Skin nightmare

[Lb1996]

About a month ago I took my mares rugs off to a heat rash one morning, her sides were covered in big hives but she wasn't itchy or irritated just looked horrendous. Called my vet she told me not to panic So I left the rugs off applied some soothing cream etc. After about a week we were down to a few scabs.

However while her sides were healing new lumps appeared on her back just behind where the saddle goes. She was still unrugged and out of work. These lumps were much tougher and joined together to form two large lumps. There are also little scabs all around them and still a few on her sides. The lumps have recently scabbed over and are starting to peel away taking the hair with them however I'm convinced there are still new ones cropping up daily around them. The skin around the area is dull and there doesn't seem to be much hair growth. Apart from the skin she seems in full health, feels great in herself not off her food,no temp etc.

Spoke to my vet about it being an allergic reaction as she had one before Christmas however these lumps are very different and she's not itching like mad or irritated like she was with the allergy. She's not changed feed, bedding etc in the last 4 months so I'm not convinced this is an allergy. Vet said to avoid steroids if we could and not much that could be done except keeping them clean and waiting it out. Have been washing every few days with maleseb. Have tried loads of different creams, have tried leaving them with nothing on literally tried everything it's starting to get me down! She's due back in the show ring this month which won't happen now.

I know it may look slightly similar to ringworm
But she's in regular contact with my 4 others and none of them have anything similar. I thought yesterday that maybe it's some aggressive form of rain scald even though she lives in? Really unsure and starting to get stressed now any advice and thoughts really appreciated!!

 

[Pinkvboots]

It could be like a fungal thing due to her getting hot in her rugs so it is like rain scald as it likes a warm damp environment to live, one of my horses gets a similar thing at the end of winter this year he had a few patches on the top of his bump, I just put athletes foot cream on it as it's the same bacteria that causes it and within a few days in clears up, the hair does fall out once the lumps go but it does grow back.

 

[lamlyn2012]

Could be sweat scald/rain scald. Both are bacterial caused by dermatophilis bacteria. Dilute hibiscrub baths ( worked well into skin with a brush) and then thoroughly rinsed and dried. Flamazine ointment if sore. Should clear in about three days. Don't put oily creams on it, traps in bacteria and will break out elsewhere. You need to kill the bacteria.

 

[Equi]

Id be inclined to clip all of her, then hibi scrub well rinsed off and a teatree oil shampoo to soothe, and after rinsed spray her with botanica cleanse.