Sweet Itch - damaged hair follicles?

[HelsB]

Hi,

Does anyone else have a horse with Sweet Itch that they believe may have totally damaged the hair follicles?

Harley has suffered from SI in the past but I believe it is now totally under control now I have discovered Skratch

The problem is that part of his mane is still not growing, there are a lot fewer hairs growing out of that part of the neck than anywhere else, you can actually see the pink skin through it.

This is the bit that also has been rubbed by neck covers etc in the past, possibly letting the little beasties in to bite him there more, resulting in worse SI in this area

I have tried allsorts, at present he is without neck covers (first time in years as was always covered due to SI) and using pig oil and also Megatek rebuilder. These seem to be strengthening the hairs that are growing so hopefully they will grow longer but not encouraging any more growth (thickness)

I was wondering if anyone had ever tried something like a steroid cream to encourage the follicles to start to produce hair again?

 

[Theresa_F]

Helen, you may have to accept this - sorry.

Cairo was a bald eagle for years on the bottom half of the mane due to rubbing, chemo etc.

Megatek did give him back a full mane and whilst it grew fairly long, was always far thinner than the "good" end of the neck and you could see area where there was no hair coming through.

This is why the minute Stinky rubbed this year, he had been kept out in the field with nothing to rub on and I watch him like a hawk when he is in and put on a hood and tail cover whenever he is in the stable alone - even for 5 minutes to prevent damage. This seems to have worked as this year his tail is far thicker on top and has grown back well and his mane has 3" punk spikes.

Can only suggest keep on with the megatek to strengthen and encourage what you have and leave off neck covers as much as you can.

 

[kerilli]

can i just say that Killitch is a thing of wonder, my mare, who scratched half her mane and tail off in 1 day last year before i realised she had SI, has a full mane and tail this year, has not had a hood on at all, i've only used the Killitch and it has worked miraculously. Got to be worth a try.
btw it works much much better than Benzyl Benzoate on its own, even though I know this is one of the main ingredients.

 

[Theresa_F]

May give it a go. Skratch has helped mine but Farra the new clyde has a very itchy forelock and mane - have frontlined her in case of anything lurking and covered in benzyl benozoate.

Trust me to now have two very itchy, very large and hairy beasties.

 

[HelsB]

[ QUOTE ]
Helen, you may have to accept this - sorry.


[/ QUOTE ]


No no no no no!!!!

Thanks for the advice Theresa, will take it obviously but trying to explore other options!

I believe that he only rubbed down to the skin the once, when we were away and flies worse than at home! So didn't want to believe that one rub could kill his mane forever!

 

[kerilli]

HelsB, my first pony (back in the early 80s, before a lot of the good stuff available now was around) had terrible sweetitch, and scrubbed 90% of his mane off every summer, and rubbed his dock bald. it always grew back completely by the next spring. more time should do it.
or you could always try Regaine...

massaging the area gently might help, it's supposed to be good for scalps!

 

[Theresa_F]

If it was the once you may be ok - Cairo did it several times over the years and his rugs would also rub him bald as a baby's bum, the chemo was the final straw for his hair.

I do know that sometimes it can take months for hair to grow - as you have only just taken the neck covers off, maybe you need to give it a little more time. Cairo took about 6 months to grow back his mane but once back, though thin it did stay put.

Finally - how about a hair transplant

 

[HelsB]

[ QUOTE ]
HelsB, my first pony (back in the early 80s, before a lot of the good stuff available now was around) had terrible sweetitch, and scrubbed 90% of his mane off every summer, and rubbed his dock bald. it always grew back completely by the next spring. more time should do it.
or you could always try Regaine...

massaging the area gently might help, it's supposed to be good for scalps!

[/ QUOTE ]

Regaine.....what's that? Something for bald men??

Sounds like you were luxky with a pony that kept regrowing his hair.....there is just hardly any hairs growing out of that part of his mane

 

[flyingfeet]

Yep - haven't hogged mine since may and he has only managed to sprout 2cm of very thin mane!

I think once they have done that kind of rubbing its very hard to get it back.

I will go back to hogging shortly as he looks quite smart and its less work!

 

[Honeypots]

My cob has severe sweet itch and in the last 9 yrs has ripped himself to shreds on various occasions. Every winter though, he manages to grow it all back.. This year in particular, due to a field change, he actually has hair on his dock whereas no matter what, its usually bald and lumpy..
The rubbing doesn't seem to have affected his hair in any way at all..

 

[Honeypots]

Sorry...just realised thats of absolutely no use to you whatsoever

 

[kerilli]

[ QUOTE ]

Sorry...just realised thats of absolutely no use to you whatsoever

[/ QUOTE ]

haha, it was of use to me... i thought my memory must be playing tricks on me and i actually had a bald pony all winter!

yes, Regaine is for bald men, supposed to stimulate hair growth or something. anything's worth a try.