skin problem/hair loss-an update

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cobiau

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Posted here last week with regards to my mare losing hair & having flaky skin on her neck, before the vet came to see if anyone had any similar experiences. she also has a few random patches of dry, flaky or scaley skin on her body and there was a pus filled lump on her neck at the base of her mane, and a few smaller crusty lumps through her mane but unsure if these had pus filled or just dry scabby lumps..
Vet came last wednesday, checked for lice, said if it was just the patches on her body then she would suspect ringworm, asked if there had been any changes in feed, routine, any new horses, any other horses on yard with similar symptoms, etc...vet also said she didnt think it was an allergic reaction as the most noticable sign of anything allergic is extreme itchiness, so she said that she was going to do a skin biopsy to check for pemphigus (which had been suggested to me on here by popularfurball the first time i posted) and also another condition where the skin over produces grease, which can cause hair loss...she said she wasnt convinced about this one as her skin is dry not greasy, and she said that pemphigus is quite rare and can present different symptoms in each horse, so biopsy it was and the results are back..
However, the results are inconclusive, there is no sign of fungal or bacterial infection, the inflammatory cells are up and there are changes/abnormalities in the skin but the results are not strong enough to diagnose anything, probably the vet said because the biopsy was taken as this outbreak was easing off rather than straight away, so lab have requested another biopsy as soon as another outbreak occurs.
Sorry that was so long :o, and if anyone has any further ideas/suggestions or similar experiences, i would very much appreciate reading them
 
Covering the most usual base - give her a good bath using Nizoral shampoo - you can buy it from the chemist. Dilute with hand hot water and work well into the skin. It's used for dandruff so will probebly get rid of the scurf.

Find a supplement that has both Copper & Zinc in it as these both assist with the development of strong skin. Vitamin A will also help.

Feeding fresh ground Linseed will also help improve skin and coat condition. I use a coffee grinder to grind mine - feed up to a cupful daily.
 
Hi,

I've just been through a similar problem. Horse was extremely itchy, so much so he was knocking down well dug-in wooden fence posts. No obvious signs of anything bar flaky, dry skin and a bit more scurf than normal, only had a wider than normal bib type clip. Rugged and living out apart from very inclement weather.

Only feed small feed of HiFi Lite, Hi-Fi Nuts and Pink Powder. Started adding oil to feed to combat dry skin and as he was loosing weight.

First I thought he was too hot, reduced rugs and waited. No change. Reduced rugs to a no-fill sheet but he was worse. Checked for lice/mites and treated legs (he was stamping) with Frontline but no change.

Started finding scabs pretty much as those you have described and called Vet. Inbetween Vet coming out I spoke to a nutritionist. She suggested it was the Alfalfa in his feed. Vet agreed and they suggested I clip out and bath as well as removing Alfalfa. In this time I also took one of the scabs to the Vets for analysis.

They could find no evidence of parasites or bacterial/fungal infection. After 72hrs without the Alfalfa he was scratching much less. 5 days in and fences were being left upright and horse much much happier :) Scratching minimal. On the next nice day I clipped him out. I was horrified at what was under the thick coat :( Large plaque uticaria. The scabs came off on clipping and left him with small holes (about the size of 20p's) scattered over his body :(

Been treating with topical cream until they are healed and then Vet has suggested bathing with a coal tar shampoo (Polytar or T/Gel) to reduce itching and help with dry skin. The itching is practically gone.

It was a feed issue for us in the end. Obv this may not apply to you. Hope you get it sorted though.
 
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Thanks everyone for your replies, she has micronised linseed in her food to help with dry skin, not sure if there is any alfalfa in her food but i will definately check through the ingredients list incase, all good thoughts thank you, I have washed her down with medicated shampoo and yes it does help to get rid of the scurfy dry skin, but these 2 outbreaks shes had have just come out of nowhere, its not like theres a gradual build up of skin, the bumps appear under the skin + then literally the hair just comes away in your hand, she doesnt seem to be itchy with it at all...arctic ice i'm so glad you found out the cause of your boys problem, am hoping that the cause of our problems are as easy to fix
 
cobiau said:
Posted here last week with regards to my mare losing hair & having flaky skin on her neck, before the vet came to see if anyone had any similar experiences. she also has a few random patches of dry, flaky or scaley skin on her body and there was a pus filled lump on her neck at the base of her mane, and a few smaller crusty lumps through her mane but unsure if these had pus filled or just dry scabby lumps..
Vet came last wednesday, checked for lice, said if it was just the patches on her body then she would suspect ringworm, asked if there had been any changes in feed, routine, any new horses, any other horses on yard with similar symptoms, etc...vet also said she didnt think it was an allergic reaction as the most noticable sign of anything allergic is extreme itchiness, so she said that she was going to do a skin biopsy to check for pemphigus (which had been suggested to me on here by popularfurball the first time i posted) and also another condition where the skin over produces grease, which can cause hair loss...she said she wasnt convinced about this one as her skin is dry not greasy, and she said that pemphigus is quite rare and can present different symptoms in each horse, so biopsy it was and the results are back..
However, the results are inconclusive, there is no sign of fungal or bacterial infection, the inflammatory cells are up and there are changes/abnormalities in the skin but the results are not strong enough to diagnose anything, probably the vet said because the biopsy was taken as this outbreak was easing off rather than straight away, so lab have requested another biopsy as soon as another outbreak occurs.
Sorry that was so long :o, and if anyone has any further ideas/suggestions or similar experiences, i would very much appreciate reading them
Click to expand...

Meanwhile, I'd try some Sweet Relief cream - try ebay - its been the best thing I've used for flakey skin. You need to give it a week to turn it round.
 
I know we've spoken quite a bit, but be careful with treatments - my pony behaves as if she is on fire - there are few and far between things she enjoys when her skin is sore.

Head and shoulders sensitive shampoo is sufficient to lift the dandruff combined with a fine human hair comb.

Flamazine is the best cream as it is non aggressive and contains silver to help healing - only a little needs to be applied.

Pemphigus does occur, and it's not the horrendous thing that google portrays it as - its not nice but it's liveable with. Takes a lot of time and patience (and tears) but for us it's worth it.

Stripping diet back is the first thing, then removing unnecessary other stuff like creams etc. once you are at a base line of no feed, lotions or potions then you can reintroduced and establish which aggrevate.

For us anything sugar, garlic or alfalfa based causes problems.
 
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