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My horse has had for the last fortnight a 'starry' itchy patch on her offside behind the girth and low down on her barrel. I have had the vet to look at this last week and he is testing for ringworm, having given me an antifungal wash. This seems to be less itchy. In the meantime she has developed scurfy scaly patches of skin between her front legs and it is travelling over her neck and to her hinds as well. She is rubbing this a gret deal, with the hair coming out almost to the point of raw patches. I am washing her with Demalene shampoo when not using the antifungal wash as recommended (at 3 day intervals). Any thoughts please?
Optional Information: Type of Animal: Welsh Cob Gender: Female Age: 14 Name of Horse: Abi
Good Morning and welcome to Just answer. I am Dr. Loretta, a licensed veterinarian and I am happy to answer your question.
From what you have described, I believe that Abi is having an allergic reaction to something in her environment or she has a thyroid condition that is causing this. The first thing to do is have your vet examine Abi again and draw blood to check her thyroid function. If this is the problem, treatment by your vet with a thyroid supplement will resolve this. If this is not a thyroid issue, then it is an allergy. This will respond to Benadryl at 0.5 mg per pound every 12 hrs. This can be purchased over the counter at the chemist. If this is not enough to stop this allergic reaction, your vet will have injectable steroids that will stop Abi from scratching and when this stops, the hair and scales will resolve. Shampoo Abi with a Betadine shampoo weekly. This will dry out areas so the bacteria causing the scales and crusts cannot grow and the skin will heal. Good Luck!
Experience: 25 years experience in treating horses
The vet came to see Abi again and she had a temperature of 105 degrees F - he treated her with steroids and antibiotics as well as an injection of wormer. She started to improve immediately and having lost a lot of her coat, her skin is improving now and the hair regrowing. He is inclined to believe it was a roundworm infestation as the other possibility of her immune system attacking itself would not have responded so quickly to the treatment. I wish I had been advised to test her temperature then I might have called the vet sooner, but thankyou for your suggestions.
Sorry, Lindsay, I didn't even think to advise taking Abi's temperature since the signs indicated a skin condition...I would not have expected a high fever.I am glad that Abi is doing better, Lindsay....thanks for the information. I will remember that for next time.