the rug? Im so worried about him, i just dont know what causing it :-(
 
Hibiscrub was probably too harsh and caused already sensitive skin to react as it did, I have no idea why it is so widely used as it is not a mild wash suitable for sensitive skin conditions.
It sounds like a form of rain scald/ sweat rash, he may have got too warm under his rug, it has been very warm this week, sweated up and with the rug on the sweat could not evaporate so it caused the scabs to form, if he already has started getting his winter coat he would benefit from letting the air get to it, as long as the weather is dry he would be best without a rug on, he really should not need a rug in the summer months.
 
If there is not much improvement then wash him well with Nizoral shampoo - this will clear up any rain scald, ringworm or other fungal type infection.

You can buy Nizoral at the chemist - its a human anti dandruff shampoo that contains Ketaconisol. Ketaconisol is anti fungal and anti bacterial so is very useful to have around. Far kinder to the skin than Hibiscrub which was originally for use by surgeons to sterilise their hands prior to surgery. Its very harsh for damaged skin.

Bathing with Nizoral - try to use hand hot water if you can as it helps to get the shampoo down to the roots. - Wash well and leave 10 mins before rinsing.
 
Sounds like sweat scald. Bathe the infected areas with dilute hibiscrub(half teaspoon to 200ml warm water) then dry thoroughly and apply flamazine which you may need to get from your vet. It's caused by the dermatophilis bacteria which breeds in warm, moist environments so it is important to keep dry. Clipping the infected areas is recommended so the coat doesn't remain wet. Keep pony out of the rain as it is same bacteria which is responsible for rain scald. NEVER put anything oily like Zink and castor oil cream on this, it will make it worse. Hibiscrub should only be used until the scabs are off, which will only take a couple of days(bathe 2X per day) then flamazine only.
 
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