Skin problem on hind legs, what could it be...

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Gucci_b

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I seem to be at a loss, my mare has a skin problem with her lower hind legs, she has small lumpy, bumpy, bumps of dry skin (under her coat) on her lower legs, and if you scratch it, her coat comes off in your fingers, with dry skin attached, I have tryed many things and lately bathing her hind legs in tea tree shampoo, but nothing is helping... I'll have to get the vet down to take a look I think...
 
Hi,
Do you use brushing boots?
My boy has lumps of scurfy manky stuff which takes his hair off too. It was down to his brushing boots, have now bought some yummy tri-zone ones and they are much better. Although washing his legs afterwards helped
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i would say mud fever but not sure as its not wet and muddy really well not here anyway,im prob totally wrong and sound like a muppet for saying it lol !!!!!
 
My old horse Simon had this, it was an allergy to straw mites. get some frontline spray ( not cheap about £17 a bottle ) from the vets and spray this on her legs. I only needed to spray for a few days and it went. Unfortunatley all his fur went with it but didnt take long for it to grow back.
 
My horse had this. I just washed his legs with tea tree and it seems to be fine now. Have no idea what it was though
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Thanks for that reply,
was the problem just down your horse's hind lower legs only, at the front!!!
getting a few reply's now but all different answers!!! wonder which one I should try first as I may harm her skin....
 
Mine was on the inside and front of his hinds. It didn't bother him either, but it was like clumps of hair coming of with dry skin atached to it leaving bauled [sp] patches. I just washed it down with water and tea tree as he has TB skin and find hibi scrub a bit harsh on his skin.
 
My mare also a TB. arhhhhhhhh what to do... I 'll call the vet on tuesday now as bank hol's. in the mean time I'll keep bathing the legs in tea tree...
 
My gelding had the same thing, I asked my vet what it was and he came up with a fancy name that I can't remember, however, he advised washing my horse's legs with Head and Shoulders shampoo. I did, and it cured it.
 
Dermatophilis????? Or mud fever to the rest of us???

Or could be harvest mites, think it used to be called sallenders and mallenders (depending on whether its on front or hind legs).

Then again could be anything at this time of year!!!!
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My mare gets this every year this time of year (whether legs are clipped out all winter or not) - it's basically how her legs moult, with greasy clumps of hair - the legs look a bit grey where the greasey clumps build up. I was concerned about it last year (if you search the veterinary forum you'll probably be able to find my orignial post & replies) but I just occassionally washed it with diluted Hibiscrub & kept on at removing the hair & eventually it sorted itself out - bit disconcerting though as it looked like the legs were going bald, but it ended up fine...
 
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My mare gets this every year this time of year (whether legs are clipped out all winter or not) - it's basically how her legs moult, with greasy clumps of hair - the legs look a bit grey where the greasey clumps build up. I was concerned about it last year (if you search the veterinary forum you'll probably be able to find my orignial post & replies) but I just occassionally washed it with diluted Hibiscrub & kept on at removing the hair & eventually it sorted itself out - bit disconcerting though as it looked like the legs were going bald, but it ended up fine...

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Yep, the same happens to two of mine, it is just how they change their coats, dont worry about it!
 
Murphy has a similar thing on his back legs between his hock and his fetlock. His skinny legs go all grey and scangy for it abit then it passes!
 
does it look like this..
mudfever.jpg

this is dermatophilosis fungal infection.
U wash it with hibiscrub and make sure you disinfect all boots you use on the affected legs.
 
Could of had a case of mud fever in winter and it is still there (my boy is the same), the hair comes off with the skin and it can also be a bit yellowy too under the hair. look like small scabs and don't come off easy - hibiscrub til soft and then put on sudocream to heal.
 
Great picture for the promblem in question xp0u4076. Her legs don't look like that (yet) It's more under her fur but you can feel it's there and when you scratch it, it comes off in your fingers.
 
I doubt its anything to worry about, my horse always has this at this time of year where his coat moults.
Just groom the hair out and wash legs every now and again with dilute hibiscrub. certainly nothing thats worth a vet call out!
 
I'll push the boat out and bet you a pound it is old mud fever where the coat has grown over!

Just rub some Protocon, Sudacrem, anything like that, and rub it well in with circular massagy type rubs with your finger tips, don't just smear it on. This should help the ready scabs slough off easily and get the ones that aren't just ready to think about it; repeat the rubs the next day and it should start healing nicely. I would not be washing it if it was me, it needs to be kept dry as that is showing you the skin has been weakened already.
 
I've just given my mare's legs a good going over today - warm diluted Hibiscrub & a soft 'Flexi-scrub' scrubbing brush & rubbed then up & down. Once finished, I towel-dried the legs & slapped on some Gold Label Wondergel. They look MUCH better now - cleaner (not greasy) & a lot of the hair has been removed. It's still a bit patchy, probably needs a couple more sessions, but much better.
 
Thanks for that...I'll use dilute hibiscrub to wash the legs tonight and then rub in Sudacrem and see if it goes, I'll let you all no. Could it be Dermatophilis ! as no mud in our field now for over 3 months, (well none up to their knee's).... strange it has just come on.
 
I'll put money on it is is MERELY the way your horse moults.

When you use the Hibiscrub, do give the legs a good rub (not enough to damange the skin - goes without saying!), as you want to remove the hair - don't chicken out if it looks to be leaving the skin a bit bald as if it's damaged, it's got to come out eventually (explained by my vet - no point in trying to keep it on - if it's going to come out, it's going to come out...)
 
dermatophilosis is just a fungal infection, aka mud fever, rain scald etc. its common on the hind cannon bones in the summer on tb type horses.
We have been told to wash with hibiscrub and make sure legs stay dry inbetween washing. You might also find flamazine is quite effective on pasterns.
 
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