Sore withers - New (ish) horse

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Benjamin

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I have had Rudy now just over a month.
When he came to me, his skin was very dry, esp along his mane.
A couple of weeks ago, he came out in lumps, mainly around his withers. This got so sore, he ended up on anti biotics and bute. All went away and he was okay. He had a rug on on Friday and Saturday, these bumps came up again. Not as sore as last time, but still tender.
I have hibiscrubbed them, as directed by the vet, and put some human antiseptic on, but I can't put a rug on him. I am at a loss as to what it is and what to do next. He dropped a fair bit of weight because of no rug, but I am really stumped now. Any ideas what it could be or what I can do to relieve it?

thanks, am a tad worried.
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Thanks
 
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Reckon he could be allergic to the washing stuff??

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Could be - but probably more to do with the rug rubbing if it were too big.

Ooooo tricky one. Can you get a saddler to put some risers in a rug that will fit him, to lift it off the withers until they are healed??
 
Poor boy and a tricky issue
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I had a similar problem with a horse a few years ago. I sorted the rug by getting my saddler to stitch a couple of foam pads in to lift the rug off the sore area. Then when it was healed, these came out and she put a couple of darts into the neck so that the rug couldn't slip back.

At least the weather is forecast to be alot milder this week.
 
One of my clients horses gets sore withers. He always has to have full neck rugs (she find half necks still give problems) and he always has a anti rub vest on. At least then the vest stays still, and the rug moves around on top but isn't rubbing the withers.

Poor ponio.
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[ QUOTE ]
Reckon he could be allergic to the washing stuff??
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He could be - Bane came out in little scabby lumps once on his withers and body and it turned out Mum had accidently used fabric conditioner when she washed his nummahs - all his stuff gets washed with Non-Bio powder now (the tart!
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I have a horse with wither problems. I rescued him three years ago and he had a huge sore over them, though healed now the hair will never grow back and the skin will never regain full strenght. He is TB and I live in north Scotland so I have no option but to rug him up almost all year round.
I managed to get my hands on a old leather anti-cast roller. I use this under his stable rugs at night (padded with a roller pad)
Only use full neck rugs, and even these watch the weight of them, I find weatherbeeta rugs the best, I can't use premier rugs as I find they are heavy and put presure on his withers.
I have also found at this time of year with his coat changing that he is more prone to the skin thining over his withers and grease and scurf in his mane. I air his withers by just folding his rugs back when I get a chance, such as when he is eating.
And lastly good old elbow grease to keep him as clean as I can. But thats not so easy this year when it is still so chilly and he is still well rugged.
 
Thanks for that Toots. Tis interesting.
Great idea about the roller. I was thinking about this too!

We tried an old witney wool quarter sheet on him last night, with the matching wool roller and it kept him warmer and it didn't slip. I will put a pad under it tonight though.

Thanks again!

P x
 
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